HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 2732, 30 July 1915, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON, July 29. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Financial Statement. In reply to Sir Joseph Ward, the Prime Minister stated that it was.not proposed to l>ring down.the Fimmcial Statement till Tuesday. , ■' Bills. Mr Voitch gave notice of his intention to introduce-the Public Health Act Amendment Bill. The Bluff Harbour Improvement-Bill was introduced by Sir Joseph Ward, and read a first time. The amendments made in the Arbitration Act Amendment Bill, by the Legislative Council were, on the motion of the Hon. A. L. Hcrdman, agreed to. The second readings of the Whakatane Harbour Act Amendment and [Empowering Bill (Mr Mac Donald), and (the Tauranga Borough Council and iTaurnnga Harbour Board Empowering i Bill (Hon W. H. Hevvics) were agroGd 'to. \ ' ■ State Advances. On the House going into committee on the State Advances Act Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr Wilford, the i Speaker gave his ruling on Clause 3, I which compelled borrowers from the State to insure in the State Fire Office. The Speaker ruled that the clause imI posed increased, charges on a certain [section of the people, and thereforo was not in order. . When- Clause/ 2, dealing with the transfers of the' Department's , funds had .boon-passed the Chairman of Committees ruled Clause 3 out of order. Mr Russell questioned . the ruling, holding that Mr Spoakor had not ruled the clause out of order, .but had only directed the chairman's attention to it. leaving the cor-niittee to decide whether it would pass tho clause or not. He moved to report progress to have the Speaker's ruling made clear. Ho contended it was quite erroneous to suppose there would be any increase in the charges to the people. Mr Pearos contended that the clause would increase the' charges on the people because it would compel farmers insured with tho Farmers' Mutual Association to pay a higher rate to tho State Office. Messrs Isitt and Ell argued that no charge was imposed on the peopleThe Prime Minister said it was not a question of increasing charges on the pcople_ but whether a private member could, introduce a clause increasing tho revenue. That was the function of the Crown. •

The Speaker, in reviewing his decision, said there was nothing to prevent a member moving a clause which increased the revenue unless the clause imposed additional charges on the people. He was of opinion that this clause did impose extra charged on certain people. During the debato tho scale of fees charged by the Farmers' Mutual Associations and the State Fire Office had been compared, and it wain clear that if farmers had to leave the former and insure with tho latter they would have to pay higher premiums. The* clause would distinctly imposo charges on .the people, and was therefore, not in order. ' On the committee resuming, Clause ,3 was'struck out and the Bill passed as amended. Unregistered Nurses. Mr Payno moved the second reading ■of the Unregistered Nurses JiegistraI tion Bill, to enable qualified nurses, I who are unregistered on account of not having the provisions of the Act of 1911 and 1904 brought under their notice in due time to be registered, and for the purpose of restoring the licenses of those holding private hospital licenses prior to 1906. Mr Payno dealt with the difficulty experienced by country settlers in procuring tho services of nurses in the back blocks. He was prepared-to hand the Bill over to tho Public Health Department, with a view : of the list of nurses being extended. i The Hon. R. H. Rhodes said there was no objection to qualified women acting as nurses in country districts, \ where the services of midwives wero ! not available, but ho would not open j the door to inexperienced nurse»s. The Bill would, no doubt, be a useful one and ho was prepared to take it up. Messrs Buddo and Jennings commended the Bill, which was read a second time. Saturday Holiday. ( ' Mr Payno moved the Second reading, of the Factories Act Amendment Bill, the purpose of which was, to give factory .workers a full holiday on Saturday jixfter a mutual, arrangement had been made . with 'tho employers to make up tho time during the week. Mr Poolo thought the Bill would be a.useful addition to our industrial legislation, promoting the interests of .m- J p/oyees without hampering tbo *.:»-'• picryers. j The Primo Minister said he saw no objection to tho measure, but as it was an experiment he thought that it should go beforo the Labour Bills Committee. Messrs Veiteh, Pearcp, and Han an supported tho Bill, which was'read a second timo and referred to-tho Labour Bills Committee. A War Bill. The Hon. A. L. Herdman moved fclio second reading of the Crimes Bill, which, ho said, was a war Bill, inasmuch as it wa.s intended to give the Courts power to punish persons found]

guilty 1 of endangering the safety of ships*. The Bill also made it a crime to/incite others to endanger the lives of passengers or the safety of cargo, or to conspire to do so. The punishment was death. , Mr Poole strongly supported the Bill as a measure of defence to our mercantile marine, and the second reading was agreed to. Settled Lands. The Hon. A..L Herdmau moved the third reading of the Settled Land Act Amendment Bill, explaining the changes effected relating to estates and beneficiaries. Tho Bill was read a. third time and passed. Expiring Laws. The Expiring Laws Amendment Bill was put through its committee stages! without amendment, and was read a third time and passed. • \ The House adjourned till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday