PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15729, 2 October 1914, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. [by telegraph.—press association.] Weiu.vcto.v, Thursday. The House of Kcprescntativer. met at 2.30 n.m. Seven days' leave of absence was granted to tho Hon. J. A. Millar on account of illness. Business reported elsewhere in the Herald was taken. In answer to questions Ministers said tho cases of strike prisoners had been inquired into individually, and no grounds had been discovered that would justify the Government in releasing them. The question of inquiring into the woik"jng of waterside unions was looked into in March last, and an opinion of the' Crown law officers on the subject showed that the Department has not power to interfere with the internal management of unions. It is, however, not unlawful) for any union registered under* the Act) to restrict admission to its ranks although, , by so doing, it opens the door to the regis- ■ tration of another union in the samo in-dustryT-henco the registration of a second wharf labourers' union in Auckland.

I The question of establishing a wireless station at Tonga was primarily one for. the Government'of Tonga. The Tongan Government agreed some time ago to the installation of a station by the New Zealand Government in connection, with a proposal to establish a station at Rarotonga, but experience of wireless operations subsequently gained indicated that excepting during abnormal static interference, there would bo every prospect of working direct from Rarotonga to Fiji, and a relaying station at Tonga would thereloro not be required. In any case, until — Government has more information of the working of tho wireless station set up by tho Government of Fiji, and can judge with an approximation to accuracy of the returns likely to accrue from tho extension of the system in the waters further eastward, no more is proposed to be done in the contemplated scheme. Inquiries are being made into the position of our present steam connection with the Pacific Islands, and the question of improving existing services will be considered.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. '' [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Thursday. Tho Council met at 2.30 and resumed after tho dinner adjournment at 8. On tho motion to go into Committee upon the second reading of the Medical Practitioners' Bill, the Hon. W. Beehan raised objection to the measure on behalf of the friendly societies and medical practitioners outeide the British Medical Association. Hon. H. D. Bell eaid there was no symptoms of a close corporation. The board was only appointed so that doctors might deal with things for which they were specially qualified. There was tho right to appeal .to the Supreme Court against the decision of the board. The motion to go into Committee was then agreed to. Tho Bill was reported with minor amendments, read a third time, and passed. The Animals Protection Bill was reported without amendments, read a third time, and passed.