PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. CONTROL OF SAMOA. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Families Protection Amendment Bill and the Official Secrets Bill were introduced by Sir Francis Bell and read a first time. The Cook Islands Amendment Bill was committed and reported without amendment. The committal of the Samoa Bill was moved by Sir Francis Bell, who traced the history of the mandate and paid a tribute to the work of Sir John Salmond in drawing up the constitutional order on which the Bill was based. The Hon. O Samuel drew attention to instances in which the Samoan law differed from that of New Zealand. While not dissenting from this he wished it to be understood that the thing was being done with our eyes open. The Hon. W. H. Triggs said three great Powers had already failed in the task which New Zealand had now undertaken. Any Government in power was deserving of the sympathetic support of all true lovers of the Empire in the task before the country. The Bill was committed, progress being reported after the short title was passed. The Council rose at 4.40 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. A MATTER OF LOYALTY. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton), Mr. Massey said in cases where people were known to be loyal he would be glad to do away with the necessity of taking the oath of allegiance. The difficulty was to discriminate. He had looked into the matter, but could not see how it was possible to avoid requiring a declaration from all persons landing in the Dominion. Replying to Mr. S. Q. Smith (Taranaki), the Hon. C. J. Parr said there were anomalies in the teachers’ superannuation fund, and amendments were being adopted, but he did not hope to get the amendments through this session. PLAGUE MENACE. Replying to Mr. D. jG. Sullivan (Avon), the Hon. C. J. Parr said he was not completely satisfied with the steps ail municipalities had taken to destroy rats, and so prevent the spread of plague in the Dominion. Some were doing their., best, but others were treating the requests to I destroy rats very lightly. He was now , awaiting a report from the head of the I department, and when he received that re- i port he would know how to act. There I was a great need of a general clean-up. Replying to Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central), Mr. Massey said the Government did not consider it advisable to be represented at the Labor conferences held under the treaty of peace. The fact was New Zealand was so far ahead in regard to Labor legislation that it would lake many years for other countries to catch up to us. There was thus little need for New Zealand to be represented, especially in view of the great cost. Labor unions might, however, be given an opportunity of sending their opinions to these conferences. WATERFRONT LABOR.

Replying to Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South), the Hon. G. J. Anderson said the Government had under consideration the question of the control of waterfront labor, but there was little hope of legislation being brought down this session dealing with this question. Replying to Mr. E. Kellett (Dunedin South )j the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said soldiers who had lost both legs or arms would, when travelling from their homes to business, be granted free passes on the railways, but. this concession was not being granted to soldiers who lost only one leg or arm. That was the policy of the Railway Department.

Replying to Mr. T. M. wxxiora \iueaaer oi rhe Opposition), Mr. Massey said it was intended to sell the Government steamer Hinemoa, and the Tutanekai was being fitted up to take her place in doing lighthouse work. The training ship Amokura was nd longer fit to go to sea, and Cabinet had considered the question of discontinuing her as a training ship, but they found m-iny of the boys’ time had not expired, and it was decided to continue training for the present. In the meantime another ship might be obtained to replace the Amokura.. The Philomel was at Auckland, and was doing good work as a naval training ship, and as such she was justifying her existence. In a further reply to Mr. Wilford, the Hon. Sir R. H. Rhodes said the Philomel was perfectly seaworthy, and could go to sea in a few hours if required, as her shafts had not been drawn, and nothing had been taken out of her which would prevent her going to sea. OTHER MATTERS. Replying to Mr. R. McCallum (Wairau), the Hon. W. Nosworthy said he was satisfied the Agricultural Department was not wasting money in paying the country for the destruction of the kea in the high country of the South Island, as experience proved that the bird was very destructive to sheep. He said he could not see his way to increase the bounty from 5s to 10s per head. On the motion of the Hon. J. G. Coates, the Native Trustee Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma. The Orchard Tax Amendment Bill (Hon. W. Nosworthy) was put through committee stage without amendment. The evening sitting was occupied with the Forests Bill, and when it was disposed of the Orchard Tax Bill was read a third time. The House rose at 12.30 a.m.