PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, 7 August 1916, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

THIS AFTERNOON' - S SITTING

MTTTT-VRY SERVICE ACT.

(By Telegraph.-—Ow D Correspondent.) sYELLING-TON, This I>ay. The House of Representatives met at 10 o'clock and adjourned- till noon. ■lt resumed at noon. In reply to questions, Mir Massey stated that no advantage whatever was 'given to sons of wealthy parents in regard to comimsions in the Expeditionary Forces. >.Mr Massey stated that section c 3 ot the Military Service Act, providing that in cases in which no sons in a family have enlisted, all or any may be taken, wonld "be put into operation as soon as it twas possible to -make the necessary arrangements. "Mr Tsitt asked a question regarding the refusal of a school committee in .Christ-church to allow Catholic religious instruction to be given to school children after school hours in schools. Mr Massey said the matter would be considered by Cabinet-. Personally he strongly favoured the Nelson System, and had' felt inclined to -give the public an opportunity of expressing an opinion on it. . Replying to another question -Mr Massey said that the Government had received no communication from the Imperial Authorities on the subject of commandeering the wool output. • An amendment to the Orchard Tax Bill was made, reducing the_ penalty for -non-payment of the tax within the specified 5 time, from 25 to 10 per cent. SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. The Supplementary Estimates include the following votes:— Payment towards cost of reinsuring funeral ibenefits of members of Friendly Societies -serving with the Expeditionary . Force®, £SOOO. Half contribution of contributors to "" "National Provident Fund serving with Expeditionary Forces, £470. Audit patriotic accounts £2000.. Administration of Military Service Act £SOOO. Grant to widow of Hon. A. J. Millar, £IOOO. Matermtv allowances," members cf Friendly Societies (three months), to £5500. Foxton Wharf Commission £IOOO. REVENUE RETURNS. Sir J. G. Ward' stated that the revenue for the four months ending July exceeds that of the corresponding- -period' of 1915 by £587,011. * The month of July showed an increaso of £143,552 over Julv 1915. ! The revenue for the twelve month? eridinsr July showed am increase of £2.449,809 over that of the previous twelvemonths. The expenditure for the past four months showed an increase of £20.994 over that of last year's period, but when the increase of interest and sinking fund 'charges'is taken) into consideration the figures showed considerable reduction' in ordinary expenditure.

CLOSE OF THE SESSION. The session is expected to close late ■this afternaan. A large number of members have left.