PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ■FINANCES OF THE DOMINION. NO GROUND FOR PESSIMISM. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Lactt Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to the jlon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill), the Premier (Mr. W. F. Massey) said he deprecated statement? which were being made by some pessimists that the country is on tha verge of blue ruin. The country was financially sound—there was no doub: about that—end he hoped no one would go about crying down the credit of tlu country, because a pessimistic statement of that kind might reach Britain and do us harm there, for finance was extremely sensitive.

Replying to Mr. R. M Callum (Wairau), Mr. Massey said he could not give an assurance that any part of the German reparation money would be applied to the relief of Germans wounded in the great war; charity should begin at home.

Replying to Mr. T. M. Wil ford (Leader of the Opposition), the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said no definite determination had yet been come to with reference to abandoning the training ship Amoknra. The ship, however, was an Old one and Was rapidly decaying, and some decision Would soon have to be come to regard* ing her.

Replying to Mr. J. Bitchener (Waitaki), the Hon. Sir R. H. Rhodes said it had been decided to set up a commission to go into the whole question of pensions to injured soldiers. NEW BILLS INTRODUCED. REGISTRATION OF ELECTRICIANS. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) moved the second reading of the Electricians’ Registration Bill. He explained the measure proposed to set up a board which would have power to control the examinations and registration of those carrying on business as electricians, in much the same way as «plumbers aTe now registered. This step he thought neces* sary as a protection to the public. The Bill had the approval of most of the electrical authorities in the Dominion and he suggested it might be referred to the Labor Bills committee.

Several country members thought the Bill would place difficulties in the way of farmers getting repairs made to milking machines. Mr. Sullivan said the Bill was designed to protect people in th? cities, and he had >5 objection to inserting a clause which would exempt country work from its provisions. The Bill was read a second time and ferred to the Labor Bills Committee. SUNDRY MEASURES. Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton), on behalf of Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central), moved pro forma the second reading of the Hotel and Restaurants and Private Hotel and Boarding House Employees Six-days-a-week Bill. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Labor Bills Committee. The Patents, Designs and Trademarks Registration Bill, and a Bill providing for licensing land agents, were introduced by Governor’s message. The Hon. E. P. Lee said the foimer Bill provided for recognition of New Zealand patents in England and vice versa. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart said the Land Agents Bill was on the lines of similar Bills introduced since 1914. The Bill was a second time. The following Bills were introduced and read a, first time:—Abolition of Capital Punishment Bill (Mr. McCombs); Auckland City Loans Consolidation and Empowering Bill (Hon. C. J. Parr); Cook Islands' Amendment Bill (Hon. Dr. Pomsire); Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill (Hon. G. J. Anderson). DAYLIGHT BAKING. Tn moving the second reading of the Daylight Baking Bill Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton) said he understood the Government proposed legislation \vhieh would cover the'matters covered by this Bil], and he’ would therefore ask that the measure be read a second time and referred to the Labor Bills Committee, which could consider it along with the Government proposals. Daylight baking had been tried in England during the wft/and a report on its operation would be available for consideration by th<) committee. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Labor Bills Committee. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Labor Bills Committee.

Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) moved the second reading of the Dominion State Bank Bill, but the Speaker ruled that as it was an appropriation Bill and must be introduced by Governor’s measge it could not be allowed to proceed ns a private member’s measure. Mr. Veitch moved the second reading of the Proportional Representation and Effective Voting Bill and on a division the motion was lost by 33 votes to 15. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION. Mr. IL -E. Holland (Buller), for Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central), moved the second reading pro forma of the Unemployed Workers’ Bill, and proposed that it be referred to the Labor Bills Committee. This was agreed to on the voices. Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) moved the .second reading of the Workers’ Compensation Bill, which he said was designed to a fiord relief in cases of accident, which under the existing law were not entitled tn secure compensation. It also provided for the repeal of section thirteen of the Workers’ Compensation Act dealing with common employment. The second reading was carried and the Bill was referred to the Labor Bills Committee. The House rose at 12.18 a.m.