PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14821, 21 October 1920, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

(Per Press Association.) j WELLINGTON. October 20. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Hen. G. M. Thomson moved that the Government be asked to strengthen the censorship of cinematograph films, with the object of the elimination, of the noxious elements which are tending to destroy the moral sense of so many voting persons. He regretted that many films conveyed bad suggestions, and he urged that no good result would be> achieved by the use of the so-called moral films. Those films conveyed more immoral suggestions than good. The Hon. M. Cohen seconded the motion, saying that there was an urgent need for strengthening the hands of the censor, for it was useless to spend millions in education to have all the good undone in this way. The' Hon. W. H. Triggs referred to the. fact that the people in the Cook Islands had asked that the censorship he stricter, as pictures tending to degrade white women in the eyes of the natives were having a bad effect. Whal Has required locally was that the censor should be backed up by public opinion. ...

The motion was carried unanimbsuiy

The Workers' Compensation Amendment Bill was received from the House, read a second time pro forma and refined to the Statutes Revision Committee.

Sir Francis Bell gave notice to introduce the Incorporated Societies Amendment.

The Offenders' Probation Bill was, put through its final stages and passed. The Statutes Drafting and Compilation Bill was received from the House and was read a second time. Sir Francis Bell explained that the Bill made the draftsmen Parliamentary s( rvants. instead of Crown Law Officers, and separated the compilers of I he statutes from draftsmen. The Bill was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Electric Power Boards Amendment Bill was put through its final stages and passed. Amendments were; made to enable Power Boards, instead of having a valuation roll and rate book of their

own, to use so much as may be necessary of the valuation rolls and late books of the local bodies of the district, and to enable local bodies to advance £250 instead of £IOO towards the pre-. liminarv expenses of Boards. The amount which local bodies may deduct for the collection of rates was increased from 2i per. cent, to 4 per cent. The Hon. J. McGregor withdrew, with the- permission of the Council, the Marriage Amendment Bill (No. 2). The Council rose at 4.55 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr T. K. Sidey, the Hon G. J. Anderson said it had been the intention to bring down town-planning legislation this session, but so far it had not been possible to do so. He pointed out that there was already a great deal of legislation on the Statute Books which could be used by town-planners if thev chose to use it. Unfortunately there appeared to be little disposition to do so. During the recess the Govern•nipnt would consider the appointment of a town-planning expert, and this would be done if not too expensive. If next session legislation were introduced it would be largely a case of the consolidation of the legislation now on the Statute Book. In replying to T)r Newman, the Hon. W. Nosw'orthy said that in view of the possible increase in the price of wheat he would look into the matter of milling wheat for bread, with a view of retaining as many as possible of the nutritious qualities of the wheat in the °Eeplving to Mr H. Holland in the House this afternoon, who asked ll til • Grev River Argus was prose'euted ior publishing correspondence inciting to lawlessness, when one Wellington journal, publishing a letter just as provocative, had not been prosecuted? Mr Massev said that if papers would publish sucli articles as the Grey River Argus had been p1'» ,s "«l lol ' P"'>hsnhig! thev must take the consequence;:. Mr Holland: What about the paper which had not been prosecuted? Mr Massey said that every paper committing an offence, no matter what its color, would be prosecuted. Mr Holland: Then why has it not been done? Mr Massey: I am not sure that an offence has been committed. The police deal with such matters.

Mr I-Iolliind: Vou know the system adopted towards Labor papers. On the report of the Forestry Department being laid on the table. Mr Masscv said there would be a very large Vote on the Supplementary Estimates in aid of the new Forestry Depnrtiuent. He did not think any further legislation would be necessary. A Governor-General's message was received transmitting amendments to the Civil List Bill.

When asked what the amendments were. Mr Massey said they provided for salaries for officers of the House, and also a house allowance for members of the Executive Council in the Legislative Council (Sir W. Eraser). To this latter item Mr Voitch. T)r Thacker. and Mr Statham objected. Mr Massey explained that Sir William Fraser was doing a good deal of work in assisting Sir Francis Bell, and more would have to he done in this wav in the future. , Mr Veitch indicated that he would call for a division on the item at a later stage.

Bv Governor-General's Message the following Bills were also introduced: — : Military Service Amendment. Explosive Goods Bill, and amendments to the "VVestport Harbor Bill. Mr Massey said these amendments were necessary to ensure the carrying out of the superannuation of the Bonrd's servants.

