PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. BILLS FURTHER CONSIDERED. By Telegraph,-.-Press Assn.—Copyright. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met to-day at 2.30 p.m. The Animals Protection Amendment Bill was introduced by the Hon. G. M. Thomson, and the Juries Act Amendment Bill was introduced by the Hon. J. MacGregor. Both Bills were read a first time. The Rotorua Borough Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred, to the Statutes Revision Committee, which committee recommended that the Naval Defence Amendment Bill and the Land Drainage Amendment Bill should be allowed to proceed without amendment. The Council rose at 4.47 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES . REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. In reply to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), the Hon. Sir R. H. Rhodes said it always had been the practice to supply cheap ammunition for the National Rifle Association. The question of granting free railway passes to every competitor was not so simple. There was a proposal to grant free passes only to the best shots from each district, and the matter would have to be one of negotiation until the Government knew how much time was to he devoted to service matches. It would be impossible to say how much money could be ear-marked for the association.

Replying to Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston North), the Hon. W. Nosworthy said he would consider a proposal to increase the grading fees with a view to devoting the extra revenue to combating disease in flax. On the motion of the Hon. J. G. Coates the Aged and Infirm Persons Protection Amendment Bill was introduced and read a first time.

Amongst other answers to questions Ministers gave the following: That the matter of giving lighthousekeepers an opportunity to vote at the Parliamentary elections would be considered when amendments to the Legislative Act were being considered.

That it is considered undesirable that patients in hospitals should be disturbed bv political issues, and for this reason it is regretted polling places cannot be established at hospitals. That it is not considered desirable to give railway employees a share in the management of the railways, the conditions in New Zealand being quite different to those in England. That it is not proposed to make any reduction in the charges at railway dining rooms at the present time. That it is not the Intention to establish farm colonies where wife deserters and maintenance order dodgers can be made to work and earn moneys to keep tfheir wives and children. The question of dealinff more drastically with the class of offenders referred to is receiving the attention of the department concerned. . That the department will consider during the recess the question of having a statue of the late John Ballance erected in Parliament erounds. That the Railway Department’s experience in the use of self-contained motor-driven vehicles has not been satisfactory, and in view of the present financial position it is not proposed to incur any expenditure in the purchase of petrol and electric rail motors for use on branch lines. That there is not at present any prospect of a variation of the existing mail services with the United Kingdom. The State Advances Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor’s message and read a first time. The House rose at 10.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.