WAR LEGISLATION.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15657, 1 August 1916, Page 7

WAR LEGISLATION.

DAYLIGHT SAVING CLAUSE READ A SECOND TIME. THE BILL JEOPARDISED. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, July 31. In the House of Representatives this evening, tho War Legislation Amendment Bill was further considered in Committeo. THE RENT QUESTION. At clause 5 the Prime Minister moved an amendment making an additional ground for an appeal to « Magistrate by a landlord for recovery of possession of a dwelling, the fact that an agreement to sell liad been entered into. .Mr Hindmarsh contended that this would open the door to bogus agreements for tho purpose of goiung rid of tenants. He u.ged tliat tne Bui suouid be drawn so strictly as to leave no loopnole for the unsciupulous landlord: Mr Massey agreed to an addition to the amendment providing that an agreement to sell should be duly completed by transfer witlun one month. The ciause as amended was adopted. At clause "interpretation," Mr Hindmarsh suggested that the standard rent might l> e at the option of the tenant the "lowest rent" paid between August. 191-1, and December, 1.915. This was r.crepted by the Prime Minister. On the motion of Mr Massey, the following proviso was added to paragraph A of clause t>, "Provided that if tho standard rent us herein defined, computed for a period of ono year, is in any case less than eight per centum of the capital value of th e dwelling-bourse, the standard rent computed for the same period shall, in heu of tho standard rent as so defined, be deemed to bo nn amount equal to eight ner ccntum of such capital. AFFECTING LOCAL AUTHORITIES. A new clause, 2L'a, was added, on tho motion of the Prune -Minister,'empowering local authorities to pay the | insurance premiums of policies of a | limited amount in respect of th e lives ! of omployees being mombers of the Expeditionary Forces. Further :ic w clauses' making provision for tho cancellation of contracts for military supplies; enacting that no person shall be entitled to distrain on rent declared by section 2 to bo irrecoverable; and validating contributions lacal authorities to Navy League and Patriotic Funds were added, on the motion of the Prime Minister. DAYLIGHT SAVING. Mr Sidey moved_ a dalight saving clause, which, he said, had been adopted by several European countries. Mr Massey protested against moving such a debatable clause at this, stage of tho session. Tho conditions were not similar in Britain and here. The proposal had been carried in Britain to save coal, and give an extra hour for work. The hon. gentleman had said tnat ho wanted tho clause in this country to promote sport. On a division the clause was read a second time by 29 votes to 26. Mr Massey moved to report progress. - -- 1 ' appealed to th© Prime Minister to recognise tho wish of the House an d give effect to the clause. legislation ß67 ' simply P la s" in S with Mr Wilford said the Prime Minister must recognise that the House wanted the clause. On several occasions it had been earned, and on this occasion, in p>ite of the fact that the National voied nin? 0 ™ 1 °. f wh . om favoured it, carriL'- y % ainst lt > had been ™in w ag f in ' su ßgested that those members favouring th 0 clause should stand sohdly to the clause and refute to icport progress. by%%o d tes S to n a OerCSS WaS r ° ported Tho House roso at 12.10 a.m.

HOW .MR SIDKY'S CLAUSE WAS RECEIVED.

(SPECIAL to "the rftESS.")

WELLINGTON. July 31. Iho success of Mr Sidey this evening in carrying his new clause to tho war Legislation Bill providing for tho adoption of his Dayiignt saving scheme am--iii£r tHe remamaor of tn© war Jiad uio ettect of bringing tne sitting to a huri neu and abrupt ciose. The House, wnich was a thin one, showed • unmistakably that it was in no humour for a discussion on tne sub- ' ject. "Vote!" "Vote!" "Vote!" were tho impatient exclamations of members whilst Mr Sidey was moving nig clause and whilo tne Prime Minister was speaking against it. Mr Pearco and Mr Wilkinson, who rose to oppose the proposaT, had annculty in obtaining a hearing, the cries of "Vote " being so insistent. 1 When tho clause was put and carried, Mr Massey, wno was obviously greatly annoyed, at once moved to report progress. Mr Sidcy, in making n n appeal to the Primb Minister to accept the verdict of the House, said that all tho Cabinet Ministers who voted with him on previous occasions had now opposed tne clause. Mr Massey (warmly): It i s simply playing with legislation during the "War period. After some remarks by Mr Wilford, the motion to report progress was carried by 29 votpg to 23. Progress was reported, and Mr Massey at once moved the adjournment of the House. The position now is that the whole of this "all sorts" Bill, which contains limitation of rent and other important provisions, has been placed in an uncertain position. The following is the division list on Mr Sidey's clause:— For the Clause (29). Anderson Poole Colvin Sidey j Ell Smith Field. T. A. H. Statham Fletcher Sykes Glover Thacker Hams Thomson Isitt V eitch Jennings x Walker McCallum Webb McCombs Wilford Newman, A. V. Witty Parata Wright Payne Young Poland Against the Clause (2G). Allen Massey Bollard Myers Brown B. Forbes Moswortny Fraser Okey Hanan Pearco Herdman Pomare Berries Rhodes, R. H. Hunter Rhodes, T. W. Hudson Russell Mac Donald Stewart, W. McNab Ward Mander Wilkinson Later. The position in regard to Mr Sidey's clause is that it has been read a second time, but it lias not yet been added to the Bill. To carry a new clause requires two motions —one that the clause be read a second time, and the other that it be added to the Bill. Several members were absent tonight, and only 55 out of the available strength of 71 voted on it. It is still possible to take a further vote on the motion to add the clause to the Bill, and for such motion to be defeated. Whether this or some otker course will be taken remain* to be seen.