PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 260, 3 August 1928, Page 12

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING Private members’ business had precedence in the House of Representatives yesterday, and little that was of moment was accomplished. Practically the whole of the afternoon and the greater part of the evening were devoted to a discussion on military training, aroused by second reading of the Compulsory Military Service Repeal Bill, brought forward by Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East). The Bill was defeated by 50 votes to 10. At 10.45 p.m. the House proceeded to the second reading of the Music Teachers Registration Bill, introduced by Sir John Luke (Wellington North). This was agreed to on the voices. The House rose at 0.30 a.m.

EMPIRE NATIONALITY i . ■ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL J DEBATE f:' SECOND READING CARRIED The .-greater part of yesterday’s sitting of the Legislative Council was devoted to a debate on the British Nai. tionality and Status of Aliens (in New ! Zealand) Bill, continued from Tuesday. The Right Hon. Sir Robert Stout said that he could not see any objection to the Bill, which, while it gave no special advantages to New Zealanders who reI- mained in the Dominion, was advan- ' tageous to them if they went abroad by reason of its conferring an Empire i citizenship. In that sense it would tend i to create a stronger feeling of unity throughout 1 the Empire. He strongly advocated a law that would create a New Zealand citizenship. If they had such a citizenship the law would give the same powers over citizens as existed in Britain. If such a law were passed, a New Zealander who committed bigamy ! in, say, America, could be punished. It would also provide for the cases of women whose unnaturalised husbands had gone, say, to America and who wished to obtain divorces, since it would give them a domicile in (New Zealand. ly. . The Hon. A. S. Malcolm, who commended the Bill, raised a number of questions regarding the executive authority of the King-and other constitutional ■ matters. The Hon. T. S. Weston said that the Council need have no hesitation in passing the Bill. He thanked the Leader of the Council for his able exposition of .the provisions of the Bill and Sh’ James Allen for the light he had thrown

upon the genesis of the English Act after the Imperial Conference of 1907. Having learned how it had become Jaw in . Britain, there was no risk in bringing. it into force in New Zealand. He congratulated the Leader of the Council on the Bill. Replying to the debate, the Leader of the Council (Right Hon. Sir Francis 1 Bell) said , that the Government would give full consideration to the suggestion ; of Sir Robert ■ Stout. He did not say it would be done at once, because be did not like the idea of super-adding at this stage a second status of citizenship when he was not convinced of the necessity for its creation. They all knew that there were cases where by the effect of differences in the laws of nations some persons stood without nationality. The remedy for one disability of women in this respect was for them to marry Englishmen. (Laughter.) He was quite serious. So. long as a country excluded a woman because the immigration quota of the country of that woman’s birth was filled, the remedy for that indignity was in the hands of English women themselves. Sir Francis Bell dealt at i length with the question of the nationality of the inhabitants of mandated territories and with the constitutional relationships of the Dominions and the • Mother Country. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

“NOT PROPER BRITISHERS”

EXTREME LABOUR PARTY

MR. W. D. LYSNAR’S VIEW

The attitude of the extreme Labour Party towards defence, was the subject of cutting reference by Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) in the House of Representatives last night, during the second reading of Mr. J. A. Lee’s Compulsory Military Service Repeal Bill. Mr. Lysnar. said that democracy in Russia was, under the heel of a few i leaders of the extreme Labour movement. ■ but that situation would never arise in New Zealand. The only hope the Labour Party had was in the repeal of the Compulsory Military Service Act.. “You will not "get many people,” he said, “to support the Bill except the extreme Labour Barty. 0 “And the conscientious objector,” suggested Mr. J. AzNash (Palmerston). ; : Mr. Lvsnar: I have sympathy with him. His mind should be respected, but it is not to be argued that because there • are. a few objectors, the system is a failure. The Minister of Health- (Hon.. J. A. I Toung: Do you draw a distinction between the religious conscientious objector and the conscientious objector? Mr. Lysnar: Yes. I say a religious objector is all right, but a conscientious objector from the extreme Labour point of view is all wrong. (Loud laughter.) Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central): He votes wrongly. “We must be prepared to fight for our i homes,” declared Mr. Lysnar. Mr. J. Nash (Palmerston): Every Britisher would do that. ■ „ .. . Mr. Lysnar: Every proper Britisher would, but I don’t pui the extreme La- •- hour Party in. that category. (Laughter.) They ought to go away to some island, a barren rock for preference, because if the island was any good it would be taken off them. (Laughter.) , ' think.” continued Mr. Lysnar, “that . A voice: Do you think? (Laughter.) Mr. Speaker: Order! Mr. Lysnar said he believed Mr. Lee In moving the Bill was not genuine. “Would you say he is not a proper 'l Britisher?” queried Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central). "I didn’t say that. I said the extreme Labour Party were not proper Britishers,” said Mr. Lysnar. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL i PROGRESS ON BILLS In the Legislative Council yesterday Jie British Nationality and' Status of Aliens (in New Zealand) Bill was read a second time, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. , The Orchard and Gardens Diseases Bill was reported from the Agriculturab , and Pastoral Committee without amendm Tim Education Amendment Act, 1028, ■ introduced by the Hon. G. M. Thomson was'read'a first-time, and set down for aecond reading on Wednesday. August 8. ; The Church of England Empowering Bill I was reported from the Joint-com-mittee on Standing Orders. The report which was agreed to. stated that it had been decided to allow the promoters of the Bill to proceed with the measure, notwithstanding that the standing orders relating to private Bills had not been coin* • xjlied with The resort was agreed to*

