SESSION NOTES.

Northern Advocate, 22 October 1919, Page 3

SESSION NOTES.

An inquiry as to whether the Government intended this session to repeal the "anti-shouting" clause of the Licensing Act wa s made from the Prime Minister by Mr G. Witty (Riccarton). M r Massey said he did not think it would be possible to introduce a Licensing Bill this session. Mr Witty: You need only repeal the one clause. The Hon. W. H. Herries: It is a regulation. Mr Massey said he would obtain the opinion of the Crown Law Office on the point as to whether legislation was necessary. * * * • A quotation from a Fiji paper, stating that the price of rice had been controlled there, and had been reduced to 3d per lb where previously it had been Bd, was read in the House of Representatives by Mr C. H. Poole (Auckland West), who asked th e Prime Minister whether he would hand the information on to the Board of Trade. He reminded Mr Massey that the board was carrying out an investigation of prices and supplies in Auckland with a view to determining whether the price at present being paid for rice there was justifiable. Hg suggested that if so substantial a reduction could be secured in Fiji, something might be don e in New Zealand. Mr Massey said it was very much easier to control th c price for a community the size of that in Fiji than fo r a population a slarge as that of New Zealand. He would, however be glad to hand the information over to the Board of Trade. * * * + The appointment of a Special Defence Committee of the House of Represntatives composed of members of both sides of the Hous.e to consider the report of Admiral Jellicoe on naval defence, and to report to Parliament, was suggested by the Hon. A. M. Myers (Auckland East). M r Myers said that as this was not a party question this course might very well be taken, and the matter given full consideration. The Prime Minister said that if it was the beginning instead of almost the end of the session, he might have been disposed to accept the suggestion. He reminded the House that certain of the proposals of Admiral Jellicoe were confidential, containing matters which he was in honour bound not to divulge. In other circumstances he might have been very glad to fall in with the proposal, but h e was afraid that he could not do so at this stage of the session.

Greater speed in dealing with applications for the soldiers' gratuities was urged upon the Prime Minister in the absence of the Minister for Defence this evening by Mr H. Poland (Ohinemivri), who said he had received letters from Auckland complaining strongly about the delay in dealing with the applications. Coninuing, he quoted from a published description of the procedure to show that considerable time was occupied in referring each application from one Department to another. He said a return showed that 1512 applications had been put through in 20 days, and declared that at that rate all the gratuities would not be paid until three years had elapsed. He said that while aware that it was necessary to ensure that a man's account was not already overdrawn, nevertheless more speed might be obtained in completing the matter. M r Massey said there was no nee-1 for anxiety, since it was quite certain that the whole of the gratuities would be paid before Christmas. If* however, the question were put on paper he would give it a considered reply.