PARLIAMENT’S BUSY DAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 July 1926, Page 5

PARLIAMENT’S BUSY DAY

OPPOSITION STONEWALL. “NOT MADE OF SUGAR" (Special to “Star.”) WELLINGTON, July 29. Members of Parliament, overworked themselves right heartily at yesterday’s sitting, arid got perilously Close to seeing the sun rise this morning. Things went fairly well during the afternoon, and in the early part of tile evening, and then the Opposition took it into their heads to keep the Government Members out of their beds, although perhaps slumbering sonorously on their benches in the House. A clause in the Police Offences Amendment Bill providing for arrest without warrant proved to be highly controversial. The Bill did not get through Committee until well after 2 a.m. The Government then sought to take the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions ’Bill through committee, a course to which the Opposition raised eloquent objection. As the Government was adamant on the point an incipient “stonewall” started, but after it had been going for about an hour, the .short title of the bill was passed, and progress was reported. After the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill, the Nurses and Midwives’ Registration Amendment Bill and the Fire Brigades’ Bill had been put through their final stages, the Prime Minister moved ah adjournment at 3.40 a.m. The Leader of the Opposition asked whether in view of the late sitting of that day, and the previous day, the House could not be adjourned until 7.30 p.m. to-night. He reminded Mr. Coates of a statement by a British ddctor that every member of Parliament worth his pay ought to get at least eight hours’ sleep. Mr. Coates replied that ought to be possible before half past two. Not to meet at 2.30 would almost be sufficient: to pull down the pillars of the constitution, he said,. and the public might begin to think that the Members were not worth their seat. “We don’t want it to be thought that we are made of sugar altogether,” addedMr. Coates.

It was agreed to reassemble at 2.30 p.m., the House rising at 3.45 a.m. SUMMONS BY POST When the Justice of the Peace Amendment Bill was in committee of the House, the Minister of Justice (Mr. Rolleston) moved the insertion of a new clause providing for a summons being served by registered letter. Mr. Lyshar objected to the clause which he regarded as dangerous, and should be sent to the’ Law Society for their opinion. When a man whs liable to imprisonment for three months, a should be served on him personally.' There wasjio guarantee that a man would receive a summons in the manner proposed and he might be mulcted in a penalty for no fault of his own. ’ • The Prime Minister: What about the cost? ,Mr. ? 'Lysnar replied that the cost of serving the Summons personally ,was a trivial matter, The Minister said the proposal was an optional one for the magistrate to adopt. It was only meant to be used in cases which could be dealt with summarily. He was quite prepared to see that the process would not operate where imprisonment was a penalty for an alleged offence. The present law enabled service to be made on any inmate of a house, and left for the person intended. It was a question of administration, and he suggested that the clause might be given a trial especially for the benefit of police constables in country districts, where much expense was incurred in serving summonses personally. ‘ ! Mr. McCombs thought that boardinghouse keepers might exercise some discretion, where they knew a registered letter contained a summons for an inmate. Under the proposal, neither the person delivering or receiving h registered letter might be cognisant of' the serious possibilities arising. He deemed the clause to be most dan'gerous. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland) said he considered the important thing was to see that the registered letter was delivered. He saw something in the proposal which the man in the country district would .welcome, as he would be saved a considerable amount in mileage charges. ' Mr. Fraser suggested l that a perforated receipt could be attached to the summons. The person for whom the summons was intended could return the receipt, default being the ordinary expenses to which one might be subject. Sir J. Ward said 'there should be a provision against anyone but the person for whom summons was intended signing the receipt. Mr. McCombs moved an amendment to ensure that delivery of summons should be null and void, if postal delivery was made to other than the person to whom it was addressed, unless a receipt was sent by such person within fourteen days. The amendment was defeated by 50 votes to 15. The Bill passed with the inclusion of the new clause moved by the Minister. PROVIDENT FUND.

The fifteenth annual report of the National Provident Fund states that at December 31, 1925, the contributors to the Fund numbered 25,763. The total income for the year amounted to £273,456, of which £161,415 represented payments by contributors, and £70,560 interest. At the cloie of the year, the fund amounted to £1,377,967, an increase of £212,683. During the year allowances for maternity amounted to £38,538 —£31,650 for members of “approved” friendly societies and £6,888 for contributors to the . Fund, whilst £20,668 was paid out on retirement and incapacity, and in allowances for widows and children. The rate of interest earned was £5/4/- per cent., and the expenses of administration in respect of ordinary contributors were 23.1 per cent., as compared with 25.1 per cent, for the previous year. INCREASE IN CRIME The Police Department’s annual report records an iiicroaso in offences last year, iotailing 3.445. Burglary arrests numbered 445 and 639 offences

Swere reported. This crime appeared to haivri doribled last year, while the' offence of receiving stolen property resulted in 116. arrests, compared with *73 in the previous year. Drunkenness necessitated 8,277 prosecutions, an increase of 809, while 560 hotelkeepers were prosecuted, an increase of 73;’i The Commissioner that the police fdrce is bMow strength required for efficient ' adfirinistratibri, and he ■ recommended the immediate appointment of fifty additional constables. MISCELLANEOUS. A result Of the voting in connection with the sale of liquor in Bellamy’s was reported on as follows: — Legislative Council: Ayes 24, noes 13. House of Representatives: Ayes 60, noes 16. Totals: 84 and 29; majority in favour of continuance, 55. The Prime Minister, in replying to a question by Mr. Fraser, stated that an opportunity would be given as soon as convenient, for discussion of the Locarno Pact. With reference to the question as to whether the Government had given consideration to the treaty of mutual guarantee, Mr. Coates said the regrettable delay in the admission of Germany to the League of Nations and the consequent postponement of the operation of the treaty, had somewhat altered the position, so far as the Dominions were concerned, and it was not now intended to take any action until the matter had been fully discussed at the forthcoming Imperial conference. The Minister of Finance stated to Mr. J. R. Hdriiilton that owing to demands on the State Advances Fund, it was not possible at present to make advances generally on behalf of deceased persons’ estates being administered by the Public Trustee. In special cases, however, where it was proved to the satisfaction of the Advances Department that a difficulty existed, and the Public Trustee was not in a position to make an advance for the repayment of ’a loan, in respect of a deceased person’s estate from the common fund, the Advances Superintendent would be prepared to consider any applications made to him. ’