TRAINING CAMPS 87 PER CENT. AVERAGE ATTENDANCE AN OBLIGATION REALISED The annual training camps for territorials in New Zealand are not unpopular institutions, according to statements made by the Minister of Defence (Hon. F. J. Rolleston) in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Minister mentioned that during the year there were attendances at camps of 96 per cent, in the case of some companies, the average attendance for- the whole of the forces being 87 per cent., which suggested that the camps were >'t an unpopular feature of the training. The Beader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) interjected that the youths bad to attend. They were prosecuted if they did not. The Minister: If the camps are as irksome as has been suggested, I think the youths would preter to pay the fine of 10s. The Leader of the Opposition: They are heavier than that! Dealing with prosecutions, the Minister stated that for the year ended May 31, 1928, there had been 848 prosecutions of territorials, the total strength of whom was 20,986 —a percentage of 4 per cent. There were 34,464 cadets in the Dominion, and the prosecutions numbered 321 —a little less 'than 1 per cent. The total prosecutions. 1169, from a combined strength of 55,450, were a shade over 2 per cent. “In the face or those figures,” said the Minister, “it does not seem that there is such a violent protest against the work the men are being called upon to de. I think well enough of the youth of this country to believe that they do not regard something they are asked to do for their, country as being irksome or unpleasant. I. believe the young people realise that in return for the privileges of citizenship given them they have obligations to perform; They regard it as something the country has a right to ask them to give.” HAWKE’S BAY VALUATIONS INQUIRY INTO MEMBER’S STATEMENT A statement concerning valuations in Hawke's Bay, reported to have been made by Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) at New Plymouth, on Monday, was referred to in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. H. M. Campbell (Hawke’s Bay), who asked the Minister in charge of the Valuation Department (Hon. A. D. McLeod) whether he would have the allegation inquired into. The statement, as reported, was: A typical case of unfairness was in Hawke’s Bay, where one man had a property of 4QOO acres, valued at £3 10s. per acre, and alongside was land valued at over £lO au acre.” “My attention has been drawn to the statement.” replied the Minister. “It is, of course, impossible for me to say what was in the mind of the member for Wanganui when making the statement, but if either he or the member for Hawke’s Bay can supply me with particulars of the properties referred to, I will cause inquiry to be made.” LOCAL RATING ROYAL COMMISSION ADVOCATED The appointment of a Royal Commission to investigate the problem of local rating throughout the Dominion was advocated by Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) in a question to the Minister of Internal Affairs given notice of in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. Field said that there was an acute and growing controversy throughout New Zealand on the subject. Frequent changes in the system of rating in various d.stricts were made, and undoubted loss and hardship resulted to very many individuals. He suggested that the Commission the Government should set up consir* of independent men skilled in the subject and that the legislative adoption of the report they brought down might bring about a just system of rating for universal use throughout the country. IMPERIAL CABLES CONFERENCE

TABLING THE PAPERS An intimation was given by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. J. G. Coates) in the House of Representatives yesterday that he proposed to table to-day -ertain papers relating to the Imperial Cables and Wireless Conference. A statement would also be made on the subject. The leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) : Will these papers be printed? The Prime Minister: Yes; there will be a motion to that effect.

CONSCRIPTION IN WAR

DISTRIBUTING RESPONSIBILITY.

