THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 28, 27 October 1917, Page 10

THE HOUSE

EXPEDITIONARY FORCES BILL " PASSED. After The Dominion wont to press yesterday morning, the Expeditionary torces Bill w put through Committee, read a third time, and passed. No amendments of consequence were made in the Bill except one-the clause authorising puuishment of certain ottonders by deprivation of civil rights was amended to make this punishment applicabto only to deserters. This penalty may not be ordered against soldiers for any other military offences. The House rose at 4.15 a.m. The House met again yesterday at 2.30 P The Napier High School Empowering Bill (Mr. Brown) was withdrawn by the mover, and discharged from the Orderpaper. THE WASHING-UP BILL. The Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill was read a second time, after debate. Members protested, as they have on other occasions, against the.inclusion in the Bill of so much important matter that should have been dealt with in local Bills or private Bills. Mr. R. A. WRIGHT (Wellington Suburbs) spoke of a Wellington matter—a

agreement made between the Wellington clause to give legislative sanction to the Citv Council, the Wellington Harbour Board, and the Patent Slip Company, rn regard to the construction of a second slip at Evans Bay. Mr. J. PAYNE said that if the clause was playing into the hands of .the Union Company he would oppose it. Mr. Wright: Wo aro not playing into their hands. We are compelling them lo build a second slip. The "Washing-up" Bill occupied the attention of the House during the evening, discussions Arising on several clauses affecting district interests. MR. RUSSELL WALKS OUT an angbylSnisteb, On the very -last clause of the Bill in Committee there occurred one of the most unpleasant arguments that have happened in this session, behtfaen two Christchurch members, the Hon. G. W. Russell and Mr. George Witty. The clause is explained as follows:— "This clause provides that no person whose hospital rates are unpaid, thall sign any petition praving for constitution of a road district in East, ot West Taupo .County under Section. 27 of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Act, 1916, and l that in calculating the number of occupiers in the area of a proposed rond district these whose hospital rates are unpaid shall not be counted."

The trouble arose through Mr. Witty asking for ail explanation of Clause 128 of tKe "Washing-up" Bill, which proposes to amend the "Washing-up" Bill of last year regarding petitions in Tespect to hospital and charitable l aid rates. The Hon. G. W. Russell arose to explain, but Mr. Witty asked why should the clause be nxplnined by tho member for Avon. It 6hotf® be explained by the member representing the district it referred (o, Mr. W. T. Jennings (Ta.umarunui). Mr. Russell: It so happens that the member for Avon is Minister of Internal Affairs. Mr. Witty: Yes, very internal sometimes, and infernal when it conies to Taupo. What has the member for Avon to do with it? Has 'he anything to do with'Taupo? I want to know why this clause has been put in. I want to know also if ajiy land has been excluded from a rating area, and put in a nonrating area during the past three years. Mr. Russell: I treat this with absolute contempt. Mr. Witty: No one takes any notice of people like you. Mr. Russell explained that tho clause had been introduced^ at the request of residents of the district. Mr. Witty asked if it were not a fact that some of the lands in the Taupo district had been put in a non-rating area. Mr. Russell explained that last year he had attended a meeting at Te Awamutu, accompanied by the members for Tauniarunui and Waikato, at which the residents of the Taupo district had agreed to some such 'clause as that now under consideration. It was at the request of residents of the district that such provision was being made. Mr. Witty: Yes, but you do notanswer the question as to whether certain land was transferred to a non-rateable area. Mr. Russell: I am glad this question has been raised, and I give the Houso the straight answer, and put this man in his place. Two county councils—Wairoa and Hawke's Bay—had asked_ that the boundaries be altered, but this did not affect the payment of hospital rates. Mr. Witty: But it does Hffect local rates. Be truthful if you can. Mr. Ru6sell: I demand that that be withdrawn, and an apology made. Mr. Witty: Not by me. I would sooner go out first. Mr. Russell: I demand the protection of the Chair, and I shall not resume my spgfch until that statement is withdrawn and apologised for to the House. Mr. Payne cajight the Chairman's eve and proceeded to "make speech to tho 1 effect that ho could see no harm in tho Mr. Russell: If I cannot get the protection of the Chair I will not stay in the House. Tho Chairman did not seem to hear tho remark. Mr. Payne went on, and Mr. Russell walked out of the House. The clauso was passed without further discussion. The House passed the Bill through all etagos. NATIVE LAND. The Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill was put through all stages and passed. DURATION OF SESSION. Before the House rose tho Prime Minister said that he could not state definitely when the session would close. The rejection by tho Council of the proposal to exempt clergymen and teachers would involve conferences. It would be to sit on Saturday afternoon and evening. The House adjourned at 11.50 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-day.