Parliament in Session.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 243, 30 October 1920, Page 4

Parliament in Session.

NEARING THE END. LONGER SITTINGS ANNOUNCED. yesterbaVs work. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Imprest Supply Bill (No. 5) wu* received from the House, put through ail stages and passed. The Counties Bill was committed and reported with minor amendments, which included a new tlniise giving councils power to contribute toward* the cost of approved war memorials erected by any other local body or by public subscription. The bill waa passed. Sir Francis Bell moved the sccon'i reading of the Housing Bill, outlining briefly the main provisions of tho measure. He said an important amendment was to be made to the clause which emjxiwered a magistrate te increase the standard rent so ns te allow a not income of seven per cent, on the capital value. The clause as it appeared in the bill spoke of thrf capital value ns existing to-day, but should ■have been capital value aa at. August 3rd., 1914. He reminded members that it applied only te tenancies existing at the outbreak of war. Tim Hon. W. J. Gaddis said it wns unfortunate that it was not generally known that the rent restrictions did not applv to new buildings. The bill was committed and amended ns outlined by Sir Francis Bell. Th.' bill was reported arid read a thirl time. „ ... The Council rose at 5.8 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. . Replying to Dr. Newman, wTio smil local fmdios found they could not borrow money nt 51 per cent.. Mr. Massey said if it was foiled that the wants’ of local bodies could not be satisfied at the present rate of interest the Government would consider the wisdom of increasing it. Replying te Mr. .1. Crnigm, the Hon. W. Nosworthv said all the reports lift received showed there wns plenty of accommodation for emigrants arriving in New Zealand. Ho did not pretend to say they we,re all getting houses, but so far as he knew they were being Pr< 'ri''e et Di f strict Railway? Amendment Bill was, on the motion of the Hon. J <•*. Coates, read a first time. 'Tlie Hon. Sir R. H. Rhodes goo notice of his intention to introduce the Aviation Act, 1918, Amendment Bill.

SHOPS AND OFFICES. In bringing down the report of the Labour on the Government’s Shojß and Offices Amendmein Bill Mr. J. P. Luke (chairman) said the committee had come to the <enelusion that the time had arrived when a 48 hour week should be made applicable to workers in hotels and largo private hotels and he hoped that tiM Minister would bring down legislatiot next session dealing with this mattery If so he would have the nnainmotifc support of the Laliour Bills Committee behind him. ... , . Mr. D. G. Sullivan pointed out that the present law relating to clerks was so full of exceptions that it was very little use to those engaged in clerical pursuit. He hoped when the law was amendtxl next year that some atten-| tion would be paid to the unsatisfactory position of clerks. S U PE RANN UATED SERVANTS. A lengthy discussion ensued on th" report of the M. to Z. Petition Committee on the petition of superannuated public servants, who asked tor some consideration in view of the increased cost of living. The committee reported that as the request was ft matter of policy they had no recommendation to make. . Mr Massey stated that the widows of stiwrannuated civil servants would participate in the £lOO,OOO which the Government proposed to vote to meet the necessities of the case. M A RRI AG E AM EN DM ENT. On the motion of Mr. AV. 1). Stewart the report and evidence on the Marriage Amendment Bill was ordered to be printed and circulated though not formally laid on the table ol the House. EXIRA SITTING HOURS. The Premier announced that the House would meet to-morrow nt 11 a.m. for the transaction of business, also at the same hour on the working davs of next week. It was agreed that, speeches on the Public Works Statement be limited to fifteen minutes. The House adjourned nt 5.30. The debate on the Public AAorks Estimates occupied the whole of the evening session. TO-DAY’S BUSINESS.

(Special to “Tribune.”i Parliament Buildings, Oct. 30. The Order Paper for to day’s sitting of the House of Representatives is made up of small things. The amendments made by the Legislative Incorporations Bill will be taken first, and afterwards will come the Law and Steel Industries, Nurses Registration, mid Land Drainage Bills.