PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. AMENDING LIBEL LAW. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Sir Francis Bell gave notice of his intention to introduce the Law Practitioners’ Amendment Bill and the Law of Libel Amendment Bill. The Hon. J. Campbell opened the Address-in-Reply debate. He spoke of the success of Mr. W. F. Massey at the Imperial Conference, and expressed satisfaction at the introduction of the Forestry Bill. He defended the Minister of Lands against those who said he made a mistake in not putting soldiers on improved land. The Hon. Mclntyre seconded the motion, saying the speech was comprehensive, and touched on almost every phase of life in the Dominion, except that of the coalmines. He advocated giving encouragement for opening up new mines, a housing scheme for miners, and superannuation and financial assistance to co-operative miners. The Government should prohibit the importation of coal until all the New Zealand mines were again in full swing. He advocated the introduction of nurses’ superannuation. The Hon. Sir J. R. Sinclair expressed regret that apparently a constitutional conference of the Empire was not to be held. What he advocated was, not an executive, but a consultative body—something like the Imperial War Cabinet. The Hon. Michel spoke optimistically of a trade recovery in New Zealand, but added that all would not be well until Germany and Central Europe recovered. He defended the Government’s action in importing coal to overcome the shortage created by the miners. The Council rose at 4.34 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HELPING RETURNED SOLDIERS. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West), the Hon. D. 11. Guthrie admitted that soni£ few soldier settlers "had given up their sections because they were not able to carry on, but these were very few indeed. Quoting from a return which showed the state of the various accounts at the present time, he said the total amount of advances to soldiers on current account was £2,922,057; on farms £8,509,274; on dwellings £6,358,459; or a total of £17,839,790. Repayments amounted to £l,and arrears on the total of £17,839,790 were only £113,024. Postponements of rent, interest, etc., only amounted to £109,549, which was remarkably low in view of the slump we were passing through. On some accounts there was a loss of about £lO,OOO, but he asked: Was that money lost ? They had at least given their men a chance to make good. The country would not have tolerated any other course. He contended that the settlement of soldiers on the land was, on the whole, a splendid success. He was glad the question had been asked, because the earlier he had an opportunity of making the position clear the better. SPREAD OF PLAGUE. Replying to Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki), the Hon. C. J. Parr said the Government was alive to the danger of the spread of plague from Australia, but he was not prepared to say the Government would go so far as to prohibit all ships from Australia berthing at New Zealand ports. A conference was being held to-day between representatives of the Government departments and the shipping authorities to discuss precautionary steps, but he strongly urged that there should be a clean-up in all cities and towns, as well as on the waterfronts. NEW BILLS. - Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton) gave notice of his intention to introduce the Daylight Baking Bill. Sir William Berries gave notice of his intention to introduce the Tauranga Harbor Bill. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time: The Local Bodies’ Loans Amendment Bill (the Hon. W. D. Stewart), the Banking Act Amendment Bill (the Hon. W. D. Stewart), the Anzac Day Amendment Bill (the Hon. W. D. Stewart), the Stone Quarries Amendment Bill (Mr. W. E. Parry). Reports of various public departments were laid on the table by Ministers. ONE OFFICIAL LESS. On the laying on the table of the Education Department’s report, Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) asked what steps the Government proposed to take to fill the position of Assistant Director of Education. Mr. A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) hoped the Government would not in this case, and in many others, fill the vacancy. This was a time to cut down the Public Service and not to increase it. Replying, the Hon. C. J. Parr said the Government did not at present intend to make an appointment. He was of opinion that the Department could get on very well under existing conditions, if each member on the staff worked a little harder. After the transaction of other formal business the House at 3.45 p.m. adjourned till 7.30 p.m., when the debate on the Address-in-Reply was commenced.