PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 199, 23 July 1926, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. July 22. In th© Legislative Council to-day in the course of a discussion on the Census and Statistics Bill, which was read the second time, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes welcomed the suggestion that the dates of taking -the census throughout the Empire should bo synchronised and said that it was perhaps worthy of consideration at the Imperial Conference. The Oil in Territorial Waters Bill and the Destitute Persons Amendment Bill were read tho second time pro forma and referred to the statutes revision Committee. Tho Evidence Amendment Bill and the Death Duties Amendment Bill were each read the second time. Replying to Hon. W. Snodgrass in course of consideration of the latter measure, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes said he could not hold out any hope of an amendment in the direction of exempting death duties on charitable and educational bequests. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. NEW BILLS~INTRODUCED. In tho House of Representatives the Rent Restriction Bill was introduced by Hon. G. J. Anderson. The Cinematograph Film Censorship Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor-General’s message. In reply to the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. R. F. Bollard said the bill consisted of one clause, which met the demand for the censorship of film posters. By Governor-General’s message the Town Planning Bill was brought down. Tho Prime Minister explained that the bill was brought down in order to give the Municipal Conference an opportunity to consider it.

MANDATED TERRITORY. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. Nosworthy) tabled the annual report on the mandated territory in Samoa.

Mr Holland, Leader of the Opposition, asked the Minister to state how many Chinese were now in Samoa and what was the nature of their work, and what were the rates of pay for those services. He also wanted to know what were the marriage relations between Chinese and native women and to what extent were Chinese patients in the hospitals. He would also like the Minister to state what was being done with the German plantations. He had every confidence in General Richardson as Administrator and he was asking these questions in no party spirit, but he thought the House was entitled to all possible information. _ Mr Veitch asked what was being done to increase our trade with Samoa. When he was there it seemed to him that tho Americans held _ the trade ascendancy and he would like to know whether anything was being done to transfer that ascendancy to British trade.

Mr Forbes said we were not getting any more tropical fruit from Samoa since we took over the mandate than before, and that being so he doubted if we were justified in taking over the mandate.

The Minister, in reply said the number of Chinese now in Samoa was 890 and tho rate of pay was 3s per day with a bonus for good work. The labour was by free contract and was for a period of three years. At the end of that time the labourer was returned to China. No marriages were now taking place between Chinese labourers and native women. The German plantations were being successfully worked by the Administrator, and there had been a marked decrease in the rhinocorous beetle in all plantations, and' he was confident that the pest was now well under control. The trade of the mandated territory practically all went to Britain, Australia and New Zealand, but he wished to say that New Zealand did not take oyer tho mandate with the view of- getting cheap fruit for New Zealand. There was the humanitarian influence behind the mandate,- and he was very pleased to say that tho general prosperity of tho island was very marked, the first cotton grown at Samoa having topped the market, and when the new motor vessel was available he believed there would be a vast improvement observable in the Island trade. EDUCATION REPORT.

A discussion on the report of the Education Department followed, during which the building and rebuilding of many schools were urged on the Minister ns were also the uniformity of school books, the needs of the backblocks and the status of teachers up til the House rose at 5.30.

JUSTICES OF PEACE BILL. When the House resumed at 7.30 Hon. F. J. Rolleston moved the second reading of the justices of the Peace Amendment Bill, the most interesting clause of which was clause 2 enabling women to be appointed justices of the peace, the principle of which has been affirmed by tho house on two or three occasions and had also been affirmed by the fact that women could bo appointed to the Bench of the children’s court. Tho Minister said he did not think there would be any conflict in the House on that clause. The remaining clauses were more or less technical and were designed to simplify the law without violently altering it in principle. When in committee lie proposed to add a new clause enabling members of the legislature to witness declaration.

Mr Holland. Leader of the Opposition, complimented the Minister on paving the way for women being made justices. Ho only hoped the Governmerit would carry it out to the logical conclusion and appoint women to the office. He also approved of the provision giving members of Parliament the power to witness documents. Mr Veitch repeated his complaint that working men were not appointed' justices and. said that more generous administration of the law in this connection was necessary. Hon. R. A. Wright said working men were not appointed to the commission of peace because it was not possible for working men to perform the duties of the office during working hours. It was not due to any party prejudice. Mr Savage argued that working men who wanted to make a declaration should have the right to make it before a working man. Sir Joseph Ward generally approved of the bill and desired the Minister to say whether lie was prepared to appoint women to the police force and uliow them to act on juries. Messrs, McCombs, Horn and Buddo favoured the appointment of more working men to the commission of the

peace, while Mr Lysnar roundly condemned the appointment of women.

In reply to complaints of members that their recommendations had been ignored, the Minister said that there were already 5700 justices in the Dominion which worked out at aboiu three per cent._ of the population, so that if all the justices asked for were not appointed it might possibly be that on inquiry it was found there were already sufficient in the district. He was prepared to consider the suggestion that summonses should be delivered by registered post in out back districts. The bill was read the second time.

NURSES’ REGISJRATION. The Nurses and Midwives Registration Amendment Bill was, on the motion of Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Public Health, read the second time without debate. The bill provides that those who are qualified to do so may register at the age of 22 years instead of 23. FIRE BRIGADES BILL. The House then went into committee on the Fire Brigades Bill. Mr Holland (Christchurch North) protested against the reduction of members xif fire boards from seven to five, and he moved to restore thd larger number. The Minister explained that the reduction was being made at the request of underwriters and the Municipal Association. A number of members supported the retention of .the original number, and as a compromise it was suggested that boards might remain at seven for cities and be reduced to five in the country districts.

After further discussion Mr Holland’s amendment was withdrawn and consideration of the clause was postponed on the Minister undertaking to submit the matter to Cabinet and have an amendment, moved in ’the Legislative Council. " At 11.50 the bill was reported from the committee stage and tho House rose immediately afterwards.