PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 171, 21 July 1928, Page 21

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

I NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. A DAT ON BILLS. SEVERAL SMALL MEASURES. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Six bills were discussed in the House to-da\. Two hours were devoted to the Mental Defectives Amendment Bill, and the debate was then adjourned. The Orchard and Garden Diseases Biil was read a second time, put through the committee stage, and finalised without amendment. The next four measures on the Order Paper, the Surveyors' Institute Amendment Bill, Surveyors' Registration Bill, Statutory Land Charges Registration Bill, and Magistrate's Court Bill, were read a second time, the Surveyors' Registration Bill being referred to the Lands Committee. The House dispensed with the supper adjournment in order to finish the week's work by 9.45 p.m. Preferential Voting. The Preferential Voting Bill was revived by Mr. McCombs (Lvttelton). He explained it on the first reading. Its main provision is that on all questions on which electors have to decide between more than two issues they shall indicate their preference in numerical order. Later on, when tht Licensing Bill was considered and the issue reduced to two, his bill would not apply, but if three or four issues were included in the licensing ballot paper, then preferential voting would apply. The bill was read a first time without debate.

Earthquake Insurance. An amendment to the State Fire Insurance Act, introduced by the Hon. W. Nos worthy, considerably widens the scope of that office. It is authorised to undertake insurance against loss by earthquake, and may also undertake any class of insurance business which is commonly undertaken in New Zealand or elsewhere. The general manager is to have the same powers of reinsurance as he possessed in regard to lire policies. Ignorant of the Act. Teachers from all parts of the Dominion have petitioned the House, through Mr. Kayll, to have restored to them their right of joining the teachers' superannuation fund as from the time of appointment. They declare that they were unaware of the provision that within six months of appointment they should have elected to join this fund, and, as no information was given by head teachers or Education Boards, they failed to take advantage of their ricliLs. They could only commence to contribute on being permanently appointed as assistant, sole, or head teachers. They have lost eleven years' service in counting for superannuation, and ask that this term be included on condition that arrears of superannuation contributions are pa .. There are 4-50 teachers concerned in the petition.