PARLIAISENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 July 1922, Page 5

PARLIAISENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. PRIESTS AND MARRIAGE ACT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to questions by the Hon. M. Cohen, based on the recent cablegram from Sydney concerning the Marriage Act, .Sir. William Fraser said what Mr. Massey said to the Rev. Wilson was to the effect that the Marriage Act of 1920 was working to his satisfaction and that he w unaware of any complaint having been lodged in regard to it. Sir William Fraser added that the Regis-trar-General had stated that he had not reported to the Government any instance of priests or clergymen offering to treat the Act with contempt. The Act was working satisfactorily as far as the department was concerned.

The Hon. G. Samuel was re-elected Chairman of Committee.

The Hon. Col. W. E. Collins opened the Address-in-Reply debate by saying that one of the most important questions for discussion at the Hague Conference would be whether or not the Russian Government was to be recognised. Tn deciding that question it must be remembered that, however hateful the actions of that Government might be. Russia had rendered valuable assistance to the Allies in the early part of the war. He concluded with an expression of satisfaction at the setting up of a Committee by the Minister of Health to investigate venereal disease. It was his firm belief that if these diseases were tackled in a proper manner they would disappear from New Zealand in three or four years. The Hon. Col. G. J. Smith seconded the motion, saying he hoped much from legislation dealing with the publi? debt. Ho feared he himself was rather cynical of the results obtained by conferences such as those spoken of by the mover, and although he hoped war was far off, he had his doubts. To him it seemed that the Washington Conference had merely provided breathing-space. Though on paper there had been a limitation of naval armaments, in reality the effect was small, for the aims affected by limitation would be of little use in future wars. No treaty or agreement would be binding on a nation fighting for its existence. The I skate was adjourned, and the Council rose at 4.37 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. HELPING RETURNED SOLDIERS. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei), the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, as Minister for Lands, said the Government was not only willing but anxious to do everything possible to assist returned soldiers through the present time of agricultural and pastoral stress, and he hoped shortly .to be able to announce the Government’s policy in this connection, but so far Cabinet had not finally decided upon the details. He hoped that when Cabinet had come to a decision it would be found that material assistance would be given to returned soldiers occupying land under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act. THE LICENSING QUESTION. Replying to Mr. W. T. Jennings (Waitomo), Mr. Massey said the Parliamentary Committee set up by the House last session to report on the licensing question had not yet drawn up its report, which consequently was not available. On the motion of Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton), the Proportional Representation and Effective Voting Bill, No. 2, was introduced and read a first time after a brief debate. The debate on the Address-in-Re ply was then continued. The House rose at 10.35 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.