YESTERDAYS PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19024, 20 August 1925, Page 11

YESTERDAYS PARLIAMENT

. V LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REID A FIRST TIME. The Massey Burial Ground Bill, the Rotorua Borough Amendment Bill, and the Housing Amendment Bill were received from the House or Representstires and read a first time. Sir Francis Bell introduced the Samoa Shipping Bill, providing for the application of the Shipping a_na Seamen Act to Samoa, and the Bill was read a first time. JURIES AMENDMENT. The Juries Amendment Bill of last session, providing that a or five-sixths may be accepted in criminal cases, except capital cases, and that a trial may be continued notwithstanding that the jury may be reduced in number, was reintroduced by the_ Hon. J. Macgregor and read a first time. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Prime Minister gave notice of his intention to njove to take Wednesday sittings for Government business on and after Wednesday, August 20. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION. In moving for leave to introduce the Workers’ Compensation Bill, No. 2, Mr H.«E. Holland said the Bill contained'only one clause, that providing for inclusion in the schedule of the Compensation Act the disease known as miners’ nystagmus. He quoted largely from English authorities to show the character and effects of the disease. The Hon. G. J. Anderson said that bo had not previously put this disease in the schedule of the Act._ The reason was that it did not exist in New Zealand. They were testing an improved miner’s lamp, which he hoped .would eliminate the risk of contracting the disease. If his statement that the disease did not exist in New Zealand were questioned, he was prepared to have the eyesight of a number of miners tested by a fully-qualified oculist, tested by a fully-qualified occulist. The Bill was introduced and read a first time. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Amongst others, the Ministers gave the following answers: — 1 That the reason why the Government has not made provision for representation of New Zealand Labor at the International Congress of the League of Nations is_ that the conditions of employment in New Zealand are, considered better than those of most other countries, and the expenditure that would be involved in sending delegates to the conference had not so far boon considered necessary. The matter, however, had been recently again brought before the Government, and would rdeeive consideration. That there is no intention to amend the Main Highways Act in the direction of establishing two boards—one for the North and one for the South Island. Although the conditions as between the North and South Islands considerably differ, the board is well acquainted with both islands and adequately understands and represents them.

That making failure to remove noxious weeds from laud a continuous offence by the owner or occupier would strengthen the hands of officers entrusted with the administration of this Act, and when a suitable opportunity arose for bringing down amendments to it this point would be given consideration in all its aspects. That the Government was considering the question of increasing the grant of £250 to the New Zealand Swimming Association to £SOO. That (1) £2,000,000 was recently raised for State advances. The amount was being transferred as the office required it, more than half having been already absorbed. (2) The sum of £1,125,000 (not £1,250,000) from the Bank of New Zealand had all been paid over. (3) The question of a further loan for State advances this year was under consideration.

In reply to a question whether, as a matter of urgency, tho Government would introduce early this session legislation renewing statutory authority enabling local bodies to borrow money for the relief of unemployment, which authority lapsed two years ago, the Minister of Finance said that legislation taking from ratepayers the right of voting upon loan proposals could only be contemplated in extreme circumstances, which could hardly he said to exist at the present time. That the question of the_ payment of a full pension to a soldier for two years after from a consumptive sanatorium was in abeyance pending the obtaining of opinions of chest specialists by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, which has addressed the Government on the subject. HARBORS AMENDMENT BILL.

Mr A. L. Monteith moved the second reading of the Harbors Amendment Bill, providing for setting up an appeal board in cases of the dismissal of employees of harbor boards. After a brief discussion tin Rill was read a second time and referred to the Labor Bills Committee. MINERS’ PHTHISIS BILL.

'The Miners’ Phthisis Bill, the second reading of which Mr W. E. Parry was about to move, was ruled out of order by the Speaker, on the ground that it was an appropriation Bill. MOTHERHOOD ENDOWMENT.

The Motherhood Endowment Bill, introduced by Mr Savage, was ruled out by the Speaker on the ground that it was an appropriation Bill. The House rose at 0.25 a.m.