THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1221, 1 September 1911, Page 7

THE HOUSE.

DAYLIGHT SAVING DIS6USSED, THE COUNTRY RACING CLUBS. On behalf of Sir. A. Guinness, notice of tho National Sickness and Accident Insurance Bill was given by Mr. J. Colvin. The. Waikowhai Park Bill (Mr. Lang) was read a first time. Napier Harbour. Board Loan Bill was discharged from the order paper at the request ,of Mr. Brown, who had introduced it. THE LIBRARY. Mr. W. ERASER (Wakatipu), as chairman of the Joint Library Committee, presented tho report of the Chief Librarian (Mr. C. Wilson). A. resolution .of the committee, to restrict the, recess privileges, was confirmed (as reported elsewhero); also a resolution to appoint an additional member to the staff at a salary, to begin with, of Hot less than £156 per annum. LOCAL BILLS, The Papakaio Water Race District Bill (Hon.' T. Y. Duncan) passed through committee without amendment. The following local Bills 'were read a second time, without discussion:— Greytown Town Lands and Hospital Lands Exchange (Mr. Buchanan). .Oamaru Municipal Exchango and Market Reserve Leasing (Hon.' T. Duncan). Wanganui Harbour Board Vcstine (Mr. Hogan). 5 Sir Donald M'Lean Memorial Park {Mr. Brown). ' DAYLIGHT'SAVING BILL. MR. MASSEY'S SUGGESTION. On the motion to go into Committee-on the New Zealand Mean Time Bill (Mr. Sidey) being moved shortly beforo 5.30 p.m.,

Mr. W. F. MASSEY (Leader of the Opposition) said he would be willing to see the daylight .saving scheme of the Bill tried for the next two years in tho Goveminent offices and Parliament. If the results were satisfactory its application could then bo made general.

The House having gone into Committee, The PRIME MINISTER' (Sir Joseph Ward) expressed Approval of the principle of the Bill,' but said that a partial trial, as suggested by Mr. Massoy, would be inconvenient and would lead to failure. The daylight-saving scheme would be incomparably, better tor the fanners.

Mr. Massey: Would it? You try it. Sir Joseph Ward said it would be better for tho farmers, the workers, and tho .whole of tho peopie. He thought that, the Houso should meet at. 11 a.m. and I riso finally at B p.m. ' Jlr. Massey: Why not make that change? Sir Joseph Ward said that if the idea were carried out tho Hodse would have to set apart one day for committees. It would do more work, and great inconvenience would )>e prevented in the caso of members who now had to sit on Committees in tho morning and go into the House in tho afternoon. Ho was in favour of the House sitting in daylight, It would be more practical and sensible iu every way. Air. Massey: Hear, hear. Sir Joseph Ward also said lie thought, the House should not sit after 11 p.m. There might be exceptions when business was delayed anil blocked. Every row lie remembered in tho House had occurrcd after midnight.. Ho thought it would ho tho proper tiling to let tho Bill go through, and give it a fair trial in the country. If it applied to all, there would be little or no inconvenience. Mr. W. C. BUCHANAN (Wairarapa) said that he could not imagine it possible for a country district to approve of the Bill. He was sure that the members of the Houso had not properly considered the BUI, and still less , had tho people of the country. Many dairy farmers now got 'up at 3 a.m., and it tho Bill were law they would have to get up at 2 a.m. , , Members: They would go to bed an hour earlier. ~ „ „ , ~ Mr. Buchanan said the House should make sure they had the country oehind them before they went on with the Hill. A Forbidden Word. Mr. J. HANAN (Invarcargill) spoke in favour of tho Bill. Mr. F. M. B, FISHER (Wellington Central): I would suggest tliat those who are in favour of tho Bill, as I am Mr. Hanan: So am I. Mr. Fisher: Then why stonewall it? The hon. member- withdrew the last expression at tho request' of the Chairman. He then suggested that the speaking should be left at that stage to those who were opposed to the Bill. Mr. MASSEY said that if the Prime Minister would bring down an amendment to the Standing Orders to prevent the House sitting after midnight, he would heartily support it. He would rather stay in Wellington longor, even this election year, than have legislation put through in the small hours of tho morning without proper consideration, as had been, done in tho past. Ho felt sure the Bill had not been much discussed by the farmers' unions and A. and P. societies, and it would not suit the country districts. . Sir JOSEPH WARD said that if a definite. hour were fixed for tho rising of Parliament the coroilar;/ to that would bo the closure. If this were done' a minority would be able at their pleasure to hold up reforms by prolonging discussion. Personally, ho was quite prepared to rise at eleven o'clock every night, provided a reasonable amount of business had been done. The obstacle at present was the blocking of business by the Opposition. The work of Parliament could be very well carried out if it met at 11 a.m. and rose at 6 p.m. on three days in the week instead of four. The work of committees could then bo carried out under much better conditions than at present. . ' Mr. G. WITTY (Biccarton) invited the hon. gontleman who had introduced the Bill to - get up and explain it. It was surely deserving of some explanation after" what tho Leader of tho Opposition had stated. Jlr. G. W. FORBES (Huruntti) also appealed for more light upon the proposals advanced in the Bill. Courting in the Twilight. ' Mr. G. J. ANDERSON (Mataura) considered it a pity that the House i should bo any longer delayed over tho Bill, and suggested that it should be withdrawn. It would be a pity to abolish the delights of courting in the twilight. . A lion, gentleman, who could give to tho country tho Dentists Bill, Musicians Bill, and Accountants Bill, was bound to come back, and could very well afford.to - .withdraw this Bill now, and reintroduce it next

