THE DAY IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 91, 14 October 1920, Page 7

THE DAY IN PARLIAMENT

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday, and adjourned at 9.30 p.m. In the intervening time it did more work than is usually accomplished, even when the House is in its best working mood. A statement by the Minister of Education on the new teachers' salary scales, and reports by Select Committees, occupied some time. Members are always ready to discuss a proposal to pay someone more, and there wa« evidence that some members wished to question the Hon. C. J. Parr. The Speaker would not allow this. Some debate took place on the report of the Labour Bills Committee upon the two Workers' Com-' pensation Bills (promoted by the .Hon. Sir William Herries a,nd Mr. E. J. Howard respectively). Mr. Howard did' not seem pleased with the Committee's handling of his measure, but Sir William Herries made no complaint. Thea the Butter Prices Committee presented! its report, recommending a subsidy from the Consolidated Fund, so that the producer shall receive full value, and the consumer shall have his butter for 2s 3d a lb cash, over the counter, or 2s Sd delivered. The Chairman of the Committed (Mr. Nash) e_xplained this, the Leader of the Opposition criticised the Government's latk of foresight making a "raid on the Consolidated Fund" necessary, and the Prime Minister criticised Mr. Wilford's economics. The Prime Minister also said that the Committee's recommendation would be adopted. Mr. Ml' Combs had commenced to expound the Labour view of the butter problem, when th© tea adjournment interrupted the dlebats, which will be continued to-day. The Companies Amendment Bill and the Animals Protection Amendment Bill were put through all stages in the evening. Then, the Gaming Amendment Bill (No. 2). was brought forward again, and the Prime Minister read to the House proposed new clauses to give hunt clubs each one day's racing annually, and,to appoint a. Commission of five members t<> decide the number of permits and the distribution for the racing year commencing Ist. August, 1921. Effect would be given to the recommendations of the Commission by Oi'der-in-Oouncil, which would b3 placed before Parliament, and might be rejected by a resolution of either House. More clauses, it was suggested,. should' replace the operative clauses of the .Bill. In order that members might consider the proposals, progress was reported on the Bill. The Counties Bill, which had come_ from Committee with many amendments, was taken in Committee of the Whole; but progress was reported when the first clause (on which there might be general discussion) had been passsd. Thie Legislative. Council put through a deal of business in quick time. Both the Civil List Bill and the Westport 'Harbour Bill were uut through thteir final .stages, and; the (Menders Probation Bill was read a. second time. Six local Bills were also put- through the Committee stage, and finally passed. . .