PARLIAMENT ENDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT ENDS.

LAST DAY OF SESSION. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. SEVERAL BILLS PASSED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 11 a.m. The agreement arrived at by conference on the Main Highways Bill was approved. The “Washing-Up” Bill was passed with minot amendmnts, and the Chattels Transfer Amendment Bill was passed without amendment. The Finance Bill was slightly amended in committee and was then put through tis final stages and passed. The Native Trustee Amendment Bill, the Scaffolding and Excavation Bill, the Native “Washing-Up Bill, and the Rural Credit Associations Bill were passed without amendment. The Friendly Societies Amendment Bill was passed with a minor amendment. A Bill promoted by the Hon. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, the Animals’ Protction and Game Amendment (No. 2) Bill, was passed. This provides for the absolute protection of pukeko and paradise cluck.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House of Representatives met at 11 o’clock. Replying to Mr. G. Mitehell (Wellington South), Air. Massey said the report of the commission on soldiers’ pensions would be made public as soon aa Cabinet had been able to consider it and decide upon its course of action. Replying to Mr. F. N. Bartram (Grey Lynn), the Minister of Marine said the question of putting a light on the Three Kings Islands was under consideration. A light would be very expensive to erect and maintain, and the question of installing a radio beacon was now being investigated. The whole question required careful experiment and thinking out. Replying to Mr. A. D. McLeod (Wairarapa), the Hon. W. Nosworthy said there was no reason why the Meat Board should not publish from time to time the killing charges of the freezing companies throughout the Dominion. If any company was unduly raising those charges, as he understood two were, he would draw the attention of the chairman of the Meat Board to the matter. Replying to Mr. H. Poland (Ohinemuri), the Hon. D. 11. Guthrie said the Railway Department was considering a reduction in the carriage of dairy produce similar to that recently granted meat producers. Replying to Mr. H. Poland (Ohine* mnri), the Hon. C, J, Parr said the Education Department was going as far as it could in the matter of subsidising children riding to school. To subsidise every such child would coat £20,000 annually. Replying to Mr. H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labor Party), Mr. Massey said he, next session, would take into consideration the question of passing the Legislature Amendment Bill, conferring political rights on public servants. REVENUE IMPROVING • Mr. Massey, in the course of a statement, said the 4£ per cent, tax-free debentures outstanding had been recently reduced by conversion and other operations by' £6,074,005, which he considered most satisfactory. The Treasury informed him revenue for the expired period of the financial year was well up to the estimate. There was no falling off, and the main heads of revenue were showing signs of improvement, and, so far as expenditure was concerned, constant pressure was being kept up on departments, and that would go on with a view of keeping the expenditure down to the minimum. THE DAIRY POOL.

Discussing the Dairy Produce Export Control Bill, Mr. Massey stated that he had received a cable from England which showed that several large merchants in Tooley Street favored the Bill, which would result in a reduction of freights and regular shipments. Mr. T. M. Wilford said the Opposition was not opposed to the Bill: they only wanted time to understand it. At his suggestion Mr. Massey promised that copies of the Bill should be sent to every factory in the Dominion. Amendments made in the Finance and “Washing-up” Bills by the Legislative Council were agreed to. The conference on the Mining Bill reported that they had reached an agreement. THE HIGHWAYS BILL. Amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Friendly Societies Amendment. Bill were agreed to. An amendment to the Main Highways Bill was brought down by Governor-Gen-ral’s message. The amendment provided for striking out the fixed period of appointments (three years) of members of the board and making it at the pleasure of the Governor-General. The amendment was agreed to and transmitted to the Legislative Council. THE CLOSING SCENES. Mr. Massey, in felicitious terms, congratulated the Speaker and the chairman of committees upon the manner in which they had discharged the duties of their offices, and expressed the hope that amongst the legislaiton nassted there would be many measures which would be of benefit to the Donrnion. He said the election would be held on December 7, and he trusted the contest would he fought out in the best spirit. He thought the changes this election would be fewer than usual. He felt sure the best wishes of all would go with those members who, for their own reasons, were not seeking re-election. The Premier’s remarks were supported by the leaders of the other parties, and the Premier then moved that the House adjourn. This was challenged, and on a division the motion was lost by 20 votes to 17, and the fourth session of the twentieth Parliament, which lasted 18 weeks, came to an end with the singing of the National Anthem at 10.45. The schedule of business of the House of Representativs and of Bills passed and lapsed during the session is: Select committees on public matters, 24; public Bills received the Royal assent, 83; reserved for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure, 2; dropped or otherwise disposed of, 33;

petitions presented from Europeans 251, from Maoris 142; divisions in the whole House 13. in committee 20; days of meeting;, 76; hours of sitting before midnight, 460 hours 19 minutes; hours of sitting after midnight. 7 hours 49 minutes; daily average, 6 hours, 10 min.