PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPLIES TO QUESTIONS, THE CEMENT INQUIRY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), the Hon. E. P. Lee said no opportunity would be given to the House to discuss the order of reference in connection with the cement inquiry. The order o-f reference was drawn broad enough to cover the charges, but if counsel representing those who made the charges wished it widened the Crown would not object. Replying to Mr. R. McCallum (Waivau), Mr. Massey said he was not altogether satisfied with our system of sinking funds in .connection with loans. He Jmd been discussing it with the Treasury for some time, aud he hpped to make a statement embodying his suggestions in the course of a few days.

Replying to Mr. K. S'. Williams (Bay of Plenty), Mr. Massey said he would be glad within the next few days to make a statement concerning the surplus wool profits.

The following . bills were introduced and read a first time;—Dunedin District Drainage and Sewerage Amendment Bill (Hon. W. D. Stewart) ; Standard Time Bill (Hon. W. D. Stewart).

The Consolidation of Factories Acts 1 and amendment of Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration Act Bills were introduced by Governor’s message, and on the motion of the Hon. G. J. Anderson were referred to the Labor Bills Committee. The Minister stated, in reply to Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon), that the amendment of the Arbitration Act was intended to smooth out the trouble which had recently arisen in connection with the Arbitration Court. FEATURES OF NEW BILLS. THE ARBITRATION COURT. PROHIBITION FOR COOK ISLANDS. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill deals with the difficulty that arose recently in the Arbitration Court through the resignation of Mr. McCullough. It provides that an acting nominated member may sit at any time when the nominated member is absent, and that in the absence of both persons the Governor-General, on •the recommendation of the judge, may appoint a temporary nominated member. The Bill further provides that a nominated member shall becorrt* disqualified from continuing in office’if he is absent for four consecutive sittings of the court without the consent of the judge. This provision presumably is intended to deal with the situation created by the re-election of Mr. McCullough and that gentleman’s refusal to take his seat. The Cook Islands Amendment Bill, which has been circulated, proposes to impose prohibition on Cook Islands. The Resident Commissioner alone may import liquor, and any liquor so imported may be sold for medicinal, sacramental or industrial purposes, but for no other purposes. This places the Cook Islands in the same position as Samoa. The provision seems .ikely to produce some debate in the House.