PARLIAMENT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLIII, Issue 8, 28 July 1916, Page 1

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TUESDAY, JULY 25. WELLINGTON. July 25. Tlit' Council met at 2.30 p.m. and after the transaction of formal business adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. CENSORSHIP OF FILMS. Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister for Internal Affair*) gave notice of his intention to introduce a Bill providing for the censorship of kineinatograph films. ORCHARD TAX. Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald (Minister for Agriculture) gave notice of his intention to introduce the Orchard Tax Bill. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL. The Legislative Council Amendment Bill, received from the Council, was received a first time. j DARDANELLES COMMISSION. I Kt. Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister). replying to Mr H. J. Okey (Taranaki). said the Government had not received any communication regarding the Dardanelles Commission. | STEAMER WITH GERMAN NAME, j Replying to Mr G. V. Pearce (Patea), j "the Prime Minister said that the arrival J in Wellington of a steamer with a Ger- ' man name had not been overlooked. The closest inquiry was being made, and the Government would see that British people were not prejudiced thereby. He hoped to be able to make a statement on the subject in a few days. HEALTH OF THE CAMPS. Replying to Dr. Thacker (Christchurch East.), Hon. James Allen (Minister for Defence) said there was no chance (so far as it was humanly possible to say) of any. recurrence of epidemics at the camps this winter. WAR ANNIVERSARY. Keplying to Mr G. R. Sykes (Masterton), the Prime Minister stated that the Government did not intend to ask lie public to observe a holiday on August 4, but was asking local bodies to call meetings on that day and pass resolutions similar to those 'passed last year. SEW ZEALAND MEAT IN LONDON ttt. Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister) laid on the table a statement «Kffling the prices paid for New Zealand meat, purchased by the Board of Trade and sold in London. He admitted that the position was not altogether -satisfactory, hut hoped to have an opportunity of looking into it personally no distant date. Mr G. W. Witty (Riccarton) said that tie Government should take care that we local consumer was not handicapped «jr the prices being unduly raised in the Wintry owing to the operations of the I "oard of Trade. '■ Hr G. V. Pearce (Patea) said that if j profit was made it should go into pockets of the Government, not into • pockets of speculators, as he felt it ; *as doing. oswor tliy (Ashburton) said that • w« Blatter was so serious that he hoped j «>e Prime Minister would look into it carefully when in England. ■ "r Payne (Grey Lynn) said be did °ot admit that war profits should be' ®ade, but everyone knew they were beHR made. That being so, they should jwtamly see that the producer got and not the speculator. " til** Newman (Rangitikei) said were was a good deal of dissatisfaction : among farmers'regarding the constitutor the committee that controls col- ■ <®jal meat in London. Members should j ? et that had it not been for the • it would not have been possible Jjjt snips to carry the meat- Home. f !j j ' • F. Massey, in reply, de•cnaed the constitution of the commit"*6 in London, and said that as a result r ®r inquiry he was quite satisfied that it • as not using the position for its own . ®terests. EVENING SITTING: • The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. : native " washing-up " bill. F*iwi I \r amen< k llent . Native Lands -Maori Councils Act was introduced message. . H. Herriee (Minister for |*n, Affairs) proposed that it be reto the Native Affaire Committee, saw it was a native "washing-up" [ MILITARY service bill. j ■ atMf ttdnient of the Military Ser-

vict» Bill was introduced by Governor's message. Hon. James Allen (Minister for Defence) explained that the present Act did not give power to inoculate or vaccinate members of the forces. It was necessary that this power should bo given. The amendment was agreed to. RENT RESTRICTION. The Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Legislative Amendment Bill. He explained that the principal feature was that referring to the restriction of the increase of rent. The legislation proposed was based on the English Act. He said the Government did not wish to unduly interfere with the rights of landlords but desired to prevent excessive increases of rents. The Bill had been rendered necessary by the overcrowding in Wellington, which, of course, was due to the concentration of troops in camp near the city. The Act was to remain in force during the present war and six months thereafter. The Bill also urovided for certain concessions in regard to applications for land by members of the Expeditionary Forces, for the appointment of temporary* teachers during the war, ior preserving the rights of soldiers in. connection with superannuation funds, lor the appointment of temporary members of the police force and for dealing with several other matters wh;ch in the interest of soiditrs required attention. Mr Witty (Riccarton) said that ,he approved of the proposals in regard to the restriction of increases in rents. On the whole he thought the Bill a good l one, although some amendments might be necessary. Mr Harris (Waitemata) endorsed the proposals in the Bill, and thought that men who had been discharged medically unfit should be allowed to Darticipate with men who had been overseas in the provisions in regard to land settlement. He thought the Bill a good, useful measure. Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) adversely criticised the disconnected nature of the Bill, which he said might be described as an ''all sorts Bill." He thought the rent question should have been provided -for in a small special Bill, applications for redress tt) be adjudicated by a stipendiary magistrate. Hon. G. \Y. Russell (Minister for Internal Affairs said that the provisions for the postponement of the elections of members of local authorities was designed on the lines of the English Act. It was not desirable that anything approaching loval political camps should be organised during the war. but rather that all energies should be devoted to presenting-a united front to the enemy. There were 116 boroughs, 62 town districts, 25 harbor boards, also hospital •board* and drainage boards. He was assured that the postponement of these local elections would result in a saving of from £4OOO to £SOOO. County elections could be provided for if necessary next year. The debate was continued by Messrs Rhodes, Payne, McCombs, Wright, Mander, Webb, Field and Walker. At 11.50 p.m. the second reading was carried. I The Bill was taken in committee and the short title passed. Progress was reported. ! The House rose at 11.55 T).m.