PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY PRESENTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Speaker announced that the Address-in-Reply had been presented that morning to the Governor\General. A message from the Governor-General announced that Sir Thomas Mackenzie had been called to the Council. The Council rose at 2.35 p.m. until 11 a.m. to-morrow.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

NOXIOUS WEEDS BILL. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. The Hon.-W. Nosworthy gave notice of his intention to introduce a Noxious Weeds Bill. Replying to Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South), Mr. Nosworthy said the question of fire blight would be dealt with in the Noxious Weeds Bill of which he had just given notice. RENT RESTRICTIONS. Replying to Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon), Mr. Massey said it was intended to continue the rent restriction provisions at present on the Statute Book. Next session it was intended to review the whole question of rent restrictions, as some of the existing provisions had outlived their usefulness, and were, probably now doing more harm than good. LAND SETTLEMENT. Replying to Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South), the Hon. D. H. Guthrie contended that no aggregation was going on in the Kaikoura County. As a matter of fact, subdivision, and not aggregation, was going on all over the Dominion. Later he would make a fuller statement on the subject if opportunity offered. NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL. Replying to “ Mr.. Mitchell, the Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes said Cabinet had not yet deeidAl on a site for a national memorial. The question had been narrowed down to two sites, but there was some difference of opinion about these. As soon as the matter was settled the decision would be made known. RIMUTAKA RAILWAY Replying to Mr. Mitchell, the Hon. J. G. Coates said were now at work on an examination of the routes for the proposed deviation of the Rimutaka railway. He could not say how soon the work would be completed. LABOR MEMBER'S CHARGE. Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller) complained that his correspondence and the correspondence of others was being tampered with. Mr. Coates, in reply, said he had reason to believe that there were grounds for the complaint, but the department had nothing to do with it, nor would it be tolerated. He did not think that the Post Office staff was in any way responsible, but inquiry would be made. WAR DEBTS. Mr. Holland asked the Premier if he would give the House an assurance that when he went to the Imperial Conference he would not be a party to pooling the resources of the various countries of the Empire in connection with the war debt. Mr Massey eaid he wished the honorable gentleman to understand that when he (Mr. Massey) went to the Imperial Conference, or whatever it was called, he did not go as a delegate. He would go as a representative of the people of New Zealand, and with a free hand. He would not take any instructions from the honorable member for Buller. Mr. Holland: “Very well, we know how to take that.” EXPIRING LAWS. The Expiring Laws Continuance Bill was introduced by Governor-General’s message. The Bill was read a second time and set down for the committee stage tomorrow. TIME FOR CLOSING SHOPS. The Hon. G. J. Anderson moved the second reading of the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, which, he said, was intended to put the law back into the .same position as it was before the amendment made in 1920. So far as the closing of shops at six O’clock was concerned his suggestion was that this amendment should be passed and next session the Labor Bills Committee should again go fully into the question, and if Parliament thought fit, the law as it at present stood coulcfcbe re-enacted. Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) moved an amendment to the effect that the Bill stand over to enable further evidence to be’taken. At a later stage Mr. Anderson explained that ip view of the opposition to the clause dealing with the cases of small shopkeepers he was willing to make a compromise by inserting in clause eleven provision whereby small shopkeepers could go to. Court and get exemption from the closing requirement. This concession should operate till January next, and in the meantime amending legislation could b e brought down and anomalies removed. ■ Mr. Massey pointed out that there was no chance of the Bill as brought down passing this session, and the next best thing was to accept a compromise which fairly met the difficulties and hardships imposed on small shopkeepers. The Bill was read a second time ©n the voices, and later it was put through committee, read a third time and passed. The House rose at 11.45 p.m. till 11 a.m. to-morrow.