WAR LEGISLATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17230, 26 July 1916, Page 8

WAR LEGISLATION.

A COMPREHENSIVE BILL.

SECOND READING DEBATE,

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 25

In the House of Representatives tonight, in moving the second rending of the War Legislation Amendment Bill the Prime Minister said that the only course open to him in putting forward a measure of this kind was to explain it clause by clause. Tho most important portion of the Bill was embodied in part 1, which dealt with the question of rent of dwellinghouses. Similar provision had been passed in England, in almost exactly the same terms as in this Bill. The object of the clause was to prevent landlords charging higher rent than before the war. The measure was obviously for the protection of tenants and had been made necessary by the congestion arising out of the crowded coudition of Wellington, due to the large number of soldiers' relations coming to reside in the city. Part 2of the Bill dealt with land for soldiers' settlements, giving the same privileges to Now Zcalanders who enlisted in Australia as if they enlisted in New Zealand. It also proposed to enable soldiers who were not twenty-one years of age to take up land, and mado concessions in rent to soldiers at the front who are Crown tenants. Part 3 made amendments in the Education Act, enabling the Department to employ uncertificated teachers when necessary. This course was imperative, owing to the number of teachers who had enlist3d and gone to the front. Part 4 dealt with the Government superannuation funds. Many of the contributors to these funds had gone to the war, and before doing so withdrew payments made. This part of the Bill gave them an opportunity to re-enter the fund on reappointment to the public service if they so desired, paying back the withdrawals by instalments. About part 5 there might be some difference of opinion. The proposal to postpone local body elections was oue he was not keen about, and he was prepared to leave it to the decision of the House. Part 6 was miscellaneous in its provisions. Clause 17 made modifications in the stringency of the Fencing Act owing to the'greatly increased cost of fencing wire. Clause 18 protected the electoral rights of • members of Parliament who had gone to the front. Clause 10 amended the Legitimation Act in tho direction of enabling the father of an illegitimate child to send a declaration to the Registrar instead of signing the register. Clause 20 validated payments by local bodies in aid of recruiting. Clause 21 made provision for the extension of the term of indenture of apprenticeship in cases where apprentices are serving with the forces. Clause 22 protected the mining

privileges of a minor whose services have been accepted in connection with the present war. Clause 23 empowered the Minister, to enrol temporary members of the polico forced a precaution necessary on account of the large number of the force who have gone to the front, and the need to keep the force at full strength. Clause 24 was most important, making legal ■ a will made by a soldier on the battlefield or elsewhere, although such document may not he in the usual form nor duly witnessed. It was not, however, proposed to extend this privilege to members of Maori contingents as it might be liable to abuse in their case. Concluding, Mr Massey said that the amendment to the Military Service Bill agreed to by the House that night was the last of that important Bill, and he hoped in a. few hours that it would be the law of tho laud. Mr Witty generally approved of the Bill, but thought there could be no objection to permitting a Maori to make a will leaving his property to a member of his own tribe. He opposed the postponement of local body elections.

Mr Harris thought all men who enlisted should be entitled to tho privileges of soldiers' settlements irrespective of whether they had gone to the front or been discharged as medically unfit. The postponement of local body elections had not been asked for. Ho asked the Government to seriously consider this part of the Bill before it was passed into law. With regard to the amendment of the Legitimation Act he thought the time had come when the word " illegitimate" should be abolished from the English language. Every child should be 1 welcomed, whether born in or out of wedlock. The Hon D. Buddo submitted that land for soldiers should not be secured at prices higher than those ruling prior to the war, otherwise the experiment was not likely to be successful. # Mr Wilford believed in the object of the limitation of rent clause, but did not believe in its form. He advocated an extension of the time allowed returned miblic servants in which to pay back instalments to the superannuation Mr Glover supported the Bill. The Hon G. W. Russell said that the policv of postponing local elections had been"laid down by the Imperial Parliament, and it deserved consideration on the grounds of economy and preventing division of public opinion on local issues. There were 116 boroughs, sixtytwo town boards and twenty-five harbour boards. There were hospital boards and land drainage boards all of which would hold elections in April next, and he had been informed by the Department of Internal Affairs that a saving of between £40,000 and £50,0C0 would be effected by not holding these elections this year. He also had been informed by the Mayor ot Christchurch that the avoidance of elections wtfald save that city alone a sum of £2OOO, to say nothing ot preventing disunion amongst the people at this time of crisis. Country elections took place in November of next year, so that in.the event of the wax continuing provision could be made next session to meet then- case. He, therefore, hoped that members would see that the Government was not making provision for more than was necessarv, but was striving to keep the people" of New Zealand with an absolutely united front in time of war. , Mr T W. Rhodes, while sympathising with the object of the fair rent clause, thought its rigid provisions would inflict hardship in many cases.

