PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S SITTING. WARNING TO AGITATORS. WOMEN AS PEACE JUSTICES. k By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. Seddon (Westlaud), the Hon. J. G. Coates said the departmental report on the delay in connection. with the Otira Tunnel stated the delay was caused by the loss of machinery owing to the wreck of the Wiltshire. From this it appeared all the necessary steps were being taken to overtake the loss, but that it was improbable traffic would be able to pass through the tunnel before February or March. In reply to Dr. H. T. Thacker (Christchurch East), Mr. Massey said the question of legislation validating donations by local bodies to the Pearson Blind Memorial Fund was on the Cabinet schedule, but he had not yet had an opportunity of consulting Cabinet about it. He hoped to do so in the course of a few days. Replying to Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South), Mr. Massey said he had not beard details of speeches delivered to unemployed in Post Office Square on Monday, but he was enquiring. The Government did not wish to limit liberty of speech, but he knew there were some people going about this country advocating Bolshevism, and he wished them to understand that they were not unnoticed by the Government. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time: Wairau Harbor Board Empowering Bill (Mr. McCallum), Proportional Representation and Elective Bill (Mr. Veitch), Justices of the Peace Amendment Blil (Mr. Wilford). In connection with the latter, Mr. Wilford said he had introduced the Bill for the purpose of drawing the attention of the Government to the necessity of appointing women justices of the peace. He had seen many instances in which women acted most efficiently in this office, and he thought the Government should consider widening the appointments of justices by including a number of women. Several members supported the .principle of the Bill. Mr. Massey moved the customary resolution of condolence with the relatives of the late Mr. Seymour Thorne George, a former member of the House of Representatives and of the Legislative Council. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wilford and supported by other members. The House rose at 3.40 p.m. till 7.30 p.m., as a mark of respect to the memory of deceased.

The evening sitting was occupied with the opening of the debate on the Address-in-Reply. The House rose at 9.2 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.