PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21319, 21 October 1932, Page 13

PARLIAMENT

RELIGIOUS TEACHING PROGRESS OF THE BILL OTTAWA AGREEMENT DEBATE STILL CONTINUES END EXPECTED - TO-DAY / _ [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Thursday All the excitement of Parliament's proceedings to-day was monopolised by the Legislative Council, where equal voting on the second reading of tho Religious Instruction in Schools Enabling Bill left the fate of the measure to the Speaker, Sir Walter Carncross. Contrary to some expectations, ho gave his vote for the second reading. Evidently ho was well prepared for the situation which arose. Careful lobbying had indicated that the bill had 12 supporters and 12 opponents. That supposition was proved correct, for although the voting was 10 to 10, : four members not present had arranged pairs. When the result was announced, Sir Walter Carncross at onco indicated ho ■Nould follow a precedent laid down in the House of Commons by giving his vote at that stage to enable further discussion. His remark that he would probably not. vote in the same direction if occasion arose in the final stage indicates that the victory of the sponsors of the bill is only temporary. Of course, any changes made during the Committee stages may influence the casting of votes on the third readings but if a revision of the bill causes no change of views, it seems likely that the third reading' will not be carried. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives was engaged throughout the whole of to-day's sitting in continuing the debate on the motion ratifying the Ottawa Conference agreement between New. Zealand and Britain. Discussion was very lifeless, but the House was so. indulgent that two Labour members were granted extensions of times for speeches which were not of an outstanding character. It is intended to close the debate for certain to-morrow, and the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said he would move for urgency if necessary. Labour critics have been taunted several times during the debate to test ■ the sincerity of their opposition to the agreement in the division lobbies, and it is understood the party will produce an amendment to the ratification motion to-morrow. EEPLY TO MR, LEE PIONEERS OF DOMINION "A MAGNIFICENT STOCK" [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday Terse comment on the views expressed by Mr. J. A. Lee (Labour— Grey Lynn) on the previous evening was made by Mr. J> A. Wright (Government —Wellington Central), when speaking in the House this evening. "I feel sure he must feel sorry about his remarks last evening," said Mr. Wright. 7 Mr. .Lee: Never on your life. Mr. Wright: He made an attack on the earlv settlers of New Zealand. He said they came from the slums of England. It is admitted on every hand that our early settler's came from" a magnificent stock, and I am sorry he cast a slur on them. Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour —Christchurch East): Better men than you have come from the slums. Mr. Speaker: Order! I will have to name some honourable member presently. IMPORTATION OF STOCK PROHIBITIVE REGULATIONS MINfSTER OPPOSES RELAXATION [BY. TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday A statement that he was entirely opposed to relaxing the existing regulations designed to guard against the introduction oL foot-and-mouth disease was made by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon C. E. Macmillan, in replying to an urgent question by Mr. 11. G. Dickie (Government—Patea) in the House to-day. "I have, in reply to deputations, and on other occasions, definitely stated that I am entirely opposed to relaxing the existing regulations in any way. said the Minister. MAN WITHOUT WORK QUESTION OF HIS FITNESS MINISTER AND MR. WALLACE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL tIEPORTER J WELLINGTON, Thursday Doubts whether the views expressed by Mr W Wallace, chairman of the Auckland 'Hospital Boa I'd, were always very accurate, were expressed by the actingMinister of Employment, the Hon. A. Hamilton, when replying to an urgent question in the House of Representatives to-day. . „ . .... Mr. A. S. Richards (Labour —Roskill) drew attention to a statement published in Auckland regarding the alleged pbgbt of a B2 man, who was said to be lit for light work in town but was not to obtain such employment through the Labour Department. Mr. Richards asked whether the Minister would give instructions for all such cases to be employed, or failing that, whether the Minister would arrange with the Minister of Health for such cases to become the care of hospital boards. ~ , " This man is not a B2 man, replied Mr. Hamilton. " I have looked at the report and would like to say there is evidently some idea on the part of the chairman of the hospital hoard to give some publicity to his views. I don t know that those views are always very accurate." , . Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour —Auckland Central): The point is—is this man to get food ? Don't shuffle. .Air. Hamilton: He won't go to camp. A Voice: Me is riot fit. Mr. Hamilton: He is fit, but he refuses to go into a good camp. Howevei, I will look into the case. There is an attempt to make more of some cases than there is any right to be. ' TWO MINOR BILLS f ~ [by telegraph—peess association] WELLINGTON, The Ohai Railway Board Bill (the Hon. r A. Hamilton), and the Moutoa Drainage Board Rating Bill (Mr. J. Linklater) were introduced and read a first time in tie House of Representatives to-day*