PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 13, 16 July 1923, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at 2:30 p.m.

Sir George Hunter (Waipawa) gave notice to ask the Minister of Railways whether a special, railway carriage would be provided for women and children on the Napier-Wellington train. My. Edie (Clutha) gave notice to ask the Government to amend the electoral law so as to make it a criminal offence to distribute any printed matter relating to candidates within fourteen days of an election. Ho pointed out that prior to last election a certain organisation circulated damaging literature at a time which prevented any effective answer being published.

Mr. Potter (Roskill) called the attention oE the Minister o£ Justice to the recent case of cruelty to a child at Paekakanki, and he desired to know if the Minister considered the punishment adequate. ; . ' . • " The Hon. C. J. Parr replied that he was not acquainted with the facts of the case, which was dealt with by^-a Magistrate. He did not care to. interfere with the decisions of Magistrates. He believed the mother of the child was not convicted, but tho father was. sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment. He would direct tho Child Welfare Department to make inquiries into the case, and to take such steps as would prevent the unfortunate child from again becoming the victim of such an outrage in future.

The House adjourned until 7.30 this evtning.