PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10115, 24 October 1917, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

(From Gen Special Reporter). THE AMUSEMENT TAX. WELLINGTON, Oct. 23.

A strong deputation representing the A. and P. Associations throughout New Zealand met Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward to-day and asked for tho remission of tho amusement tax as far as agricultural shows wero concerned. The Ministers were sympathetic, but firm. They said the Government could not part with any portion of its taxation. THE SOCIAL HYGIENE BILL.

The Minister of Internal Affairs met members in conference to-day to consider the Social Hygiene Bill, which has small chance of passing this session in its present form. It is likely that as the outcome of the conference the Bill will be modified substantially. SHOPS AND OFFICES AMENDMENT. The Legislative Council spent half an hour this afternoon emasculating the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, which proposes that women shall not be employed in restaurants and marble bars after 10.30 p.rn. unless sleeping accommodation is provided for them on the premises. Labour legislation is never regarded with much favour by the Councillors, who struck out the chief clause of the Bill by nine votes to four. An attempt to repair (ho Bill is possible, but not probable. It appears that the measure is of importance chiefly to Wellington, where the proximity of the camps and the general over-crowding in the city have caused ton and supper rooms to flourish and multiply. SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND ENDOWMENTS.

The perennial grievance of the secondary schools in regard to endowments was discussed in the House. The primary schools have extensive endowments, created before the development of secondary education on modern lines had been undertaken. The secondary schools are inclined to favour a pooling scheme. The debate had no finality. The creation of new endowments just now seems out of the question, for the Government is reserving all available Crown lands for returned soldiers.