IN ITS STRIDE

Northern Advocate, 27 June 1924, Page 5

IN ITS STRIDE

TWENTY-FIRST PARLIAMENT. TORRENT OF QUESTIONS. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION NOTIFIED. to "Northern Advocate.") WELLINGTON, This Day. .There was an enormous-crowd present yesterday to witness the ceremony of opening the Parliamentary session. The Guard of Honour was provided by fa company of Cadets from Wellington College, and the band in attendance > tfras that of the First Wellington RegiJnent. After the opening ceremony there Was a brief meeting of the Legislative Council, at which Sir Frederick . .Lang was sworn in, and a sitting of ■ "the House of Representatives, at which : innumerable questions were put at the rate of two a minute. Opport\mity was taken bv the Leader of the Opposition, Mr T. M. Wilford, to give formal notice of his intention to move an amendment to rfche Address-in-Reply, which is to be moved by Mr J. Bitchener (Waitaki). RACING PERMITS AND TAXES. A petition signed by business men •of Wanganui was 'presented by Mr W. A. Veitch, opposing any extension of gambling facilities in the Dominion. •"We believe," says the petitioners, "that the existing race days arc, if anything, excessive and that redistribution is the utmost that ought to be •contemplated. We also believe that the existing restriction imposed on the Press should in the general interest be maintained." Sir George Hunter (Waipawa) is asking the Prime Minister whether the Government will deal with the question of relieving racing clubs from the present excessive taxation. STRIKE BALLOT VOTING. Possibly in view of the fact that in ilie recent railway strike ballot there was a proviso stipulating that members of the Amalgamated Society oil Uailway Servants who did not vote . be deemed to have voted with the majority, Mr G. Witty (Ric-carton) asked whether steps would be taken to ace that in future strike ballots affecting Government employees are con ducted under proper supervision and that only the votes of those who have marked 'their ballot papers shall be recorded for or against a strike. DAIRY PRODUCE FREIGHTS. Mr F. Lye (Waikato) intends to ask if, in view ef ithe very heavy freights on dairy produce, consideration will be given to" the question of a reduction. | MATERNITY. i The Leader of the Opposition will J .ask' : in the House at the first opport-

unity if the Minister of Health, Sir | Maui Pomare, intends this session to | introduce legislation to help the j women of New Zealand during child--birth. j IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. | Mr T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) j wants to know whether a copy of the proceedings of the Imperial and Economic Conferences will be made available and whether the House will be given an opportunity for discussion of the resolutions. SUMMER TIME BILL. Bowlers and sportsmen generally are very much concerned with the question whether the Government will intro- | duce this session a scheme of daylight saving. They are to . make suitable representations to Mr Massey on the .subject, but apparently Mr T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) has got in first. He lias achieved ;i record for the number of occasions on which he lias introduced Bills dealing with tin; subject of conserving daylight hours. These ] measures have usually gone by the i name of the New Zealand Mean Time ' Bill, but, perhaps following the pre- , •cedent set by the Imperial Government during the Avar, Mr Sidey has altered the title this year, for yesterday after- i noon he gave notice to move for leave to introduce the Summer Time Bill. To •sporting bodies this means practically one and the same thing and they will naturally hope that it will see the light of day on the Statute Book. PENSIONS SYSTEM. I Pensions k formed the subject of numerous questions asked by various members of the Opposition and Labour Parties. i Mr Wilford gave notice to ask the Minister of Pensions whether lie would introduce a comprehensive measure dealing with the whole of the pensions system and providing for the extension of the pensions system to the blind and invalided. Mr H. Atmore' (Nelson) was anxious to know whether legislation would be brought down giving an increase in old age pensions to widows, and Mr P. Traser (Wellington Central) sought information as to whether widows' pensions will be increased from s (id. to £1 ss. per week and children's pensions from 7s Gd to 10s, such pension to be paid up to 18 years of age in the case of jnrls and 10 years fur boys. .Mr Frascr also asked whether it is intended to increase the old. age pensione for adults to 25s per week. ADVANCES AND HOUSING. Opportunity was taken by members of the Opposition to deliver policy speeches in the form of questions respecting the merits of the Government State advances and housing schemes. For instance, Mr Fraser was .-cixious to know whether the Minister in