PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17622, 8 November 1920, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

END OS THE SESSION. PROBABLY TO-MORROW. SEVERAL BILLS PASSED. FINANCE BILL TO-DAY. [BY TELKCJRAPH. — SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Saturday. A number of Bills were put through their final stages and passed in the Hcuso of Representatives to-day. These included the Railways Authorisation Bill, tho Hospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill and the Births and Deaths Registration Bill. In the Legislative Council the Government Railways Amendment Bill and the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill were put through their final stapes and passed. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. until 11 a.m. on Monday. In moving tho adjournment, the Prime Minister said that business was going through very well and should be finished On Tuesday. The Finance Bill was not yet finished but should be ready on Monday morning. It was an important measure of 43 clauses, a sort of financial washing up Bill. Authority would be asked in it to borrow for hydro-electric power purposes. HEN FOE COALMINES. METALLIFEROUS WORKERS. ; QUESTION OF EXPERIENCE. SETTLEMENT ARRIVED AT. [BY TELEGRAPH. — SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Saturday. In the Legislative Council this afternoon Sir William Fraser reported that managers of the House and the Council had come to a basis of settlement in regard to the disagreement as to the clause in the Coalmines Amendment Bill dealing with means by which a metalliferous miner may qualify to take charge of any place ( in a coalmine. The agreement arrived at was that a man might so take charge if he had at least two and a-half years' experience in driving, etoping, timbering or shaft-sinking, or in rises or winzes in connection with underground metalliferous mining, together with six months' experience at a face with an experienced coalminer in underground coalmining. The report was adopted.

The House of Representatives also adopted the report of the managers. £HE EGG INDUSTRY. CHINESE COMPETITION. PROTEST BY PRODUCERS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Saturday. Immediate action on the part of the Government to prevent the importation of egg pulp from China, was urged upon the Minister for Agriculture in a question which Mr. L. M. Isitt, Christchurch North, asked in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. Isitt read letters from the president of the New Zealand Poultrykeepers' Association- and the Wellington Egg Circle, asking that such steps should be taken in the interests of the industry. It was stated that food was dear, - and in those circumstances if they were compelled to'compels against, the Chinese egg producer the efforts of the Government to encourage • the industry would not be of much:'avail. They were quite prepared to have ', the... Board :of Trade fix the prices of the eggs. The/Minister, the Hon. W. Nosworthy, said he was prepared to give the matter full consideration, but he could not givea definite promise until he was satisfied that the efforts of the Government to induce the wheat growers of. the Dominion to produce enough wheat for the country's needs, had been successful. That was what had been at the back of his mind in taking no action, so far.

GREYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD STRENGTHENING ITS FINANCE. [BT TELEGKAPH.—rRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Saturday.' In moving the second reading of the Greymouth Harbour, Bill in the House of Representatives, Mr. Massey said the measure was intended to strengthen the finances of the Greymouth Board, which had been in difficulties for some time Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon (Westland) dealt ■with the grievances of the board, and said it would be a satisfaction to the people of the district, to know that they were getting another start. - The Bill was read for the second and jfchird times and passed. • THE RABBIT NUISANCE. POWERS OF INSPECTORS. [BY telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON, Saturday. • A new clause to the Rabbit Nuisance Amendment Bill, taking from the inspect tor the position of absolute judge as to whether sufficient steps have been taken to destroy rabbits,- was moved in the House of Representatives by Mr. C. E. Btatham (Dunedin Central). The Minister repeated his statement that he did not intend to prosecute settlers on the word of a single inspector, but be did not see his way to limit the powers of inspectors. Under the Act he had the responsibility of facing the worst nuisance, and he was not going to give up en ounce of power he possessed to deal With it. Mr. Statham withdrew his amendment, and after considerable discussion the Bill was passed with one formal amendment. HOME SERVICE MEN. COMMITTEES DECISION. ~ [B7 TELEGRAPH. — SPECIAL KF.PORTER.] WELLINGTON. Saturday. With reference to the petition of 1900 home service men, praying for consideration for their services, with a view to granting them certain privileges and benefits enjoyed by members of the Expeditionary Force who served overseas, referred back to the Defence Committee on September 6, Mr. W. S. Glenn (chairman) reDorted to the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon that the com* mittea saw- no reason for altering its recommendation. This was to., the effect that, while recognising the splendid services of the men who were retained on home service, it could make no recommendation until all overseas men had been fully repatriated. The committee, however, he added, was of opinion that In the meantime some medal fir badge should be issued to the home service men fes recogniitieat of their services.