Mr. Nosworthy: He wants a knighthood.

Dr; TE RANGIHIROA (Northern Maori) regretted. the oversight 'of tho hon. gentleman in failing to have tho Bill translated into Maori. He heartily supported the Bill. Sir. D. BTJICK (Palmerston) said ho had no great objection to the Bill, but it proposed a drastic step, and full inquiries should be instituted before the step was made. Mr. G. WITTY (Riccarton) thought, the hon. gentleman was not treating the House with the respect to which it was entitled. He seemed determined not to give any information. Mr. A. S. MALCOLM (Clutha) express ed very warm approval of what had fallen from the Prime Minister in reference to reforming the procedure of the House. . ■ Mr. Jennings asked if the hon. gentleman was in order in referring to the procedure of the\ House. The Chairman ruled that the hon. gentleman was in order. Mr. Malcolm continued . that' nothing would bs lost if a system of early hours came into vogue. Mr. W. NOSWORTHY (Ashburton) complained that tho proceedings seemed to have degenerated into a dumb show so far as the honJ member in charge of the-Bill was concerned. Mr. D. M'LAREN (Wellington East) said it was.a painful thing-— Mr. Jennings: It would be a painful thing if they had ft Bill coming on afterwards. (Laughter.) Mr. J. STALLWORTHY (Kaipara) also spoke. Mr. SIDEY said it. seemed to him an open question whether some of the members who' had put questions had been quite serious. Mr. MALCOLM said he would move later to -have the word "mean" deleted from the short title of the Bill. They did not want anything mean in that House.

Mr. L. M. ISITT (Christohurch North), defended tho Bill, and stated that lio had been charged by sundry of his constituents to do his best for it. "Time This Farce Should End." Mr. J. BOLLARD (Eden) moved that the Chairman leave the chair. Ho thought it time that this farce should end. His niotioi was intended as a protest against Wi'athad gone on that evening. Mr. C. H. POOLE (Auckland West) thought it would be a great pity to press the amendment at the present" juncture. A good many members were anxious to see this Bill go upon tho Statute Book, so that it should have a trial. Mr. ANDERSON asked the Chairman to rule as' to whether the motion if carried would kill other Bills than the Mean Time Bill set down for hearing that evening. The CHAIRMAN ruled that it would, but stated that if it. moved "that tho Chairman leave the chair on this Bill," only the Mean Time Bill would bo effccted. Mr. JAMES ALLEN (Bruce) moved an amendment accordingly. Mr. R. A. WRIGHT (Wellington South) thought it would be a great pity if the Bill wero killel. Mr. H. G. ELL (Christohurch East) commended the Bill. He believed that even though it. did not get upon the Statute Book this session it would got thore before long. Mr. F. M. B. EISHER (Wellington Central) urged that tho member for Eden should withdriw his motion. Mr. SIDEY also asked the mover to withdraw the motion. Mr. J. P. LUixE (Wellington Suburbs) said tho proposal of tho member for Eden was wrong in principle. Complaints wero frequently made about inroads on privnto members' privileges, and this was an attempt of the kind made by a member of the Opposition. Mr. E. NEWMAN (Manawatu) suggested that a straight-out voto should bo taken upon the Bill. Mr. MALCOLM raised a question' as to what was the motion before the Committce. Tho CHAIRMAN ruled that Mr. Bollard's proposal, "that the Chairman leave the chair," was the motion, and that Mr. J. Allen's addition "upon this Bill" was the amendment. ~,,,, Mr. Wright moved that the Speakers ruling bo taken upon this ruling. On a division tho motion was defeated by 43 votes to IS. . . ... • . Mr. BOLLARD resented the imputation that his. motion was intended as an attempt to keep back the Gaming Bill, ,

After further discussion, Sir A. R. Guiunesj (Grey) moved as an addition to Glnuso i: "Provided that nothing in this Bill shall bo construed to alter or alfect, as to time, tlio .Licensing Act, Win, or its amendments." At 12.10 a.m. Mr. Jennings moved lo report progress. Tho motion was carried by 32 VBi.cs to 21).