YESTERDAY’S PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19023, 19 August 1925, Page 9

YESTERDAY’S PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Leave of absence to the Hon. E. W. Alison for a week and to the lion. G. 11. Izard for a fortnight on account of illness was granted. Sir Francis Bell gave notice of his intention to introduce the Samoa Shipping Bill, and the Hon. J. MacGregor to introduce the Juries Amendment Bill. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Bill first taken was the Massey Burial Ground Bill, which was passed without amendment. The Nurses and Midwives’ Registration Bill was next taken, discussion being resumed at clause 14, which was amended to read that the control of any State maternity home may, with the consent of any hospital board, bo at any time transferred to such board. As an amendment to clause 14 Mr M'Combs moved that the cost of maintaining maternity homes be home by tiie State.—-The Acting Chairman of Committees (Mr Hockly) ruled the amendment out of order on the ground that it was increasing the expenditure. —Mr M'Combs contended that ins proposal did not increase expenditure, but simply kept it where it was now, and prevented the Government from shining it on to local bodies, lie asked that the ruling of the Speaker lie taken ns to the validity of his amendment. — This course was agreed to, and after hearing argument the Speaker ruled that as the amendment did not increase expenditure it was in order.—On resuming after the supper adjournment a division was taken on Mr M'Combs’s amendment, when it was defeated by 110 votes to 25. The remainder of the clauses were passed without amendment.—A new clause was added by the Minister affecting the registration of nurses, and the Bill was reported with amendments. The House then went into committee on the Rotorua Borough Amendment Bill, which was passed without amendment.

The National Provident Fund Amendment Bill was next considered. —Sir Heaton Rhodes promised to consider the suggestion that the hoard should have discretion to consider applications for inclusion of an adopted child in the scope of the fund. All fho clauses wore then passed with a few formal amendments moved by the Minister, and the Bill was reported with amendments.

The Housing Amendment Bill was next considered,—The linn. Mr Nnsworthy, in reply to questions, said the position in regard to housing was much better than it was two years ago. The progress to he made depended a great deal on whether the Government could get a loan, of which lie was hopeful. The rate of interest to he charged would all depend on the rale at which money could he borrowed.—Mr Leo said he could nob agree with the Minister’s statement that housing was in a better state than was the rase two years ago, when the figures of the Government Statistician proved exactly the opposite to ho the case.—Mr Parry said all the evidence was against the statement that the housing position was improving. What the House wanted was some evidence given on an authentic basis, not a bald and unsupported statement. —Mr Howard contended that the Bill would tend only to increase the shortage of houses, because it would encourage speculation. —Mr Lee declared that if a mud hut was the housing standard of the Minister, it was not the standard of the Labor Party. Labor wanted something hotter than that.—Mr Langsfono wanted to know who was behind tin’s Bill. The housing conditions in the dominion were, an indictment against the Government and the House. This Bill was just a measure to permit gambling in house property; —The Hon. Mr Nosworthy said the Bill would put all the workers on an equal footing, so far as their houses were concerned. They could talk till they were black in the face, but ho was going in put the Bill through.—Mr Smith said he thought a good deal of the opposition to the Bill was duo to misconception. It was a reasonable amendment , and would give relief to a number of workers.—Mr Howard said if the Minister would only tell the House how many persons were affected it might alter the position a good deal.—The Hon. Mr Nosworthy said there were about thirty people affected, and the into Prime Minister had promised in give them relief, and tins Bill was giving effect to that promise.—The discussion was then dropped, and the Bill was passed through Iho committee stage unamended. On the Speaker taking flic chair, the Massey Burial Ground Hill, the Rotorua Borough Amendment Hill, and the Housing Amendment Bill were road a third time and jiassed. The House rose at 0.50 a.m.