PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, 1 August 1916, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

WASHING-UP BILL.

DAYLIGHT SAVING PROPOSAL,

AN INTERESTING POSITION;

(By Telegraph.—Own Cbixespondent.)

WELLINGTON, This Day. In the House of Representatives last evening the Washing' Up Bill passed through the second reading and committee stages. A number of clauses were postponed. .All clauses relating to Nelson district were passed. _ , Consideration of War Legislation BiE in committee was resumed. Considerable discussion'took place regarding the proviso to the clause d.efining "standard .rent." '' ',■'■ ■■■■■■■'.■,-..

This stipulates that standard, rent shall not. be less than 8 per cent, of the capital value; of the property. This was strongly opposed by manymembers as conferring ' an -undue ad 1 - vantage on landlords; It was mrged that provision was too hard and fast. Whilst it was admitted that 8 per cent, was a fair return on property consisting of a good building on a section of little value, it .was more than a fair return when there was a poor ibuild>ing on a valuable section.

After lengthy debate the £new proviso was carried by 41 to 18. A new clause providing" that local authorities may pay insurance ipremjuma on policies of limited amount in respect of lives of employees who are members of Expeditionary forces was agreed to. end . of the clauses was /reached but an unexpected incident 'happened in connection) with Mr Sidey's Daylight Saving clause. ■.- _ ' T,he 'House showed itself to he. an no mood for debate last night: when^. Mr ■Sidey again brought up his daylight saving scheme, by moving- to add a riew clause to the War' Bill, providing that a scheme should be adopted in' the Dominion during the remainder of the war., Mr Sidey referred to the fact that the scheme was adopted in Britain and Canada and several belligerent countries ; n Europe. . •Mir Massey declared that it was grossly unfair that such motions should bo brought forward iix the dying houi's of the session. After he had promised members that an effort would be mad? to close the session in time to enable members to return to their districts by • War Declaration. Day. i Whilst the Prime Minister was on his feet members repeatedly cried "Vote ! Vote! Vote!" ' Mr Massey said their condition -had! nothing to do with that of other coun T tries. °lt was now being attempted to prolong the session- by. a week., Messrs Pearce nnd Wilkinson spoke briefly against Mr Sidey's .motion, but they "were greeted with impatient cries of '"Vote! Vote! Vote .J" The clause was put and carried. Mr Massey, who was obviously very much annoyed, moved to report progress. Mr Sidey, in making an appeal to th<*. Prime Minister to accept the verdict of the House, said that all the Cabinet Ministers who voted with himi on previous occasions, had now opposed tho clause. ' ..•',' Mr ■Massey'-' (warmly).—lt is simply playing with legislation during the war period. The motion to report progress.' wa* carried by 29 to 23. Progress reported and'. Mr Massey at once *moved the adjournment of thv House, which then rose at 12.10 a-™-The position of this "all sorts Bur, which contains limitation of rent and other important provisions has (been', placed in an uncertain position.