PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20931, 22 July 1931, Page 11

PARLIAMENT.

IMPERIAL TOPICS.

DELATIONS OF DOMINIONS.

STATUTE OF WESTMINSTER

MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

DEBATE UNFINISHED.

[BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER.] ELLINGTON, Tuesday.

Imperial affairs occupied the attention of the House of Representatives throughcat its sittings to-day, the opportunity to discuss the more serious problems of the Empire being given by the Prime' Minister's lengthy statement in amplification of the report on the Imperial Conference.

Members found much to say following Jfr Forbes' opinion that the economic side of the conference had been a failure, ftne surprising feature of the debate was the eagerness of so many members to tike part i.n the discussion on a subject undeniably heavy. It was noted that neither the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates nor Mr. H. E. Holland spoke, and that their <Jpputies were early on their feet. It was assumed that the debate would fnish this evening, but it was announced ly the Prime Minister at the adjournment that it would be continued to-mor-rsw afternoon, so that the leaders may be heard before the discussion ends. Satisfaction with Status. _ One effect of the speeches was to confrra popular opinion that New Zealand vfas satisfied with its status as a Dominion with no desire to sever any link with the Empire. Outstanding in importance was the resolution approving the draft Statute of Westminster, of which notice had been given by the Prime Minister. By signifying its approval of the Statute, the House will participate in an important phase of cne oil the most far-reaching reforms affecting Imperial relationship brought under its notice for many years. The effect of .-the proposals is to give the British Dominions a full measure of autonomy with the exercise of complete freedom in law-making in future. Question of Fusion. Members generally made an effort to 'divorce the issues under discussion from the narrower sphere of local politics, which, however, were brought into prominence early in the afternoon by a question upon fusion addressed to the Prime Minister by Mr. W. A. Wilkinson (Independent—Egmont). He gave notice to £*k which one of the Reform Party's seven policy points was still in dispute between the Government and the Opposition, stating that this one was keeping the two parties apart. He was greeted with much interjection and amusement, but from then on the discussion ranged much further afield, leading one member to express his appreciation of the- fact that an Imperial debate had for a change risen above the low level of party considerations. However, several members' wandered from the poiflt, with the result that such questions as cocoa-growing on the Gold Coast and the respective merits of ch'erries and wheat as articles worthy of tariff protection intruded into the arguments: Training of Volunteers. The Hon.. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of .Defence, gave notice of his intention to ask leave to introduce his Defence .Amendment Bill. The object of the bill is to extend the age during which privates :iu the"'.volunteer force may remain in draining from 25 years as formerly to 35 years, before being transferred to the reserve. As was pointed out in the 1930 session when the Defence Amendment Bill was before the House, there is no necessity to introduce new legislation to provide for volunteer training, but there is need for< an Act extending the age up to which men may irain. The Government apparently felt that to bring down legislation instituting the volunteer system would open up the whole question of national defence again with a likelihood oMhe bill suffering the same fate as in 1930, when it was rejected by the Legislative Council after passing the House of Representatives. It is now the intention of Mr. Forbes that the debate on Imperial affairs be continued to-morrow and that private members, who were expecting to have the day for their own bills, be given an opportunity on Friday, if, the debate is not concluded before the commencement of the evening silting. DEATHS BY .ACCIDENT. CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES. MR. STEWART'S PROPOSAL. £BY TELEGRAPH; —SPECIAL REPORTER. ] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. With a view to rectifying a defect in the existing law, the lion. W. Downie Stewart (Reform—Dunedin West) has given notice to introduce into the House of Representatives the Deaths by Accident Compensation Bill. When the ldatives ot a peison killed by negligence sue for damages, the present law requires that any life insurance moneys must be deducted from the damages. Mr. Stewart maintains that if the deceased had been thrifty and had insured his life, the wrong-doer benefits by that . thrift and the damages are reduced. This, he contends, is obviously unjust, and his i * provides for an adjustment which has already been made in England, but not ,n this Dominion. broadcasting control. matter before cabinet. D* y TELEGRAPH".—PRESS ASSOCIATION*. J WELLINGTON, Tuesday. ,0 r - R- Semple (Labour — East) in the House of Representatives to-day, the Postniaster-General. .Hon. J. B. Donald, said the broadf? "8 legislation was at present before 0 Cabinet. Mo hoped to make a statement shortly. ' UNEMPLOYMENT BILL, minor amendments made. TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Unemployment Amendment Bill . Returned to the House of Represen- • ! ves to-day by Governor-General's | essage with minor amendments intended express more clearly the intention of ' ? Se 12, dealing with the tax on wages paries. The amendments werp ap':V **