PARLIAMENT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 239, 22 September 1922, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met to-day at 2.30 p.in. The Customs Amendment Bill and Weights and Measures Amendment Bill were referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The committee subsequently reported the bills with minor amendments. The Insurance Companies Deposits Amendment Bill was reported without amendment. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Replying to Dr. Thacker, the Hon. C. J. Parr said if the V.D. commission reported in time there was no reason why the report should not be laid before and discussed bv Parliament. In reply to Mr. W. H. Field. Mr. Massey said he had no reason to fea r for the safety of British women and children in Constantinople, as ho understood their safety had been provided for. Ho was in communication with the Home Government on the subject, as he understood there were some New Zealand women in that citv. In reply to an inquiry from Mr. G. Mitchell. Mr. Massey said ho had no further news regarding the war situation that he could make public, but he could sav that what had come to him was reassuring rather than otherwise. RAILWAY DEPARTMENT. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie laid on the table the annual report of the Railway Department. Mr. J. S. Dickson pointed out that two of the principal officers of the service were now over 60 years of age and had from 40 to 45 years’ service. He asked was it the intention of the Minister to retire these public servants. they having readied the retiring age. The Hon. J. A. Hanan asked the Minister to sav whether the railways w’ere still losing money and whether he did not propose to try the experiment of reducing fares. Mr. W. A. Veitch asked wfiiat was the position of the commission paid tn Sir Dunean Elliott. He had been trving to get this . information for ppmp considerable time. The discussion continued until 5.30 n.m.. when, on the suggestion of the leader of the Opposition, the paper was laid on the table and the Minister agreed tn postpone his reply to th« points raised during the debate until to-morrow. LOCAL BTLT.S. The following local bills were read the second time: Auckland City and Auckland Hospital Board Empowering Bill (Hon. C. J Tarr). Petoiie and Txiwer Hutt Gas Lighting Bill (Mr. T. M. Wilford). Invercargill Cornoration Empowering Bill (Hon. J. A. Hanan). WORK TN COMMITTEE. The House then went into committee on the Fauraki Plains Amendment Bill of which the Hon. D. H. Gnthfie is in charge. The hill was reported from committee with one minor War Disabilities Removal Bill was Also reported without amendment, read the thud time and passed POST AND TELEGRAPH. The Hon. J. G. Coates moved the second reading of the Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill, which he explained was for the most part a machinery measure. Clause two, however, made provision for a new charge of not more than sixpence on packets coming from abroad which may contain goods liable to Customs duty. The present intention was to make the charge threepence. Power was also taken in tho bill to make regulations ■ governing the use of wireless telegraphy, particularly amongst amateurs. The discussion turned mainly upon the proposed charge on dutiable packets, some members suggesting that the charge should be on a sliding scale according to value. Some criticism was also levelled against the amendment proposed to be moved by Mr W. S. Glenn, legalising the delivery to racing clubs of telegrams relating to investments on the totalizator, but a general discussion of the amendment was ruled out of order by the Speaker until it is formally moved. In the course of his reply, the Hon. J. G. Coates intimated that he could not welcome such an. amendment as Mr Glenn proposed to move in a bill of the present character. It was not proposed to make the tax of threepence on dutiable parcels a revenue tax, it being levied purely to pay the expense of examinations, which amounted to about £l3OO per annum, and which the Customs Department refused to payThe bill was read the second tunc. The Fire-Blight Bill passed its second reading, the vote being recorded in the dark, the electric light in the Chamber having gone out. The House adjourned in the dark.