PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. RIGHTS OF CIVIL SERVANTS. ELECTION PRIVILEGE OPPOSED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Council decided to insist on, its amendment, to the Main Highways Bill, providing for two Representatives of the counties on the board. Managers were appointed for a conference with managers of the House. The Council also decided to insist on the amendments made in the Mining Amendment Bill, and a conference with managers of the House was arranged. The “Washing-Up” Bill was read a second time and referred to the Lands Committee. The Rural Credit Associations Bill and the Friendly Societies Bill were read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Hon. Sir William Fraser moved the committal of the Legislature Amendment Bill, ( giving conditional political rights to civil servants. The Hon. G. M. Thomson said he did not think a civij servant, should have the right to become a candidate and if defeated resume his former position. The Hon. W. Earnshaw also opposed on the ground that the Bill gave rights to a civil servant not granted to others. The Hop. W. H. Triggs stressed the need for civil servants keeping clear of active participation in politics. The Hon. O. Samuel also opposed the Bill, and criticised the method by which the scheme was to he worked. The Hon. J. McGregor suggested the Government should ask Parliament. for power to remove the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants from affiliation with the Alliance of Labor. The Hon. Sir Thos. Mackenzie expressed the opinion that the Bill would result in a condition of affairs similar in §ome respects to the worst form of American party politics. The motion to commit the Bill was lost on the voices. The Rating Amendment Bill was passed. The Horouta Maori District Licensing Bill was passed. The Legislature Amendment Bill (No. 2), joining the Chatham Islands to the Lyttelton electorate, was passed, after Sir William Fraser explained that if national prohibition was carried it would operate The Council rose at 10 p.m. till to-mor-row morning.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House of Representatives met at 11.30 a.m. In reply to Mr. G. R. Sykes (Masterton), the Hon. C. J. Parr said the Government had been looking into the question of a superannuation scheme for nurses, but as the actuaries reported that it would require a subsidy from the State of £20,000 annually, it Qould not be entertained at present. Cabinet was now considering a less ambitious scheme. In reply to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), the Hon. J. G. Coates said engineers were of opinion that a better railway route to the Wairarapa than had previously been discovered was now under survey, but he was?not in a position to give details. Replying to Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central), Mr. Massey said the State Advances Department would be taking over the Housing Department almost straight away. He would announce the new scheme when the details Were completed. Replying to Mr. Fraser, Mr. Massey said that if the New Zealand Labor unions would be satisfied with the British Labor representative at the International Labor Conference under the League fo Nations at Geneva, perhaps something could be arranged, but it would cost a great deal of money to send a representative from New Zealand direct, in addition to which Labor had nothing to learn from other countries in the matter of labor legislation. PROGRESS OF BILLS. The Hon. E. P. Lee moved the second reading of the Chattels Transfer Amendment Bill, which, he explained, protected buyers and sellers of chattels affected by unregistered instruments. The Bill passed all stages without amendment. The Native Land Amendment and the Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill was recommitted. Minor amendments were inserted in Clauses 7 and 28, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. The Scaffolding and Excavatiop Bill was introduced. The Hon. G. J. Anderson explained the Bill was the result of a conference between rhe parties interested, and their suggestions were embodied in it. The Bill was passed through all stages. VOTE FOR THE CHATHAMS. The Legislature Amendment Bill (No. 2), giving representation to the Chatham Islanders, was passed through ail stages. The European portion of the population is added to the Lyttelton electorate and the Maoris to the Western Maori electorate. Mr. R. McCallum (Wairau) moved an amendment giving the Governor-General power to make full provision for hospital patients recording their votes at the general election. Mr. Massey promised to give effect to the proposal, if practicable, and the amendment was withdrawn. THE FINANCE BILL. Further clauses to the Finance Bill were introduced by Governor’s message, making provision for the distribution, of the surplus profits of the accident insurance branch of the Government Life Insurance Department by way of rebates of premiums in lieu of bonuses; that the service of an original contributor to the Public Service Superannuation Fund shall include the Education Service; that the service of a contributor to the teachers’ superannua- • tion fund shall include Government ser- j vice; altering the dates of the closing of the Public Service and teachers’ superannuation funds. The clauses were passed without further comment. On the third reading, Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) congratulated the Govern- I ment on renewing the rent restriction legislation until July 31 next, by which time Parliament would be in session, when the whole question could be reviewed, but he regretted the renewal of the protection formerly given returned soldiers had not been favorably considered. The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) asked what the Government was doing to put the Public Service superannuation j

funds on a sound footing. The Hon. C. J. Parr replied that £50,000 was voted on the Supplementary Estimates to strengthen the railway and £25,000 was voted to strengthen the teachers’ superannuation funds. This would put them on a sound basis for this year. After the Premier had briefly replied, the Bill was read a third time and passed. THE HIGHWAYS BILL. The managers appointed to confer with the Legislative Council on the Main Highways Bill reported that they had agreed to increase the members of the board from four to six, giving the Government an additional representative. and two members who' would be appointed on the recommendation of the Counties’ Association executive. It is understood one of these will be a North Island and one a South Island representative. These amendments were agreed to. The Hon. J. G. Coates stated he wished to have the term of appointment of three years struck out, and it was agreed to ask the House to agree to a Governor’s message to-morrow. The House then rose at 12.30 a.m. till 11 a .m.