HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 48, 25 August 1923, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at noon.

The Prime Minister suggested that.to facilitate the business the reports of the Select Committees should be limited to those reports which deal with proposed legislation. The others should be held over until Monday, in order to let the House get on to the Public Works Statement and Estimates. He was extremely anxious to get the business as forwai'd as possible. . Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui): "What about'the Apprentices Bill?" The Prime Minister:,"l understand it is not intended to go on with the Apprentices Bill this session, although I am introducing it now." Mr. Veitch said he believed that the House would be ; prepared to pass the Bill this session practically, without discussion. The Bill was most urgently required. He was very glad that the Minister of Labour had introduced the Bill, which had been unanimously approved by employers and employees' representatives. ' ■ . ■

The Electric Power Boards' Amendment Bill, • Apprentices Bill, and Land Drainage' Amendment Bill were read a first time. •-.- ,

,Mr. W.-H. Field (Otaki) asked whether the Minister of Defence would consider in the recess the question of giving added support to the rifle clubs of the Dominion.

Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) asked the . Prime Minister if the cost-of-living bonus to retired Civil servants would be continued this year. The Prime Minister said the bonus would be continued, and the Government proposed to ask the House to make the bonus to women-permanent ELECTORAL BILL. Mr. Holland asked when the Prime Minister would, introduce the Electoral Bill and whether he would give the House.ample time to discuss it before the- second /reading. • ... > Mr. Massey:V'The hon. member will see that I shall notv be here until Tuesday. I, am going away in a few minutes. I want to give the hon. member time to thoroughly consider the Bill in the recess. (Laughter.) Then we will be able to give it consideration next session. • ' ,

Mr G. M'Kay (Hawkes Bay)' asked whether it was a fact that- opossums were likely to be liberated in the vicinity of Palmerston North : where fruitgrowers were concerned about damaee to .their trees.' ■.' ..' . • .

w TIi 6 y™at?: '~'oi Internal Affairs (Hon. K. F. Bollard) said he had received no. representations in the matter. v°ice: "The'opossums are already there. ,' . J. 4e^ c?'* Kl?sater: <;'Why don>t e'hoofc Asked what heii'ntended to do about the Ganung Bril,, the Prime. Minister said he would like to see passed the clause dealing with the limitation of the fields. ' y' ' . . ■ Mr. Isitt: "I don't think there will be any difficulty. I think they have COmr e an understanding." Mr. Massey:. "If we cou i d get tl)at clause out of the way we would drop the whole - t of the Bill apart from that

Mr. Isjtt: "We made bigger concessions than that." 3 ,L\ M;, lsi" (Christchurch North) referred to the.Apprentices Bill, which ATCo"Sr dered was -highly contentious.

Mr.. Massey said he knew a great many people were interested in it, but « it was contentious: there was: not' the slightest chance of it being gone on with. There was no opportunity for 1 T-iS? turned down fully ■twenty Bills this mornin*. ' £.' vol c r e' , "Only twenty?" pos"s^ "W—t do the mi

(I,! tl c Nelson) asked whether the Bill dealing with fruit export, Promised earlier in the session, was to be brought down. It was not contentiotis. ■ ■ ■ ■

The Prime Minister replied that he was sorry to say the Bill was contenuous. me promise to bring the Bill down would be. kept, but he wa s .not So hopefulof.theßillpa S sin g %his

The Prime Minister also stated that be was not hopeful of the Motor Bill passing this session. „' (Left sitting.)