LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 63, 11 September 1924, Page 9

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

YESTERDAY'S SITTING.

The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. . .■':■'.}'■ The Thomas Cawthron Trust Bill was reported to the Council • from a Special Committee, with amendments, which are summarised elsewhere. „.'.' The Engineers' Registration Bill was read a second time, pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Kevision Committee. • :.■"■■- .- .: -.'-' :' :■..-■ ..-••■ . Moving the second reading of the War b unds Amendment Bill, Sir Francis Bell briefly explained the objects of the measure. The intended object of the Act he said, had been defeated by the fact that the war funds were required to be devoted to objects analagous to those for which the moneys had been subscribed, and a section of the Bill extended the powers of the Supreme Court in regard to the establishing of a scheme for administering •■ the fund. He hoped that any war funds, which were, returned to the Dominion from England.would.be devoted 'to the Red' Cross for its peacetime activities.. . ' "-;:>.■;.• -.- The Hon. A. S. Malcolm said that it was distressing ;that men who were in every way worthy of assistance were un.ible to receive it because they could not 'establish- a link between their past service and_their.-present distress. He asked that.it should be made easy for such, men" to 'obtain relief-from the war funds. ■ > The Hon. Dr. : Collins said there were a certain number..,bf cases in which soldiers' illnesses could, not be proved to be due to the war, and he trusted the hope expressed; vby .Sir Francis Bell would be realised. .- . . , / . '.--.-■• -The Hon. E. Newman said he.felt sure that some of the'funds, available in theDominion could be well spent in assistance ,to cases of distress amongst New Zealanders in England.. , In reply, the Leader of the Council said _h e did ,not know that the High Com-, missioner had power now' to distribute moneys in London. 'The, National War Funds Council was the only body that had power to administer the moneys. He personally held, the opinion that it would have been better if the whole of the war funds had been-passed over to tne War Funds Council for^ administration, instead of • the money being held in London by the High Commissioner. ' : ' The Bill was read a second time. The Medical. Practitioners' Amendment Bill was read'a second, time pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. ■■-■ .:. ■■ - . ."-'The.Sale of, Food and Drugs Amendment Acb was .put through its final stages and passed. . . . , ■ . The Council adjourned at 3.20 p.m. until 2.50 p.m. to-day. : ' ";'.'..'; "•