“Under the voluntary system our war efforts would have broken down before the war ended,” declared Mr. G. R. Sykes (Masterton) in the House of Representatives last night, during the second reading debate on Mr. J. A. Lee's Compulsory Military Service Repeal Bill. Mr. Sykes mentioned that in the Wairarapa district the young men were as patriotic and as loyal as any other section of the community. But while whole families were depleted with the absence of sons on active service, other families remained altogether untouched, both of the rich and the poor, and particularly of the rich. It was necessn y to introduce compulsion so that those young mon should be required to do their duty to their country. Mr. Sykes said he was not a militarist. The aftermaths of the world struggle made a strong appeal for peace, but tinder present conditions peace could be bought at too great a price.

MUSIC TEACHING IMPROVING THE STANDARD QUESTION OF REGISTRATION The proposed registration of music teachers was debated in the House of Representatives last night when the Music Teachers’ Registration Bill came on for its second reading. Moving the seepnd reading of the measure, Sir' John Luke said he felt sure the measure would be appreciated by music teachers. The .ime had arrived when high standards should be set in connection with the teaching of music. Under the Bill it was not proposed to shut anybody out but to safeguard the profession. All those engaged in teaching would be given twelve months in which to apply for registration. Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West) suggested that those affected by the Bill should have a reasonable opportunity of examining the Bill and giving evidence for or against it. Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston North) said that the music teachers of the Dominion had been asking for a considerable time for legislation regarding registration, etc. He suggested to the member in charge, however, that the time during which application must be made for registration by present music teachers should be extended from one to two vears. The Bill was a step in the right direction and would help to raise the standard of the profession. A note of caution in regard to the passage of the legislation was sounded bv Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurunui), who considered that the measure should be held over in the meantime. After some members had spoken, bir John Luke replied, and the second reading was carried on the voices. The But was referred to the Education Committee. “ GOD HELP THE EMPIRE ” LABOUR MEMBER’S INTERJECTIONS TENSE MOMENT IN HOUSE Some extraordinary interjections were made by the Labour member for Christchurch East (Mr. H. T. Armstrong) in the House of Representatives yesterday, when the Minister of Defence (Hon. b. J. Rolleston) was defining the main object for the existence of New Zealand s “New Zealand cannot afford to stand alone in the matter JS defence, . said the Minister. “If we accept the privilege of belonging to the British Empire, we must also accept the attendant obligations, one of which is to assist the Mother Country in the way of defence. The object of New Zealand’s land force is not so much to protect this country from an invasion, but chiefly to help the Empire when occasion demands. A lot of people seem to overlook that point when discuss- t insr our land force.” . i i Mr H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East) : God help the Empire! Mr. Speaker: Order! order! The Minister: I am surprised at the hon. gentleman making a statement like that. Would he say that Rew Zealand rendered no service to the Empire in 1914? Mr. Armstrong: She has no defence system now. . , . _ • , Tbe Minister: I take.it that Mr. Armstrong means that our force was oi no use whatever. . Mr. Armstrong: That is a pretty rotten construction. Mr. Speaker: Order! order! The Minister: That is the way I take it. OUR MILITARY TRAINING SYSTEM “COMPLETE OVERHAUL” NECESSARY A complete overhaul of the present universal system of military training in New Zealand was advocated by Mr. I. Unite, the Reform member for Clutha, when speaking in the House of Representatives last night on the second reading of Mr. J. A. Lee’s Compulsory Military Service Repeal Bill. . . , Mr. Waite contended that training for the defence of the British Empire was not a boy’s job. It was a mans work, and men should be trained for it. He believed that the money spent on the training of cadets was to a large extent wasted. He admitted that it was a question whether we were getting value for the money expended on defence, and he was of opinion that the money now spent on training cadets would be better applied to th" development of the air forces. He considered the time had arrived for a complete overhaul of the universal military training system. Mr. Waite said that times were changing, and the country had to know whether value was being received for the money expended. lu his opinion the time was opportune for the appointment of some organisation outside the Defence Committee of the House to closely examine the question, to ascertain whether the money was well spent. He advocated that the training of senior cadets, except those in the secondary schools, should be abandoned. . “I firmly believe,” added Mr. Waite, “that we must retain the right to call upon the services of every able-bodied man of this country in hour of need. (Hear, hear.) I am satisfied the good sense of the New Zealand nation will see that we do preserve the right, before the Empire is threatened, or when she is at war, to send to her assistance every ablebodied man we may find it necessary to j call upon.” I