PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1923, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

— COST OF SCHOOL BOOKS. (Special to “Star.”) WELLINGTON, July 23. A story lias been going the rounds that parents of school children are about to be put to considerable expense m tiic matter of new schooloooks. The Minister of Education stated in the House to-night that there were to be no new school books this year. The suggestion that the added expense is to oe put on the shoulders of parents was quite inaccurate. The result of purchases next year from the authorised list would be to cheapen the cost. The Department was endeavouring to accomplish the standaiKation of primary school books. LICENSING LAW. The Prime Minister stated in the House to-night that he intended to move for the appointment of a select committee of twelve to consider what amendments are required in the present Licensing Act, the Committee to have power to call for persons and papers, and to consist of Messrs Bichener, Glenn, Harris, Hockley, Horn, Isitt, Lysnar, Savage, Witty, Wright, Sir Joseph Luke, and the mover. ECONOMIC COMMISSION. Mr Perelle intends to ask the Prime Minister if, in view of the urgent need for a reduction in public expenditure, he will appoint a Commission to go into the means of effecting economy without reducing efficiency.

ANZAC DAY. Mr Savage to-night asked the Government to take into consideration the fact of the dissatisfaction of workers with the law which compels them to take a holiday on Anzac Day, and consider the advisability of amending the law so as to provide for wages payment or the commemoration of the day on the next Sunday. NOXIOUS WEEDS. Moving the second reading of the Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill, Mr Nosworthy said that the measure gave power to local bodies to declare sweet bi;fak and Canadian Thistle not noxious. Mr Forbes wanted to know why Canadian Thistle should be thus regarded, saying that it was a very bad weed, whatever was thought about it by local bodies. The step proposed appeared to him to be retrograde. He also said that it was high time something 'more was heard of the Pure Seeds Bill, which should go hand in band with the effort to suppress noxious weeds. Several speakers said that Californian Thistle died out after a few years, and it was also said that in certain grazing districts this growth was not regarded as objectionable. The second reading was agreed to. PROGRESS OE BILLS. 1 To-night, so as to enable Cabinet to spend a full day on the question of soldier settlers’ lands, the House was not asked to over-work itself. Five more Government measures were introduced, which on top of fifteen other Bills, indicates, however, that sooner or later there will bo heavy work Io do. The Cook Islands Amend- * ment. Bill was referred lo fhe Native 1 Affairs Committee without debate, and j fhe Insurance Companies Deposit , Amendment Bill, not being one of . policy, was quickly put through its ! second reading stage. '[’ho Stamp q Duties Bill took but little time to go through the second reading.. Al ; 11.30 p.m. fhe House rose. : n