PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2000, 16 December 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. Tn tlic Legislative Council to-day, the Hon. R. Macgregor moved the first leading of 'the Marriage Amendment Bill, requiring a religious head Bending in the name of a minister for the list of officiating ministers to make a declaration of allegiance to the King, and provide a certificate that the minister concerned is willing to make a like declaration. The Bill was read a first time. The Municipal Corporations Amendment and Mental Defectives Amendment Bills were received from the House. The latter was read a first time, and the former a second time, pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Banking Amendment Bill was passed. THE LOAN BILL. Sir Francis Bell moved the second reading of the Aid to Public Works and Land .Settlement Bill. .Sir Thomaa JUitchelson did not oppose the Bill, but warned the country that it was going too fast in the way of borrowing. Taxation was pressing very heavily, and relief was necessary if the country was to prosper. The workers should realise the necessity for helping industry by giving a greater output. The Hon. C. J. Barr pointed out that much of the money was for in-come-bearing works. He said there was plenty of money in the country, but people were holding off for high interest. He agreed that there was a certain amount of justice in the comments about go-slow, but a great part of the fault lay witli the managers of industries. As in a real army, so in the industrial army, the efficient officer produced an efficient ranker. The Hon. O. Samuel expressed satisfaction at the Hon. Mitehelson's warning, for prosperity could not continue for all time.

Sir William Hall-Jones said he did not tliink there was ground for pessimism, for the Government could be trusted to expend the money economically. If there were any slowing down on the part of New Zealand workers, other countries would profit at our expense. The Hon E. W. Alison said ihc present was a time when the State and individual should practise economy. He denied that the managers of industry were responsible for the goslow. That had come from the preachings of extremists. The same go-slow that had been practised here was in operation in England, and was ruining England. New Zealand had tremendous advantages, and if every man did his best, we could pull through. The Hon. W. Earnshaw considered the country was indebted to the Government for the economies it . was practicing. He feared it was going to do something which would be disastrous in reducing wages. The Govern, ment should have sufficient money to absorb the labour offering. He said the Arbitration Court should be wiped out. for a judge and two laymen could not be expected to reach satisfactory conclusions. The result had been that unskilled labour had got an unfair advantage over skilled labour. The debate was adjourned on thw motion of the Hon. Hawke.

EDUCATION AMENDMENT. On the motion to commit the Education Amendment Bill, the Hon. J. Barr said the oath of allegiance should apply to. all permanent educational employees. He thought, so,far as the saluting of the flag was concerned, that once a week was sufficient. The Hon. G. M. Thomson considered the syllabus of to-day was too full, and he said he would be glad to see' an experiment made with the American intermediate school plan. He objected to the sexes being separated in the secondary schools. He spoke of the part played by the cinema: in influencing children, and urged the Government to ensure a better class ot film being shown. There was a need for changing the bureaucratic attitude of the Department. Inefficient private schools should not be allowed to carry on. The Hon. J. G. Garland did not agree with the segregation of the sexes. He to centralisation. The Hon. Mark Cohen did not agree with the proposal to end the primary school age at 12 years, and to teach the sexes together. The Council of Education should be more than advisorv. He feared the saluting of the flag was being carried to an excess. It should not be done so often as to cheapen the ceremony. The Bill was committed, and progress was reported after clause 6 had been adopted.

COMPANIES AMENDMENT. The Companies Amendment BUI was put through its final stages and passed. The Council rose at 4.59 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. PAPERS HELD UP. Replying to Mr H. Holland, the Hon. J. G. Coates said it was a fact that a parcel of the "Manchester Guardian" was held up by the P.O. from 2 2nd November to 7th December. What had caused the delay, he could not say, but he was making inquiry, and he trusted there would bo no future cause of complaint. CONSUMPTIVE SANATORIUM. Replving to Mr J. Craigie. the Hon. C. J. Parr admitted the need for a consumptive sanatorium in Central Otago. The Hospital Boards interested had been circularised, to say how and when they can help in the establishing of a sanatorium, but he regretted that many of the replies had been far from encouraging. BACKBLOCKS CHILDREN. Replying to Mr Edie, the Hon. C. situation regarding the matter of naval armament he had deemed it would be advisable to give an opportunity for the necessary conversations and discussions and also for meetings of the sub-committee of naval armament, in order that an agreement on this subject should be reached at the earliest possible moment. It was also a fact that the Chinese and Japanese delegations were concerned in Shantung conversation and in order that the greatest progress should be made in the Conference, the Chairman suggested that the general committee on the Far Eastern questions should hold a short session This was unanimously approved.

J. Parr said he was reconsidering the decision to cut out the grant which enabled backblock children to attend district high schools. RECIPROCAL DUTIES. Replying to Mr I>. Jones, the Hon. Downie Stewart said he was negotiating with Australia for a reciprocal customs agreement, and he hoped to have those negotiations sufficiently advanced to submit them to Parliament before the session ends. The question of admitting New Zealand potatoes into Australia free would be considered when the details were bo» ing settled. THE BAND CONTEST. In reply to Dr. Thacker, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said he would look into the matter, and see if anything could be done in the way of granting railway excursion faros to bandsmen attending the Dominion contest In February next. BALANCE-SHEETS. In reply to the Hon. J. A. Hanan, the Premier said the first instalments of the departmental balance sheets in a commercial form had come to hand that morning and he hoped to have them printed and laid before the House this session. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were introducea by Governor's message and read a first time:—Life • Insurance Amendment, Valuation of Land Amendment, Insurance Companies Deposits Bill. PUBLIC CONTRACTS BILL. The House went into committee on the Public Contracts and Local Bodies Contractors Amendment Bill, which passed without amendment. COUNTIES AMENDMENT. The' Counties Amendment Bill was then taken in committee. Mr G. W. Forbes pointed out that county councils had no power to hold over the payment of rates in cases of ratepayers who were in financial difficulties. In some cases the County rates amounted to almost as much as the land tax, and many ratepayers could not readily And the, money. He thought there should be some power given to County Councils to suspend payment for a time before the penalties were inflicted.

The Minister said no representations had been made to him try counties on the point, but he would consult with the Department, and the representatives of Counties, to see whether the proposal was feasible, ana if so, a clause could be put into the Bill in another place. Mr T. M. Wilford moved that in districts where ratepayers had established septic tanks on their own properties such ratepayers shall not be liable for a special sanitary rate if levied by a local body. The Minister said he could not accept the amendment. After a brief discussion, the amendment was withdrawn, and the Bill was reported without amendment. Both Bills were then read a third time and passed. GREY COLLECTION.

The Hon. Downie Stewart moved the second reading of the Grey Collection Exchange Bill. He explained Sir Geo. Grey had left in South Africa a quantity of books, etc., relating to New Zealand generally, and to Maoris particularly, while he left to the city of Auckland a number of books, etc., relating to South Africa. The movement to have these exchanged began in 1861, and had been continued at intervals since. The principal difficulty at first was the objection on the part of members to part with any of the books and documents. That difficulty, however, had been overcome and General Smuts had now written to the Government to say that the South African Parliament had passed legislation sanctioning the exchange. The Mayor of Auckland had approved of the Bill, and the terms of exchange. The Bill was supported by Messrs Malcolm, Parr, Atmore, and Ngata, and was passed through all its remaining stages. FINANCE BILL.

Mr Massey then moved the second reading of the Finance Bill No. 2, his speech in explanation of the Bill being on the lines telegraphed last night. A lengthy debate took place upon the Bill, and the House was still sitting at 2 a.m.