PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16007, 27 August 1915, Page 9

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SURGEON-GENERAL HENDERSON. [by TELEGRAPH. — association-.] Wellington-, Thursday. Tin: House mot at 2.50 p.m. Dr. '] hacker drew the attention of liePrime Minister to the fact that certain military medical appointments had re rontlv teen made, and asked what course Surgeon General Henderson, who had If-en appointed to th<> supreme control of the military medical hospitals would pursue in the e\er,i ~f his n-.t approving othese appointments?

' Mr. Massey replied that Surgeon--1 j General Hendeison a, one 0 the. most able, surgeons in Britain, and would h» • a decided acquisition to the military ser- >| vice of this Domini. H» would' have | supreme control of the. military hospitals. ;jand the appointments made " would not I embarrass him in the least. Dr. Hop.Lewis, whoso appointment had been re ' ' n "' pJ t, l.v I),-. Thaiker. had not been • J placed in a position ot supreme control. I He had only been appointed to the offiei -' I "i inspector. . I Mr. E. Newman brought up the report "I the Land.-. Committee . n the petition -; < '. A. Delatour. of G-shorie. lecom mending that the petition he referred to the Government for favourable considera tion. Messrs. Hindmarsh and Hoinsbv adversely criticised the report, and divided the House on the recommendation. The House sustained the report by 39 to 15. j Mr. Wright moved the second reading of the Wellington City Empowering Act, 1908, Amendment Bill ; ho explained the Bill enabled the City Council to borrow £50,000 to complete the drainage schemes I of districts that formerly were surround- ■ ing boroughs. The Bill was read* a second i J tin!.-, without discussion.

The second reading of the Creymoutii I Native Reserve Bill waj agreed to*. I The Hon. G. W. Russell moved the second reading of the Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill, which, he ' explained, was entirely technical in' its i nature. Mr. Leo said that when in Com- I initio he would move an amendment, j for the purpose of removing a stigma from • l " 1 '"'th of illegitimate children who ..,.vp Keen adopted. The present system •if registration was unfair to these children. 'J he Minister, in reply, said that he ! would Ik- prepared to accept the sugges- I t.on of the member for Oamaru, and lie ' hoped it would be embodied in the Bill i ILe second reading was carried. i The New Zealand Loans Act Amend- ; ment Bill and the Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill (NY,. 2) were introduced ! by Governor - * Message. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading pro forma, and ! said he did not propose to explain the* provisions of the Bills at that stage i They were Bills dealing with the financial ' requirements of the Dominion, and he ' was desirous of getting them before the Public Accounts Committee to-morrow hence his anxiety to have them read a -second time tliat evening. The motion , that the Bills he read a second time and i referred to the Public Accounts Committee I was agreed to. The House then went into Committee j of Vtays and Means, when Sir Joseph I aid. m the presence of a full attend- j a nee of members and crowded galleries i read the Financial Statement. The leading of the Budget occupied one hour and 40 minutes, and Sir Joseph Ward resumed his seat amidst applause. The resolutions giving immediate effect | to the increases in Customs duties pro- I , posed in the Budget were then reported from the Committee of Wavs and Mean* I and agreed to, and, on the motion of the | Minister for Finance, the estimates of expenditure were referred to the Public. Accounts Committee for report within 14 days. Sir Joseph Ward intimated that the deoate on the Budget would be opened on Tuesday next at' 7.30 p.m. Mr. T. Wilford said the questions dealt with in the Budget were of a most momentous nature, and members desired to discuss them jntelligentlv. This thev could not do if they only had till Tuesdav in which to studv them. -He suggested an adjournment for a week. "^ The Prime Minister indicated that he could not agree to this. The House rose at 9.55 p.m. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [IST TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Thursday. The Council met at 2.50 p.m. Leave of absence was granted to the Hon Sir Henry Miller for the remainder of the session on account of illness. The Hon. T. McOibbon gave notice of motion urging upon the Minister for Agriculture the desirability of visiting i Southland, and of making himself person" ally acquainted with the, possibilities of that district '.rom a fanning point of view, and especially with the object of considering the advisability of establishing a school of agriculture in that district. f» vine formal business was transacted. and the Council adjourned until Thursday. September 2.