PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18135, 6 July 1922, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES. REDUCTIONS ANNOUNCED, THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. OPPOSITION AMENDMENT. IST TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL EXPOBJEBJ WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The debate on the Address-in-Reply •was resumed in both Houses of the Legislature to-day. In the Legislative Council the Hon. O. Samuel was re-elected Chairman of Committees. When the House of Representatives met in the afternoon the Primo Minister read the report of the President of the Arbitration Court on the movement in the cost of living as it affected the Civil Service cut, and announced the reductions which it was proposed to make in the Civil Service bonus. The greater part of the afternoon was taken up by the debato on the motion for leave to introduce a Proportional Representation and Effective Voting Bill standing in the name of Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton), the dobate on the Address-in-Boply thus not reining on unto an iiour b-elore tbv tea . i Ths Leader of the Opposition, Mr. T. M. Wftforu (Hutt) resumed the debato' on the Address-in-Reply at" 4.20 p.m., and moved an amendment iri which he indicated the points on which he was definitely at variance with the Government. After making brief reference to tho matters contained in the GovernorGeneral's Speech, ho proceeded to deal ■with the question of proportional representation. Mr. Wilford then dealt with immigration, and said that at this time Immigration should entirely cease. He then criticised tho Government at length. The Hon. W. Nosworthy (Ashburton), followed Mr. Wilford. and while dealing with the points of the amendment, twitted the Opposition with being without visible means of support-, and said they must be treated accordingly in the House and by the countrv. He defended the Government, dealing with the criticism of it in detail The debate was continued until 10.30 p.m., when the House adjourned. SOLDIER SETTLERS. REDUCING THEIR BURDENS. PROMISE FROM MINISTER t»T TELEGBAPH.—SPECIAL BEPOBTZBJ WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Minister for Lands, Hon. D. H. Guthrie, made a statement regarding the adjustment of the burdens of soldier settlers, in reply to a question put to him by Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei), in the House of Representatives. M This matter has been under the serious consideration of the Government for some time," said the Minister, "and we are quite prepared to come down with proposals that will make substantial reductions in the soldiers' burdens, but it is not in my province to announce a policy that has not been approved by the ' Cabinet. I have the whole thing in train, and at the first opjportunity the l matter will be brought before the Cab- < tnefc. Then Ministers wOl see whether ] the suggestions I pot before them are ■ach aa they can approve of. lam per* : fectly certain that the proposition I have : to put before the Cabinet will meet with ' the Cabinet's approval, and that I shall be able to announce to The House, within a very short time probably, that a proposal has been adopted that will relieve the soldiers to a "very large extent from the difficulties they are now encountering."

tfAKER STREET SCHOOL. THE NEW BUILDING. NO HOPE AT PRESENT. IST TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER,] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. There is very little prospect of the new school to replace the Napier Street School being gone on with in the near future, according to a statement made by the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister for Education, in the House of Representatives this afternoon. In answer to a gneittion by. Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central), the Minister said the proposal two years ago was to do away with the two schools and build a new school, anff to that end a . central site was secured. H« could not give much hope that the building of the new ■ school could be taken in hand for some time to come. He viirited the two .schools some months ago,, and found that the buildings were fairly sound and that there was no overcrowding. All that' he could say was that as soon as the finances improved anu his vote was increased, he woula not forget the obligation in this matter, but in uie meantime the people *» would have to put up with the' present conditions. RETRENCHED SOLDIERS. OFFICERS AND MEN. PLEA FOR EBX TELEGRAPH.-r-SPECaAL REPORTER.! WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The plight of officers and men retrenched by* the Defence Department was mentioned by the Hon. G. J. Smith in the Legislative Council to-day. In deploy ing the need for cutting down the Defence force Mr. Smith said many officers, including some who bad been expressly trained at Duntroon,. had been retrenched. In India, in reducing the army, every officer with the rank or subaltern received a gratuity of £850 and with captain's rank £1250. In addition a subaltern received £75 for every year of service and a captain £150. Such a proceeding was beyond the means of this country. It was interesting, however, to look to Australia and see what was being done there. One month's pay for every complete year of eervice was given to officers with a minimum of £200. Non-commissioned

officers and warrant officers were given six montha' pay and privates three months' pay at the current rate. Whea it/ was coneidered that many of those retrenched had served abroad under service conditions it was felt that something should bo done for them. He would suggest that a bond or debenture, redeemable in 5 or 10 years, should be g'ven to each officer and man retrenched, to be paid at the end of the term with interest added.

THE AMUSEMENT TAX.

PLEAS FOR EXEMPTION. tBX TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL REPORTER,] WELLINGTON. WednwdAj.

Amendments to the amusement tax wore requested in two questions asked in the House to-day. Mr. G. Witty (Ricwanted to know whether tho Government would amend the amusement taa so that where an entertainment was for. charity or public benefit, and not for personal gain, it would be exempt from taxation. , gir George Hunter (Waipawa) wished have agricultural and pastoral societies exempted from the payment of amusement tax u P on *^ e P" ces °* members' tickets ajud upon the charge made for admission (to shows. .. THE LICENSING LAW. "|_y TEtEOBAPR. —SPECIAL BEJPOBTEB.J ■ , .: : WELLINGTON. Wednesday. ■The committee appointed by tho House tflifc session to report on the licensing SJesUoij -&» » ot vefc d-rawn up, its report.