PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10121, 31 October 1917, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ■ '(Pbb Pekbh Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 30. The Statute Law, Amendment .Bill passed a third reading. Hon. Mr Ban- explained that the clause providing for. the employment of discharged soldiers was not dropped at the instance of labour members, who were willing to make such provision in the proper'form. •

' HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WELLINGTON, Oct. 30

In the 'House of Representatives Mr Ell asked whether women, who were knitting for soldiers, eon 13 got wool from the mills at cost price under State control.

Hon. Mr ''Myers, Minister for Munition's ’replied ' that he had made arrangements that, whereas wool hail cost 8s lid per pound, it-would now he: supplied through the Lady Liverpool depots at -4s 6d. When the House resumed, : the Speaker announced that’the Legislative Council did not insist upon the amendment made in clause 29 of the War Legislation Bill. On the motion of Hon. Mr Herdman, the House agreed to the amendment made in. clause 16. On the motion of Hon. Mr Han an, the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Statute. Law Amendment Bill wore agreed to. He explained that clause 19, suspending the industrial awards to enable disabled soldiers to enter trades for the purpose of tuition, had been struck out, much to his personal regret. Mr Payne said that he wished to make it clear that the Labour party wished to help soldiers in every .way possible, and thought the undor-ratc' permit system gave the Minister all the power ho required. The House rose at 3.40 p.m. TOWN PLANNING BILL.

The?* House resumed at 7.30 pun. The Town Planning Bill was introduced by Governor’s- message. lion. Mr Russell said tire Bill had been asked for by the'deputation from all the chief centres, and He introduced the measure at this stage of the session merely for the purpose of getting it before the public, with a view to preparing u scheme of town planning after the war., Alr El) congratulated! the Minister on the introduction of so necessary a measure.

The Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be printed. Mr Massey announced that the Government did not intend to proceed further with the Expeditionary 'Forces Amendment Bill, which had been prominently before Parliament during the last five days. Ho intimated that, the Government, intended to'ask the House to deal with the Supplementary Estimates, but as they wore not printed, lie suggested that the House rise till the ringing of the bell, probably for an hour. When the House resumed, at 10.35 pan., the Premier said be bad ascertained that llie Supplementary Estimates would not be forthcoming before IE3O pan., and possibly later, and he therefore suggested adjourning till 9.30 to-morrow morning.

This was agreed to, and the House rose at. 10/0 ii.m.

TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS,

SUPPLEMENT AE Y ESTIMATES

WELLINGTON, Oct. 31. The House, met at 9.30. The Supplementary Estimates were introduced by - Governor’s message. Sir Joseph Ward said lie desired to explain the position-of the war bonus to Civil Servants. He said members ; would notice that .in; each of the revenue earning departments an item was set, down for war bonus. This meant that each department had to provide . its. own • war,-bonus out of flits own re- . venue, so,that;tbe bonus would not be : a , charge on , the Consolidated Fund. The bonus would be paid this year on the same basis as last ycar-V-that is, ... £•11)0,000, would be voted and divided amongst 'those in receipt of salaries not greater than £3lO. In addition to the £■loo,ooo an extra provision of £170,000 would bo made, in the, Appropriation Act for an allowance of'one shilling per day to married men in the Railway Department, which would absorb £58,000 to tire end of the financial year. This allowance would be made to men receiving not more than. £220, and was necessary to maintain the efficiency of the railway service, which men had been leaving in considerable numbers of late. None'of the bonus would go to, higher paid officers of the. State. .The allowance to the railway men would be provided out of an. addition to the railway rates. He desired to point, cut that in the Budget the amount estimated as necessary to cover the Supplementary Estimates was £700,000. The amount voted in these estimates was £660,000, so they were saving £40,00.0 on the estimate. Mr-Wright put in a plea for the lower paid officers in tho postal service. Could they not ■be put on the same footing as the men in Abe railway service P Mr Fletcher asked what the Government proposed to do about the cost of living report. Were they going to carry it put or ignore it. He contended the recommendations regarding the supply to the people of cheap fish could he put into operation at once. The Premier intimated the Cabinet would consider what portions of the report would be given effect to._ Mr Eli complained of the unfair way in which some officers were seeking to frustrate the establishment of slot telephones by a system of unfair charges. They were endeavouring to persuade the Minister tins system of telephones did not. pay. I ‘ Mr Anderson regretted that more money iviu not voted for opening up new country. If we are' going to maintain high rates of taxation we must have new sources of revenue. . Mr Hornsby and Mr Isitfc complained ot the unnecessary expense incurred by the De-{ fence Department in connection with Couvts-mu-rtial. .... Mr Poole made 1 an appeal to the Minister for Railways to resume the suburban trains, and thus solve the housing problems in, the cities. Mr Colvin urged opening up a now Slate coal mine on the West Coast, Cheap coal was essential to our industries.Dr. Newman blamed tho Government for not doing anything to reduce (ho cost of living to the people. A Food Controller should, he appointed ; vegetables should bo grown where (lowers are now grown ;■■■ brown bread should be eaten instead of white, and the Government should buy 100,000 boxes ot butter when it is cheap, and sell it to the people at reasonable prices during thewinter. Mr McCallum endorsed the appointment of a Food Controller. Lord Rhondda had done .a great work -in Britain. W iiy not have such a man hero? _ • The debate was continued by Messrs Witty,'Veitch, Thacker, ,Okey, Jennings, ; Glover, Young, and Payne, who dealt mainly with local, grievances. The debate was proceeding : when the House rose at 1 o’clock. , -.