PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 144, 19 June 1926, Page 10

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

A QUIET PACE,

MANY QUESTIONS FOR MINISTERS

(By Telegrapb.—Parliamentary Keporterl

WELLINGTON, Friday.

• The Government is not forcing the pace at the opening of Parliament. It is proposed to introduce the usual monthly Imprest Bill on Tuesday, and commence the Address-in-Reply debate on Wednesday evening. This, it was explained by the Premier, would prevent any interference with the debate. And the debate he added in hopeful tone, will not take long. There were many smiles when Mr. Coates declared, "I do not see why it t should." ! ""We have plenty to say," interpolated ' a Labour member. tr Fes," concluded the Prime Minister, "Members may not agree with mc." Protection of Children. Mr. P. Fraser has given notice of intention to ask the Minister of Education if, in view of the number of offences against children, regulations would be made under the Child Welfare Act restricting the attendance of children at , places of entertainment, fixing the age at which children unaccompanied byparents or guardians should be permitted to attend pictures and theatres, and placing on the proprietors or lessees of the theatres direct responsibility for the supervision of those portions of the i theatres set apart for children. j Interesting to Rentpayers. ; The Minister of Labour, the Hon. G. ,1. Anderson, said he was unable to make a definite statement on the subject when Mr. Fraser asked if the rent; restriction legislation would be continned beyond August 31. The Minister said Mr. Fraser had mentioned the matter several days ago, and he was sorry that the desired informaI tion could not be given to-day. j Mr. Parry: You won't repeal it will you ? The Minister: Repeal what? Mr. Parry: The Act. The Minister: Oh, that is a.matter for consideration. Hauraki Plains Drainage. ; Mr. T. Rhodes gave notice of his Laten- ' tion to ask the Minister of Lands if he intended to set up a commission in regard to Hauraki Plains drainage, and, if so, would it be soon. The same member also gave notice that he would ask if, in the event of the Summertime Bill coming into force, would the railway time-table be adapted, or would standard times be observed. It Pays to Advertise. , The member for Manukau is apparently one of those who have proved the truth of the adage that'"lt pays to advertise. In the House this afternoon he tabled a question concerning the number of copies of Hansard to be made available for distribution in electorates, and mentioned that only 72 copies were received for his constituency, which had increased in population enormously. But howmany electors of Manukau read HanI sard ? Dissolution of Marriage Sought. The examiner of the Standing Orders ' has received a petition from Mildred Elaine, wife of Maurice James Walkington Smyth, of Manurewa, company manager, for a private bill to dissolve her marriage. So far as can be ascertained, it is the first occasion this course has been taken in the history of New j Zealand Parliament.

i Jubilee Institute Petition. I Mr. Clutha Mackenzie (director) and i eleven members of the staff of the ' Jubilee Institute for the Blind, have again petitioned the House to enact legislation to admit them as contribu- • tors to the teachers' superannuation fund 'or the Public Service superannuation fund. The petition (presented by Mr. Jordan) sets out that the institute is aj separate institution under the Act, - and, though one of its chief activities is to maintain a school for blind children, which has been set apart as a special school, the Act makes no provision for superannuation, nor are the staff eligible to become contributors to the superannuation funds. Dairy ControL While Mr. Veitch (Wanganui) has threatened to introduce a biU dealing with the proposal to exercise compulsion over the control of exported dairy produce. Mr. Nash (a Government member) is also antagonistic to the board's poliev He tabled a question to the Prime Minister urging the Government to introduce legislation providing for the repeal of the compulsory clause, which, he declared, takes away from producers the ri<dit they now enjoy to sell their own j produce.