PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 242, 9 October 1920, Page 12

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

t I HOTES FROM THE GAIXERT. j (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary EcDorter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT LOAN. The (Discharged Soldier* , Settlement Loans (Bill came before 'the House of Representatives this afternoon, when the 1 Prime Minister moved the second reading. The debate concluded at a late hour, and the bill was read a second time, put through committee, and passed. In the Legislative Council the Offenders Probation Bill and the Westport Harbour (81l were read a first time. The Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill and the Bay of 'Islands Harbour ißill were read a second time. I TEACHERS' SUPERANNUATION. I Replying to a question from Dr. Thacker whether the period spent at a training college was taken into consideration in the assessnuuit of superannuation, the Minister of Education said that the practice was observed until quite recently. The Solicitor-General had since advised against it. The wholn matter of superannuation, liot only. o( teachers, but of the public service, wan before Cabinet, but he was doubtful whether legislation would be brought down this seeeion. I ' DEARTH OF HOUSES. , In asking for information on the Housing Bill, Mr. P. Fruser quoted a case where a man with a family had come to Wellington to work, and wne expending practically all his earnings in boarding out his family. This, he said, was one of a dozen cases that had come under his notice. Mr. Witty expressed the hope that the other side of the question would receive attention, namely provision for widows whow ere unable, to eject tenant 4, who were "farming" houses. The Premier, in the absence of the Minister of Labour, said he understood the latter was particularly anxious to get hie measure before the House, and he understood that the anomalies mentioned would be considered. Unsatisfactory progress in the. erection of workers' 'home* at Miramnr, Wellington, was mentioned by Mr. Mitchell. Something was radically wrong in the contract between the two ■ parties, and that progress was not satisfactory. Much time had been lost and he dW not think the contract should ' be allowed to go on. Mr. Mitchell The contractor hasn't 1 finished one dwelling in nine months. AUCKLAND HARBOUR LOAN. When the Auckland Harbour Biarl Empowering Bill was before the Council to-day, Sir Francis Bell drew RtlertUoh ' to a clause which empowers trustees under thu Savings Bank Act, to invtst i funds in the proposed £00,000 loan. Hβ : said he Would have, to oppose that clause when the bill reached thu committee stage. The bill wan read a seAmd time.