PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13906, 6 November 1919, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

Pee Press Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, Nov. 5. The Council met- at 10.30 n.in. The Law Practitioners Amendment .Bill, received from tho House of Representatives. was read a first time. The Council rose pending the receiptor further business from the House.

When the Couiicil met again at 2.30 p.m., the war resolutions passed in the House of Representatives were adopted. By permission of the Council, Sir Francis Bell made reference to the gift of a reserve on the shores of the Rotoiti and Roioehu by the Maoris. He desired to place on record the fact that the natives had themselves offered to grant, free of charge, the reserves sought for scienic purposes. It was evident they desired to make the lakes, as part of the inheritance of their people. available to the pakeha. The Council rose at 3.35 p.m., pending the receipt of further business from the House of Representatives.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON, Nov. o. The House met at 11 o'clock. Replying to Mr Poole, the Premier said the Cabinet could not agree to (grant any compensation to Leyland and O'Brien in connection with the damage done to the scow Moa, captured by Count von Luckner after the escape of the German prisoners from Motuihi. Replying to Mr McCombs_, the Premier said it was impossible to pass a. satisfactory amendment to the Shops and Offices Act- this session. If he were in* power a consolidating measure would be brought down early next ses-

sion. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Washing-up Bill were agreed to. Replying to Mr Holland, Air Massey said there was a, shortage of sugar in the Dominion, which was accentuated by the fact that a cargo of 4oooj tons had to be sent awav from Auckland because the wa.te-rsiders refused to unload a steamer. The Board of Trade was inviting a representative of the Colonial Sugar Company to visit New Zealand to discuss the position. He did not want to--sec rationing to individuals, but he would see that- there was a fair distribtnion amongst the towns. Replying to Mr Ell, the Premier admitted that lie was not familiar with all the details of tho dispute between miners and coalowners, but if it was only a matter of tools and explosives ho thought the dispute would be quickly settled as soon as he. was able to get. time. He proposed to go into the whole matter. The Appropriation Bill was introduced, and read a first time. Mr Massey laid on the table the report of the Royal Commission on the railway cut. Mr Massey made a statement regarding raihvaymen's wages. He said it was proposed to set up a board to inquire into the wages and working conditions. The Cabinet proposed to ask the Board to report- on what increase was necessary to meet the increased cost of living since March last, when the men made an agreement witli tho Government as to the scale of pay. The board would be asked to. report within three months, but on the question of an increase they would be asked io make an interim report. The Premier moved a series of resolutions recording the thanks of the House in the name of the people of New Zealand to the men who served on land and sea in the great war. The motions were seconded by Sir Joseph Ward and supported by Mr Holland on behalf of the Labor Party. A motion honoring in a. spirit of reverence and pride the memory of those who gave their lives and respectful symapthy with their relatives was carried by members standing in silence. Sympathetic speeches were made, by members in support of the motions. Mr Massey made a statement regarding the position of the South African veterans and land settlement-. He regretted that it- was not possible to permit them to participate, but as soon as the great bulk of soldiers were satisfied. the South African veterans would be allowed to come in. The House rose at 12.52 till 2.30. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. By courtesy of the Prime Minister, opportunity was given Mr McC'om ! bs to introduce the Industrial Disputes Settlement Bill, which was read a first i imp. Tho Prime Minister moved the following motion : —"That this House desires to express its opinion that the presenthonorarium of members of Parliament is quite insufficient to enable them io live in reasonable comfort, and is not commensurate with their legislative responsibilities: this House therefore recommends the next Parliament to take this subject into, consideration, with a view to making more satisfactory provision for the salaries of its members and enabling a. superannuation scheme to be established, so that the men who have given many years of service to the State, and would not find themselves in the evening of life insufficiently provided for." Mr Masseysaid he agreed with the view that the, present- payment was altogether inadequate. being the lowest- in tho British Empire. It. was also desirable to provide some form of superannuation, as it- was well known that many members, alter serving a long term in Parliament, fell on evil days, and it was the duty of the people who thought a man good enough to represent them in Parliament to assist him in his declining years. It was not, of course, intended that any increase agreed to would apply to the present Parliament. The motion was seconded by Sir •losepii Ward, supported, bv 31r Holland, Mr Isitt, Mr Payne, and Mr Poole, and carried on the voices. Sir .lames Allen moved the second reading of the Appropriation Bill, and explained the various clauses. He made a statement covering the financial outlook. Tlic Budget, estimate of the revenue was £22.919,000. For the seven months the revenue had exceeded the same period last year by £'1,103,000, and it was anticipated the revenue by .March next would, with the amountbrought forward from last year, show an excess of £1,014,000, which would meet the increases under the Supplementary Estimates. If the butter tax repayment to farmers, amounting to L'.'J 10.000, were added, there would be a deficit at [March 31st- next amounting to £-)2-3,000, but- the Minister pointed out that, half a million of expenditure provided for was not likely to be actually incurred. Mr Wilford brought up the matter of the accident at the Tr.entham military camp, whereby a boy (Waugh) lost his life through a bomb explosion. The Court of Inquiry had found a. certain officer guilty of negligence, but the military authorities had declared that no charge could be laid against anyone. _M r Wilford declared that the boy's father was unable to gain information as lo the evidence adduced at the Court of Inquiry. Waugh now wanted a. full investigation of the whole circumstances, but this could not be granted without' the Minister's approval. Tho Hon. W- I). S. Mac.Doim.ld made a lengthy reference to the butter equalisation fund, and disclaimed responsibility for tho arrangement, which was made by the Prime Minister. .Mr .Massey said he had no part in making the equalisation arrangement, with which he did not. agree, as under ii the producers did not get the benefit. The, exporter was the garner. I Replying to criticism. Sir Jatnus Allen said the Income T.'ix .'Department 1 had been instructed to take action under the compulsory provision of the. I' inance Act. lo call upon certain persons !o subscribe to the loan. Regarding the Waugh case, the Minister said the boy's father had been invited to be present at the military inquiry, but. hi! reliiHcd. The .Minister said that no good purpose could be served by reopening file matter. The Hill was read a. second lime. A, Hill was introduced by Governor- . General's Message providing for the inclusion in Ihe Appropriation Act of the amount for Hpeciiil allowances lo .Witimleriiil privtile secretaries. The Kill wa.t (nil- through CVirnmil.-tee, and reported with ametidnienfit. The House adjourned at fi.ltO p.m. On tile Tfoutto resuming n|. 10.2/> to- 1 flight, the Speaker announced that, the Governor-General had sijinilled bin as- I dent to the Appropriation Act. I' Mr iMwtHev mud t.liev had now I roncbutl the olid of one of the moat re- 1

