PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21868, 2 August 1934, Page 11

PARLIAMENT

BILLS DEBATED BIBLE IN SCHOOLS /__ defeat forecasted . VITAL DECISION LATER AIR TRANSPORT CONTROL // [BT TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Crowded galleries in the House of Representatives to-night indicated that wide interest is being taken in the Religious Instruction in Schools Enabling Bill, which seeks to provide for Biblereading and religious instruction in primary schools on a "voluntary basis. The measure was sponsored by Mr. H. Holland (Government Christchurch North), who has in previous years been in charge of bills with similar aims. One of the main distinctions in this year's measure from its predecessors, is a provision that such instruction should take place in school hours. The Nelson system now operative in some schools allows instruction to be given outside school hours, and several members, notably those on the Labour benches, indicated their preference for the Nelson system. Sincerity of Appeal There could be no doubting the sincerity of the appeal made by Mr. Holland in seeking to commend his bill to the House, and he was heartily applauded on resuming his seat at the end of a speech lasting an hour. Curiously enough, the iirst sign of opposition came from Mr. W. J. Jordan (Labour —Mauukau), who, like Mr. Holland, is a local preacher in the Methodist Church. It is expected that the second reading of the bill will be defeated by about eight votes. A couint of heads made by a competent authority shows that) there are 30 supporters of the bill and 38 opponents, while the views of several members are unknown. However, the second reading; stage of the bill was still in progress when the House adjourned and the debate will not be resumed until August 29, so an official checking of opinion on the subject has been deferred for at least four weeks. Sympathy for Ex-Soldiers Most of the aftexnoon sitting of the House was occupied in the discussion of the War Pensions Amendment Bill, promoted by Mr. J. A. Lee (Labour — Grey Lynnk The measure has the goodwill of all private members of the House who served in the war, and they ' urged the Government to assist in passing it into law to meet the needs of exsoldiers who have broken down in health, but are not eligible for pension benefits, under the existing legislation. A bill providing for the licensing and control of commercial air services was introduced in the evening and provoked a series of questions from members interested in a measure presenting novel features. A second batch of Ministerial replies to questions was circulated and will be; discussed to-morrow afternoon. Private! ■ members' bills will be considi ered ; to-morrow evening. SAMOAN SENTENCE CASE OF 0. F. NELSON NO CABINET INTERFERENCE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] ■' WELLINGTON, Wednesday The. case of O. F. Nelson was the subject of a reply to-day to a question asked by Mr. C. L. Carr (Labour — Timaru) in the House of Representatives. Mr. Carr had asked whether, in view of Mr. Justice. Blair's dissent from tlv verdict of his fellow-Judges * on one charge, and in view of the fact that on the other charge two Judges supported Mr. Luxford's verdict, and two, including the Chief Justice, opposed it, the Minister would endeavour to persuade the Cabinet to recommend the Governor-General to cancel Nelson's term of banishment from Samoa. ~ Tho Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, replied as/follows: — "Mr. Nelson "was warned by me before his return to Western Samoa that the Government would not tolerate any renewal of subversive activities in the territory, and I am aware of no reason at present for recommending any alteration in the sentence imposed by the Court on his conviction of a deliberate attempt again to create disaffection. The Government's only concern is the well-being of the people • of Western Samoa, and its policy toward Nelson will be governed entirely by his own attitude and by the situation in the territory. "I should add that the honourable member's summary of the Court's decision on appeal is not completely accurate, in as much as the decision of the High Court of Western Samoa was confirmed on each of three charges, while three of the four Judges concurred in confirming the conviction on two of these charges, the dissenting judgments in each case being on purely technical grounds."

RATES OF RELIEF PAY V • ■ ' -. ~\ • DESIRE FOR AN INCREASE ■ - .» r - THE BARRIER OF FINANCE [by TELKGRAPH —BPKCIAL RKPOiITKB] WELLINGTON. Wednesday "It is easy to pass a resolution in fnvour of increased benefits, but the inv portant factor ilhould not be ignored bow the extra money to provide the increase in benefits ran be obtained," said the Hon. A. Hamilton, Minister of Emp'oyment, in a reply circulated in the I T o:i.se to-day to a question asked by Mr. H. Semple (Labour —Wellington East), who had drawn attention to a manifesto, issued by the executive of the Auckland Council of Christian Congregations against the unemployed relief rates. Mr. Hamilton added that such increased benefits could not ho restricted to Auckland, and the only way of meeting the desire of the Council of Christian Congregations would be by increased taxation, which the Government was not prepared to impose. A somewhat similar question had been by Mr. W. J. Jordan (Labour- —Manukau), in relation to a recent lagely-attended meeting in Auckland, at. which a protest was made against the inadequate provision made for the maintenance of the Unemployed and their families. Mr Hamilton said he had read a report of the meeting. Hates of pay for reliof work in city areas had not heon varied over a long period. As for those men who were on sustenance, the gireat bulk of these voluntarily accepted sustenance 1 payments in preference to ordinary relief work.