PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 192, 16 July 1941, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

SESSION RESUMES.

QUESTIONS

ASKED

(Press Assn.) WELLINGTON, July 15. After a recess lasting from June 12 the House of Representatives resumed at 2.30 p.m. to-day. The sitting was a brief one, occupying only half-an'-hour, the House rising at 3 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. to-morrow evening as a mark of respect to the late member

for Kaiapoi, Mr R. W. Hawke. Notice of a question dealing with the subject of conscientious objectors was given by Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Nat., Waitomo), who asked the Act-ing-Prime Minister if the Government would forthwith introduce regulations to: (1) Compel conscientious objectors who refused to perform alternative non-combatant sen-ices to perform alternative nominated work at soldiers' rates of pay; (2) to deprive defaulters under the military regulations of their civil rights in the case of their failing to register and report for duty, this to be in addition to the ordinary penalties; and (3) to debar from present and future employment in the,public service all persons refusing to affirm their loyalty to the Crown.

The question of lighting restrictions was mc7itioned when Mr H. A. Atniore (Ind.. Nelson) asked Mr Nash on behalf of the member for Napier whether ho would make public his reasons for the blackout and indicate whether the shortage of coal or electrical equipment had anything to do with it. Mi- Atmorc asked the Minister to state whether the blackout policy was intended in part to reduce private expenditure in ' the interests of New Zealand's war effort.

In a notice of question to the Minister of Labour (Mr Webb) Mr D. '€. Kidd (Nat., Waitaki) asked if dairy companies supplying milk to cities and towns which previously were required to pay overtime rates for holidays and Sundays had been notified by the Labour Department that all overtime worked in future would have to be paid for at triple rates. He also asked if the Government would pay its employees who had to work overtime at the same rates of pay. Replying to an urgent question asked by Mr J. N. Massey (Nat., Franklin), Hon. W. Nash reiterated the steps taken by the Government under the cheese registration order to provide more employees for cheese factories. He also stated that the Government had taken definite steps to assist fanners in obtaining labour for their farms, particularly in providing accommodation for the employment of married men and liberal subsidies for inexperienced labour which might be engaged.

Moving n vote of appreciation of his services and sympathy with the relatives of the late Richard Wilson Hawke, late member for Kaiapoi, who passed away last Saturday, the Act-ing-Prime Minister referred to Mr Hawke's homely, honest, and com-mon-sense qualities, and said his capacity for taking pains was above that of the average man. The motion being passed unanimously Mr Nash then moved the adjournment of the House as a mark of respect to the late Mr Hawke. In doing doing so he intimated that the Budget would be presented at 7.30 tomorrow night. The House would meet for formal business at 2.30 on Thursday and the Budget debate would bo opened on Thursday evening when there would be two speakers after which it would adjourn until 10.30 on Friday morning for formal business, after which the Budget debate would continue.