PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19699, 27 July 1927, Page 13

PARLIAMENT.

POSITION IN SAMOA.

another long debate.

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES.

ONE FOR EACH ISLAND.

provisions op new bills.

-[fit TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. For the fourth time this session the (roubles of Samoa were debated at length in the House of Representatives this afternoon and this evening. The debate arose during the Committee stage of the Samoa Amendment Bill, and the speeches generally were a repetition of what has been said previously. iThat the Labour Party intended to fight the passage of the bill was proclaimed immediately the measure was realched on the Order Paper. The Prime Minister claimed urgency for the bill and the' Labour Party forced a division on the question, being defeated by 48 votes to 'l2. From then on tho bill was challenged at every stage, and notice was given of several amendments to the nieasure. Tho discussion was continued niatil a late hour. Interesting bills which appeared this ifternoon dealt with the agricultural college! It revealed that the compromise recently hinted at by the Prime Minister was- to the effect that there shall bo two colleges, one, at Palmerston North, which will be known as the Massey Agricultural College, and the other at Lincoln. Both are to have the status of university colleges,. with power to grant diplomas in agricultural science. To-morrow is private members' day. It is probable that on Thursday the House will be asked to put the Imprest Supply Bill (No. 2) through all its »tages, and also the two bills introduced to-day dealing with the agricultural colleges. Thp second reading of the Bent Restriction Continuance Bill has also been fixed for Thursday. Friday .is therefore to be given Jo private members for their second day this week. COAL PRICES HIGHER. [INCREASE IN WELLINGTON. GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION. [EI- telegraph. —special reporter.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. Board of Trade, officers have been instructed to conduct an immediate investigation into the reported increase in the price of coal in Wellington. This information was conveyed by the Minister of, Industries and Commerce, Hon. A. D. McLeod, to the House to-day' in reply to a question by Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central). Mr. Fraser asked whether the Minister was aware that the Westport Coal Company and the Stockton Coal Company nad both raised the wholesale price of coal by 2s a ton and that the State Coal Mines Department had increased the J rice of household coal by Is 6d a ton. fr. Fraser further asked whether the Minister was aware that the joint action referred to had resulted in an increase in the retail price of household coal in Wellington by as much as 5s a ton. PREFERENTIAL VOTING. mVATE MEMBER'S BILL. DETAILS OF THE PROPOSALS. [by- telegraph.—special reporter.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The Preferential Voting Bill, which has been introduced in the House by Mr. J. McOombs (Lyttelton), suggests that the operation of the nieasure sliall be confined .to national polls. In addition to the usual grounds for rejecting a voting paper as informal it is proposed that papers which do not indicate a first preference on the questions submitted shall be rejected. Not wore than one first preference may be indicated, but'a paper shall not be regarded as informal if a voter gives his second, third or other preferences to two or more proposals. In such case the valid preferences will be accepted, but tfrose duplicated and those after the duplication shall not be counted. It is also suggested that it should be permissible to accept papers which have Veen marked with one cross or on which all the proposals except one have been struck out, the votes being given to the marked proposal or the one left in. Proposals are to be carried on a bare majority of the total first preference ¥oles. If no proposal receives such a majority the returning officer is to allocate the votes from the proposal which has received the fewest first preferences among t.lie other proposals, according to the preference indicated by the voter, continuing the process of rejection and distribution until one proposal has obtained a majority. THE LICENSING LAW. AMENDMENTS NOT DISCLOSED [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The lobbies are full of speculation as to when the promised amendments to the licensing law will be placed before Parliament and an answer given to the Leader of the National Party, Mr. G. W. Forbes, by the Prime Minister in the House to-day does not carry the matter much further. Mr. Forbes asked the Prime Minister when members might expect the appearance of the bill. Mr. Coates: lam sorry that lam unable to give the honourable member the day and date on which the Licensing Bill will make its appearance, but it will •ppear. Mr. Forbes: Is it finished ? • Mr. Coates: The t's are not all crossed (Laughter.) ;LOSS OF WAR PENSION. Reinstatement requested l>Y TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL RETORTER.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. On behalf of 26 residents, chiefly jarm&n:, in and about To Puke and Fdengaroa, in the Bay of Plenty, a petition was presented to the House to-day by Mr. F. F. Hockiy, asking that as his earnings as a dairy farmer are insufficient *o enable him to meet the interest on a loan and living expenses, the war pennon of Albert Fortunato Aniadio bo reinstated. . Th e petition sets out that Aniadio, who is 49 years of age, served in the AuekRegiment of the New Zealand Expeditionary, Forces from Jannarv, 1917, to February, 1919, when he was discharged. He was granted a pension in September, 1922, which was discontinued in June, 1923, an application for reinstatement being refused in May, 1927. + Arnadio took up dairy farming Paengaroa, spending £750 of his own money and £846 advanced by the commissioner of Crown lands in stocking and improving his land. His gross receipts 'or cream sold from 1921 to 1927 totalled over £874, of which 25 per cent, had been retained by the commissioner on account of interest on the loan. By reason of his war injuries Amaclio is physically unable to carry on farming operations except spasmodically, and his nervous system is badly affected.