PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

SATURDAY'S SITTING. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, * By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Nov. 6. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Kir Francis Bell moved the second reading of the Government Railways Amendment Bill, embodying the agreement arrived at by the tribunals in regard to salaries and conditions of railway employees. The Bill was put through its final stages and passed. The Council rose at 4.30 p.m. until 11 a.m. on Monday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

The House of Representatives met at 11 a.m.

Replying to Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon), the Hon. E. P. Lee said that during the recess lie would take into consideration the question of initiating a propaganda campaign to popularise the products of our secondary industries, afi had been done in Australia.

Replying to Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North), the lion. W. Nosworthy said lie could not take steps to prohibit the importation of egg pulp until lie could be satisfied that there were nmple supplies of fowl feed in the Dominion to encourage the extension of the poultry industry. THE RABBIT NUISANCE. The Hon. W. Nosworthy moved the second reading of the Rabbit Nuisance Amendment Bill. In doing so, the Minister said that if rabibte were exterminated 1,000,000 more sheep might be grown in ptago alone.

During the debate the wide power's given to inspectors were canvassed by some speakers, and trapping as a method of destroying rabbits was freely condemned. The alleged failure of the Government tc deal with raWnts on Crown lands was also criticised.

The Hon. W. Nosworthv, in reply, said that if he was asking for additional powers the House eonld rely that he considered the powers necessary for the future. However, no settler would ho taken to court 011 the word of a single inspector. Two oilier inspectors would have to support his opinion before an' information was laid. His desire was to see the Act .administered with the utmost fairness and justice.

Mr. Statham, in committee, gloved an amendment to the Bill, taking from an inspector the position of absolute judge as to frjiether sufficient steps had been taken to destroy rabbits. The Minister repeated his statement that he did not intend to prosecute settlers 011 the word of a single inspector, but he could not see his way to limit the powers of the inspectors under the Act. He had the responsibility of facing a most serious menace,' and he was not going to give up an ounce of the power lie possessed to deal with it.

Mr. Statham withdrew his amendment, and after considerable discussion the Rill was passed with one formal amendment. The Bill was read a second time. CONTROL OP HOSPITALS. l/hp Hon. C. J. Parr moved that the Hospital and Charitable Aid Institutions Amendment Bill be committed. The discussion disclosed general approval of the Bill, though some alarm was expressed at the ever-increasing post of hospital and charitable institutions.

The Hon. C. J. Parr deprecated the suggestion that hospitals should bo brought under the control of the State, remarking that, the question of the nationalisation of hospitals was too big to be rushed into. At all events, lie was not prepared to do so. lie agreed with the public health committee in striking out of the Bill the schedule of subsidies to hospitals, as more time was required to go earcfuHj- into it in the recess. He hoped ft commission would be- appointed to investigate the position, and make recommendations which would result in an equitable system being devised. The Bill was passed.

MAIN TRUNK DEVIATION. The Hon. J. <1 Coates moved the second reading of the Railway Authorisation Bill. Mr. W. tt. Field (Otaki) said he was surprise;! to see in the Bill, a proposal to move the deviation of the AucklandWellington railway at Palmerston North instead of a deviation from Levin to Rreat-ford. The Premier had promised a deputation that, this deviation would not be made until he and the Minister for Public Works had been over the ground.

Mr. Massey denied that he ever made the promise attributed to him. What he said waß that, he would go over the ground before the work was commenced. They were simply taking power to go on with the improvements at Palmerston North. Mr. Hiley had reported in Jfll4 that the improvements at Palmerston were second only in importance to one other work in the Dominion, and they could not afford to wait until next year to take power to do the work! The Bill was passed. The House went into committee on the Births and Deaths registration Bill which was passed unamended. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. till 11 a.m. on Monday.