PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Bj, Megraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Rotorua Crown Lands Bill was received from the House and read a first time. The Legislature Amendment Bill was introduced by Sir Francis Bell and read ft first time. The Nurses Registration Amendment Bill and the Land Drainage Amendment Bill were put through committee and passed. In moving the second reading of the Coal Mines Amendment Bill, Sir Wm. Fraser said he could not accept the Hon. E. Mitchelson's amendment to reduce from three to two years the period of experience necessary for a miner before he may take charge of any place in the mine. Sir William Fraser said his sympathy was very much with Mr. Mitchelson, but to adopt the amendment would probably result, at this stage of the session, in the killing of the Bill. The Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council rose at 5.23 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

POTATO CENSUS. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton), the Hon. W. Nosworthy "said he would inquire into the feasibility of taking a census of potatoes now in the Dominion. NORTHERN RAILWAYS. • Mr. V. H. Reed (Bay of Islands) asked the Minister for Public Works whether it was correct that a railway commission had been set up"" to ascertain the best route for the North Auckland main trunk line north of Tio, and, if so,' lit whose request it was set up. The Hon. J. G. Coates replied that the commission bad been set up at the request of the Department. It was a departmental and officials of the Department desired a commission to decide upon the best route from Tio northward towards the objectives, which appeared to be the harbors of Wharerua, Maunganui, and Kataia. The commission had also been requested to advise on the question of the route to link up the Kaihu section with the Worth Auckland main trunk line, though this did not necessarily mean that this line would be gone on with.

MOTOR CAR TAX. Replying to Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East), Mr. Massey said the question of taxing motor cars would be dealt with in a Bill which was to come down dealing with main roads. THE EDUCATION BILL. The education committee's report on the Education Bill was presented. The Bill comes back practically unaltered. The main amendments con ; sist of the elimination of the clause giviing women teachers Ihe right to keep on teaching till 60 year 3of age. Another clause requiring the transfer of the school medical officers to the Public Health Department was withdrawn by the Minister, as it was found that sufficient power in this respect already exists in the new Public Health Bill. THE "WASHING-UP" BILL. The "Washing-Up" Bill was introduced by Governor-General's message and read a second time pro forma. The Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill (No. 2) was also introduced by Governor-General's message. Sir Wm. Hemes said the Bill was mainly small amendments, but there iwas an attempt to meet points raised fin connection with Dominion awards. He proposed to have the Bill read a second tiihe pro forma and referred to the Lareor Bill's committee ttMaoirow morn- »??• .This was agreed to.

THE MARRIAGE BILL. Mr. Massey suggested that the interrupted debate on the Marriage Amendment Bill be taken, but as it could not be done except by the unanimous consent of, the House, and as the Labor Party objected, it could not be done.

LIGHT RAILWAYS. The Hon. J. G. Coates moved the second reading of the District Railways Amendment Bill, which permitted the construction of railway lines of less width than three feet six inches. There was douht about what the guage should be, so that would be left to be determined by the amount of money available. Personally, he thought a two feet guage would be perfectly satisfactory in New Zealand, for these lines were not intended to be much more than tramways. Mr. Coates said, by way of an example, that the relative difference in cost in the construction of a light line as against the standard guage over a distance of 36 miles between Hamilton and Raglan, was £IOO,OOO. This difference made it possible for settlers to construct such a line, whereas they could not construct a line of the standard guage. The Bill was read a second time.

QUICK DESPATCH. The Orchard and Garden Diseases Amendment Bill was read a second time on the voices. Mr. Massey moved the second reading of the Stone Quarries Amendment Bill, which he said was purely a departmental Bill and was intended to make the working of quarries more safe. The Bill was read a second time. The House then went into committee on the District Railways Amendment Bill, the Orchard and Garden Diseases Amendment Bill, and the Stone Quarries Amendment Bill, which were subsequently read a third time and passed. The Local Railways Amendment Bill was, on the motion of the Hon. J. G. Coates, put through all stages, an amendment moved enabling local railway boards to assume expenses in connection with the setting up of boards being adopted.

The House rose at 12.38 a.m. till 2.30 pja. tomorrow.