HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 49, 27 August 1923, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at 11 a.m.

Mr. M.. J. Savage (Auckland West) gave notice to ask for a' return showing the number of deaths under anaesthetics since 1919.

Mr. P. A. de la Perrelle (Awarua) inquired whether, anything was being done to reduce racing taxation. The Hon. ■W. Noßworthy, ActingLeader of the Government, replied that the matter was one for the Prime Minister. If he had made a /promise, it would be kept. ■ Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North): "We shall be here till next week, then." . .

The Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) informed Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei) that inquiries made did not show that chaff was being dumped here from Australia.

The Minister'of Agriculture, in reply to Mr. A. Poland (Ohinemuri) stated thatVo time was being lost in setting up the Dominion Revaluation Board and the district committees under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Act. Everything possible was being done to expedite the matter. ■ •

Mr. W..H. Field (Otaki) asked whether anything was being done in regard to the superannuation of magistrates. The Minister of Justice (the Hon. 0. J. Parr) replied that a Bill had been drafted and referred to- the Treasury and' Superannuation Board. Unfortunately, it was' quite impossible to get on with the Bill this session. It had to come before Cabinet. -.-■.-. . The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T M. Wilford): "That Bill wa« drafted away back in 1819." Mr. Parr: -"This is a, new. and improved Bill. I propose to introduoe legislation next session. LEGISLATURE REFORM. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avdn) introduced the Legislature Reform Bill. " ■■ The Hon. W. Nosworthy suggested that Mr. Sullivan ourtail his remarks as much as possible." Mr. Sullivan: "If the Minister promises to take my Bill-up and pass it this session, I shall not speak at all." (Laughter.) Mr. Sullivan explained that his Bill was intended to remove the veto of the Legislative Council on Bills which had been passed three times by the Lower House, and in that respect sought to bring the Legislature here into conformity with that of Great Britain under the Parliament Aot. The Upper House had never been popular in New Zealand, and the Labour Party was pledged to its abolition. It would abolish the Legislative Council in the same way that the Labour Party in Queensland had done, and would then' have but one House of Parliament, with some sort of revising body to review the legislation passed by the Lower House. New Zealand was one of the very few Parliaments in the world where a nominated Chamber had the power of veto over legislation passed by the representatives of the people. The Bill provided that when legislation had been passed on three occasions in ,the Lower House, whether in one session or not, it should be automatically submitted to the GovernorGeneral for signature. The House of Representatives had had some experience of the conservative tendencies -of the present Legislative Council, which was exercising an intolerable power of veto.

Mr. J. M'Combs (Lyttelton) supported the Bill, and said that the women of New Zealand resented the rejection of Mr. Wilford's Women Justices of the Peace Bill. By casting out that Bill, the Legislative Counoil had placed women in the same category as criminals and insane people. The Bill was read a first time.

The Auckland City and Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill was dealt With, Mr. J. S. Dickson. (Parnell) moving the second /reading. Strong objection to the Bill was made by Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) to the clause allowing'a railway line to run along Quay street, past the Auckland Ferry Wharf entrance, to Prince's Wharf. He alleged that the proposal was a wicked one, in that it endangered human life. ••■ (Left sitting.)