EVENING SITTING.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13612, 22 December 1909, Page 7

EVENING SITTING.

The- House* resumed at 7-30 p.m. IX COMMITTEE. The Bills which had been read a second time during tho afternoon sitting were considered in Committee. In the Customs Duties Act Amendment Bill. Mr moved to strike tobacco out of the li.vt of dutiable articles, under clause 2. The amendment was lost by 44 votes to 27. The Bill was reported with a minor amendment. On consideration of the Old , Age Pensions Act Amendment Bill. Mr MASSEY said members did not understand the Bill, and he asked tho Prime Minister if he •would print a table- showing the effect of the sliding seelo proposed under the Bill in regard to property owned by pensioners. Sir JOSEPH WARD replied that he would havo this done, and the table circulated among members. On tho motion of Sir Joseph Ward clause 5 "tvaa amended so as to excludo property transferred to the Public Trustee from the operations of the Act. In the Bflce 'Meetings .Bill, Mr WRIGHT moved that the Bill should operate from January Ist instead of April*"lst, but this was rejected on the voices. Mr DAVEY moved to insert a new clause providing that race meetings be reduced by forty diys per annum. Tliis was ruled out of order by the Chairman, and a motion to report progress in order to obtain the Speaker's ruling on the point was carried by 56 votes to 14. The'SPEAKER ruled that tho nenclause was not in order, being en amendment of the Gaming Act. Another amendment by Mr Davey wes also ruled out of order, on the ground that it was practically the samo as the first amendment. Tho Bill was reported. Tho Workers' Compensation Bill was reported from Committee without amendment. The Defence Bill was then taken in Committee. On the motion of Sir JOSEPH WARD, the following amendments were mad©:—Clause 26, which provided for taking over tho neseta and liabilities of volunteer corps by the Crown was struck out. New clauses were added, providing for the volunteers becoming a territorial force, providing for defence cadets, and reserve corps ceasing to exist, and classifying persons exempt from militia service. Mr ALLEN moved that medical practitioners be excluded from the list of persons exempt. The amendment was lost on the voioee. At the clauses imposing general liability to training, Sir JOSEPH WARD introduced an amendment providing that boys attending secondary schools ehftll remain in the senior cadets until they leave school, even if they arc then over 13 years of ago. This was agreed to. Mr T. E. TAYLOR moved that senior cadets only drill for four whole days, instead of six days. This was deferfted by 65 votes to 3. Mr TAYLOR moved that hoJf-day drills bo redtioed to six. This was negatived by 61 votes to 4. Mr McLAREN moved to delete tho provision fop twenty-four night drills on the ground that it would interfere with technical education. The amendment was lost by 54 votes to 3. " Mr TAYLOR moved to delete the provision for cadofcs being attached to i defence units. This wos rejected by 59 votes to 3. Mr BERRIES objected to the provision that a person failing to regieter for service shall bs liable to a fine t,f £5 and disfranchisement. Mr WRIGHT moved to have liquor excluded from all buildings used for defence "purposes. The motion was defeated. The Bill was still under consideration when the Telegraph ,Office close/1 at 2 a.m.