SESSION'S WORK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17955, 23 November 1918, Page 5

SESSION'S WORK.

LICENSING BILL READY. ! WHO .WILL GO TO PEACE CONFERENCE?. "What legislation is it proposed to &übmit to the House this session?" asked a member as Parliament was on the point of adjourning on Tuesday. " Financial proposals and Estimates will have to bo passed," the Prime Minister replied, "as well as Supply, to carry us on during the recess, however long the recess may last. Ido not say anything on that point. Tho licensing Bill has been printed, and will be referred back to Cabinet in its present form. It may possibly be amended, and will then be submitted to Parliament to bo dealt with. I hope wo shall get it through in a day or two, and place it on the Statute Book. Bills of that character are usually tedious as to the course to bo followed, but I think this will be an exception to the rule." Mr J. Vigor Brown, in urging a fortnight's adjournment, said that almost every member had somebody down with the disease, and there were not 26 members in Wellington. He was informed that the firemen of oversea* boats had refused to go to 6ea with passengers from New Zealand so lone as the epidemic continued. This would prevent Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Massey from going Home. "In that case we will have to swim,' said Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Brown said that he did not blaiuti tho firemen for refusing to spread the disease. The firemen on the Niagara had refused to go to sea. and therefore passengers were not carried. "Members are anxious to go on with the session," Mr Massey replied. " Yesterday I informed members by telegram not_ to come to Wellington, but if the notices had not gone out there would have been a very much larger attendance than there is to-day. By eleven o'clock next Tuesday tilings will he very different." " It will be nothing short of a seriour, misfortune." the Prime Minister added, "if New Zealand, after tho splendid part she played in the war, were unable to be present at tin's great Peace Conference, and I am speaking advisedly when I say the most important conference the world has ever seen. How long it will last, or when it will commence, _ I cannot say, but arrangements are being made, and I have not the slightest doubt it will bo held in due course, and that New Zealand will bo represented." Mr Vigor Brown: Who by ? Mr Nosworthy: Not by you. Mr Massey: By tho proper individuals. Mr Brown: Who are thoy ? Mr Massey: The hon member does not think I am going to answer all questions under all conceivable circumstances. Ministers will do their duty, but every word said in Parliament carries weight, and I do not think it was right to repeat that the crew of tho Niagara refused to take passengers from New Zealand. A great deal of what was said was absolutely incorrect and even untrue. It is the first I have heard of it. I knew she was held up. Tho Australian passengers communicated with mo, asking that no New Zealand passengers should be allowed to go by tho vessel, and the Union Company acceded to their request. Mr Brown: The sailors and firemen did it. " I have some experience of sailors and firemen, and of the crew of the Niagara," Mr Massey replied, "and I have never seen people so anxious to do their duty under difficult circumstances as the crew of the Niagara were when the epidemic broke out. A very great number of the crew, including the stewards, were suffering from the epidemic, and tho trouble seemed to be that, while there were a numoer of passengers able and willing to work, the crew would not give way to them, and some of them were endangering their lives by sticking to their pests. This was only on a par with what British seamen have been doing all through the war, and I cannot believe that the orew of tho Niagara would go back on their duty, or that the seamen of ships trading to this country would isolate New Zealand in the manner suggested. " If the opportunity oners, and before it is too late," Mr Massey concluded, "New Zealand will be able to 1 pet its representatives away to the Peace Conference, and I think the representatives of New Zealand will be as successful there as on all other occasions." ________„„___