PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16298, 3 August 1916, Page 9

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

NATIVE COAL-BEARING AREAS.

JUT TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION-.]

■WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. * ■' . The Prime Minister gave notice of his . intention to introduce, next sitting dav, " the .Methodist Charitable and Education . Trust Bill. He explained that it was a •- purely formal and -contentious mea- . sure.

Uen'ying to Mr. Hindmarsh. the Minister for Native Affair? said if the hon. gentleman would bring under his notice coal-bearing areas along the Main Trunk hue belonging to native*, he would consider the question of reserving them. •Replying to Mr. W. H. FielS (Otaki), i the Minister for Defence said lie was negotiating with the Australian Government regarding reciprocity in the matter of privileges to discharged* soldiers. Replying to Mr. Sidey. the Minister for , Defence admitted that the system of free cablegrams which parents have the right , to send to wounded soldiers in England was not working so well as when the men . were in Egypt. He was going into the matter, and hoped it would be placed on j satisfactory footing. The Lands Committee reported on the . Napier Harbour Board Empowering and Vesting Bill with amendments. Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier; raised a question whether the Lands Committee had power to amend the Bill in any clause not affecting Crown lands. They had re . duced the proposed loan from £40.000 to , £30.000, which, he contended, was beyond the functions of the committee. After discussion, the Speaker ruled that the committee was empowered to deal , only with clauses affecting lands. The Bill was set down for the second reading next sitting day. J Replies to Questions. Replying to questions, Ministers said: That the question was being considered of supplying a new form of ballot paper on the no-license issue, under which electors would have the opportunity of more accurately and definitely expressing their desires upon several important phases of the liquor question : that whatever action was found desirable would be taken to prevent the introduction into New Zealand of the wheat weavil, currently reported as infesting wheat stored in the Commonwealth ; that an arrangement had been made for extending the term of office of the High Commissioner; that the Government did not consider it necessary "to establish State bakeries in the | various centres of the Dominion; that I Civil servants, in addition to the annual | increments, would be given a bonus; it ,was proposed by the Government that service by soldiers in Samoa count as service in "the Expeditionary Forces; that the Government was not this session bringing down legislation dealing with the dispute between the British Medical Association and friendly societies; that I the Government was considering the j reservation of a coalfield for Imperial purposes. The Honee rose at 5.50 p.m. Native "Washing-up" Bill. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The chairman of the Native Affairs Committee reported on clauses 41 and 49 of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill, which had been referred to the Committee for report. The Committee recommended that clause 41. authorising the acquisition of land on Kapiti Island be not allowed to proceed. The Committee recommended that clause 49 be included in the Bill, with an amendment conservinc fishing rights over the fiokio Stream and Lake Horowhenua. The Prime Minister laid on the table a report of the work of the Board of Trade, which resulted in a debate on the cost of living

(Left sitting.)

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

WAR REGULATIONS RILL.

[BY TKLEGBAPH. —rRESS ASSOCIATION'.]

WELLINGTON'. Wednesday. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Leave- of absence for the remainder of the session was granted to the Hons. G. Jones and M? I'a rata on account of illhealth.

The following Bills received from the House of Representatives were read the first time: Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering. War Regulations Amendment, Cinematograph Film Censorship. In moving the second reading of the War Regulations Amendment Bill. Sir Francis Bell said he hoped the Council would support the Government, and that the Bill would not be altered so as to make even a conference necessary. The Hon. Dr. Collins (Wellington) referred with approval to the recent address by the Minister for Public Health on the subject of venereal disease. The Minister would have the support of the medical i profession in his efforts to deal with the | suppression of disease. He explained '. what had been dune by medical societies to deal with veneral disease, and spoke with approval of the powers proposed to he taken under the Bill. Some time ago the medical men of New Zealand instituted a system of confidential notification amongst themselves. Replies were received from 308 practitioners, who notified 1941 cases. There were "690 practitioners iin the roll, so probably the number of cases treated was really double the numbers given. He urged compulsory notification, also strict precautions against overseas introduction. The Council adjourned at five o'clock until seven. Hours of Hotels. The Council resumed at eight o'clock. Hon. J. G. W. Aitken (Wellington) i continued the debate. He argued that a i mandate had been given by _the people. i He could not understand the people belli* I refused a referendum. | Hon. T. McGibbon (Otago) was dis- ! appointed with the provision relating to j the drink question. He favoured six . o'clock closing, and announced himself a I supporter of State control. j Sir Francis Bell, in reply, said he was I not prepared to surrender any of the i rights of ( riti' i.-m or amendment that the I Council possessed. The circumstances were j exceptional, and it was not desirable that the Bill should be imperilled. The Bill was read the second time. TLe Cinematograph Film Censorship j Bill was read the second time. i Nine O'clock Proposal Rejected. The Council then considered, in Com--niiitee. the War Regulations Bill. Hon. G. Carson moved a new clause j to have the effect of closing hotels at nine j o'clock instead of ten. j Hon. W. Earnshaw supported the pro- ; posal. and urged that a conference at ! least should be held. i Sir Francis Bell said he was absolntelv ; convinced that the clause could not be | carried in " another place." | Hon. W. Earnshaw : It was onlv lost by one. Sir Fran.es Bell : But the position was changed since .ben. On division the amendment was lost by 12 votes to 6. The Bill was reported without amendment, read the third time, and passed. The Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies' Empowering Rill was also considered i:i Committee, and passed without amendment. Progress was reported. The Council adjourned at 9.55 p.m.