PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. NEW LOAN DISCUSSED. By Telegraph—-Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Hon. Sir E. Mitchelson gave notice of the Gaming Amendment Bill. The Hon. J. MacGregor moved the first reading of the Marriage Amendment Bill requiring a religious head sending in the name of a minister for the list of officiating ministers to make a declaration of allegiance to the King and provide a certificate that the minister concerned is willing to make a like declaration. The Bill was read a first time.

The Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill and -the Mental Defectives Amendment Bill were received from the House. The latter was read a first time, and the former a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

The Banking Amendment Bill was passed.

Sir Francis Bell moved the second reading of the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill.

Sir E. Mitchelson did not oppose the Bill, but warned the country that it was going too fast in the way of borrowing. Taxation was pressing very heavily, and relief was necessary if the country was to prosper. Workers should realise the necessity for keeping industry by giving a greater output. The Hon. O. Samuel expressed satisfaction at Sir, E. Mitchelson’s warning, for prosperity could not continue for all time. The debate was adjourned.

On a motion to commit the Education Amendment Bill, the Hon. J. Barr said the oath of allegiance should apply to all permanent educational employees. He thought so far as saluting the flag was concerned that once a week was sufficient.

The Hon. M. Cohen feared the saluting of the flag was being carried to excess; it should not be done so often as to cheap the ceremony. The Bilk was committed and progress reported after clause G had been adopted. The Companies Amendment Bill was put through the final stages and passed. The Council rose at 4.41 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labor Party), the Hon. J. G. Coates said it was a f -t that a parcel of copies of the Manchester Guardian was held up by the post office from November 22 to December 7. What caused the delay he could not say, out he was making inquiries, and he trusted there would be no future cause for | complaint. Replying to Mr. J. Edie (Bruce), the Hon. C. J. Parr said he was re-consid- I ering the decision to cut out the grant i which enabled backblock children to attend district high schools. •

Replving to Mr. D. Jones (Kaiapoi) the Hon. W. D. Stewart said he was negotiating with Australia for a reciprocal Customs agreement, and he hoped to have those negotiations sufficiently advanced to submit them to- Parliament before the session ends. The question of admitting New Zealand potatoes into Australia free would be considered wJien the details were being settled. In reply to Dr. H. T. Thacker (Christchurch East), the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said he would look into tne matter and see if anything could be done in the way of granting railway excursion fares, to bandsmen attending the Dominion contest in February next. The following Bills were introduce- 1 by Governor’s message and read a first time: Life Insurance Amendment Bill. Valuation of Land Amendment Bill, Insurance Companies’ Deposits Bill.