marktihh* sessions in the Dominion s history. It had been short, but l.ie business accomplished was el unique character and historic interest, including measures dealing with New Zealand's entry into the League ol Nations and tile acceptance of the mandate for Samoa and Nauru Islands. The Prime Minister paid a tribute to the work of the officials ol The longest Parliament in New Zealand history was at an end. They had reached the parting ol the ways, so to speak. Whatever the resiih, oi the elections might be. he believed thai all parted that night as friends. Sir Joseph "Ward referred to the lact that this Parliament was the only one that had seen the Motherland pass through a great, war. It had had the privilege of assisting tho Motherland ifi that war. It had seen sorrow come into many homes, but they could feel certain that those who passed awav in the war had not died in vain, in the task of upholding right, justice, and freedom for mankind. The appeal to tliQ people now coming must bring changes, but whatever the future held in store, members would never fail to remember with appreciation the manner in which the Speaker, Chairman of Committees, and officials had carried out their duties.

Mr Holland, for the Labor Party, expressed appreciation of the fair treatment received from the Speaker, members and officials. The House was dissolving in a time when remarkable world changes were impending and nqne knew what form those changes would take. The fight of the future would resolve itself into a struggle of parties for principles that would matter. instead of the personal fighting that had obtained in the past. The Speaker acknowledged the references to himself amd expressed his thanks to the officials of the House. The sixth session of the Long Parliament closed at 11 p.m., with the en stomarv division, oil the Prime Minister's motion to adjourn, which was carried by 18 to S.