He favoured payment of full salaries to •uncertificated teachers and opposed tho postponement of local elections, which could be carried out cheaply enough if everyone would not insist upon having a polling booth at his own doorWAR LEGISLATION. Mr Pavno approved of the Bill except so far as the postponement of local elections was concerned. Mr M ! Combs said that furnished bouses now were exempt from the provisions of the Bill, so all a landlord had to do was to put the smallest amount of furniture in a dwelling and charge what rent he liked. What he wanted to know was why a man who raised the rent immediately on the outbreak of war and had been taking a few shilling a week all this time was to be allowed to get off with his ill-gotten gains. He strongly opposed the postponement of local elections. Mr Wright approved of the proposal to hold over local elections for one year, as a matter of fairness to the men away at the war. He assumed that the war would be over in a year. As to the question of rent restriction, ho said that it was largely due to the price of land in Wellington. Mr Mander. referring to tho high

ACCOUNTANTS, BOOKKEEPERS AND CLERKS. OPPORTUNITY ia knocking et your door. Will you not answer the summons? The stopping-stone to your advancement lies at your feet. Enrol as a student in either our Personal or Correspondence Branches, for a course of preparation either for tho ACCOUNTANCY PROFESSIONAL . Or BOOKKEEPERS'. DIPLOMA EXAMINATION. Our Instructors in this branch are: Mr H. R. Best, F.P.A. (N.Z.), F.I.A. (N.Z.) Mr C. H. Gilby, F.P.A. (N.Z.), F.A.A. Mr W. Barry. A.I.A. (N.Z.) Mr Horace Gilby. F.I.C. (Erie;.) Success in examinations is assured to workers. We l;sd not a single failure in either Elementary or Advanced Section last year. For two years in succession one of our Students gained Arti position in New Zealand in the Advanced Section. Enrol with us to-day and double your earning power. Prospectus and full information on application to THE DIRECTOR. OILBY'S COLLEGE, LIMITED. Next to Chief Post Office, Cathedral Square.

rent question, contended that a man who received 10 per ceut on house property in reality only netted 6 per cent. The problem was becoming more acute, and he thought the only solution would bo Government interference. Ho advised the Government to go to the north for land that could be obtained for soldiers at a cheap rate. Blocks of bush land could be secured in that locality for soldiers, which would be far more suitable for them than highpriced open lands. Mr Webb asserted that it was quite impossible for working men, in view of the high cost of living, to acquire homes of their own, and he urged that the Government should extend the system of erection of workers' homo:;. He protested that soldiers should not be put on bush land- The best land available should bo sot apart for them, Mr Walker thought that the clause postponing the elections should be withdrawn from, the Bill. The saving spoken of by tho Minister was only temporary, as the expenditure was not saved, but only postponed for a year. An extensive scheme of workers' homes would aid materially the reduction of rents, and ho advocated the extension of State sawmills as a means of reducing the cost of building material. Tho Prime Minister said that the criticism had been so honourable that he did not propose to avail himself of the right of reply. The motion for the second reading of tho Bill was carried on the voices. The Prime Minister said he proposed to go into committee, pass the short title, and. then adjourn. The clause passed without discussion.