Bv permission of the Prime Minister members discussed the butter subsidy, earh speech being limited to 10 minutes. Mr J. Mc'Combs. on concluding his speech in support of his amendment. moved on the previous day. said he sunported the first recommendation of the Committee, namely, that, in view of the fact that no restrictions have been placed on the price of wool. meat, and other products of this Dominion, the Committee is of opinion that the damfarmers arc entitled to the full benefit of the market price of butter. He thought the price of butter should be fixed at Is 9cT to the consumer, and had shown how this could he done without drawing on the ordinary revenues of the Dominion. He wished to correct an impression which was being assidiouslv fostered that the Government was providing its proposed subsidy by increases in the death duties, whereas onlv £IOO.OOO would be available from that source during the financial year. Most of the money would have to be drawn from the Consolidated Fund, the largest contribution to which would be i through the Customs Department. The money of the Consolidated Fund which would be made available for this purpose could more legitimately have been used to increase old age pensions, increase widows' pensions, increase superannuation to retired public servants and railwaymen andteachers, and in assisting Friendly Societies. In fixing the price of butter at 2s 3d, instead of at, Is 9d, the Government would be adding to the cost of living burden, which will press most heavily on the man with a large family. The increase to the average familv would bo £o per annum, wdiereas the Labor Party's proposal for a levy on incomes would onlv amount, to 6s 3d on an income of £4OO. ranging up to £3 10s 8d on an income of £IOOO. and so on. He expressed thoi hope that party considerations: would not prevent Parliament from adopting the proposal of the Labor Party on its merits, because undoubtedly it was- the more equitable of the two proposals. It secured to the producer the full value of his product,, to the consumer butter at reasonable price, and to the distributors a reasonable margin of profit, and without inflicting any undue burden. It secured that those who can pay pay. In conclusion. he .painted, out that .out of seven of the Committee; present, three supported his amendment. Mr D. G. Sullivan, in sccondinq;'Mr McCombs' amendment, spoke of ii.s relationship v.-ith the cost of living, which had further increased during the past two months by 8.6 per cent. Tf the. Government did what wa-! proposed, it must inevitably result in a further rise in the cost_ of living next nuarter. Any increase in the price of butter must result in the reduction of

consumption, which would be reflected J in the diminished health of- the. people. I The Hon. ' W.'. Nosworthy said the J Committee-had-found- the only possible solution of this difficult question. He claimed that- -the dairy farmer:was the hardest worker in the Dominion; _ The amendment was purely- socialistic m character. New Zealand was more favorably situated than any ; other part of'the" world-so "far as butter waist concerned. The people were getting superior quality. Mr F..l f . Hockley said that though he didliot altogether believe in subsidies, he concurred.in the decision of the Committee. That the farmer was entitled to get the market price for his products was a fact that no one could denv. ' * Mr J. P. Luke would accept the re commendation of the Committee, because he did not think the fanners would be asked to sell butter ai a loss. Mr L. M. Isitt maintained that the Government ought to have* imposed an export tax at the commencement of the war. The farmers claimed the right to the market price for butter. Thcy were not concerned that the sawmiller could not export his white pine am! get the market price for that, because these same farmers wanted cheap butter boxes. He accused the farmers of selfishness, for though this was a war measure thev had shown no spirit 01 sacrifice, which they demanded in others, notwithstanding the fact that their industry had been built up by the enormous expenditure bf public money. Mr G. Mitchell contended that there should be necessaries for all before there should be luxuries for any. The result of the Government policy must be to inflate the values of land and labor, which would not help anyone. Mr 0. .1. Hawken claimed that the export tax advocated by Mr Isitt would 'hit the poor man as heavily as the rich man, which was the strongest argument against it. It was the most unfair and unjust form of tax that could be impos-

ed'on anv community. Mr Holland complained of the met Bad adopted by the Government in connection with the discussion on tho butter question. Thev wasted .1. whole night on tho Gaming Bill, and another for the Elective Executive Bill, but on this question, which contained the germ of the greatest industrial trouble this country had ever had, they shut down. With the rise in the price of butter there was no option for the working man but to demand a corresponding increase in wages'; and he would advise them to take tho necessary steps to that end He admitted that the farmer was entitled to tho full fruits of his labor. Mr McCombs' amendment t did not controvert that position, therefor© he challenged the Prime Minister to let it gU. to tho vote of the House. Mr Masters and Mr S. G. Smith •favored the recommendation of the Butter Committee. Unless that were done a tax of £600,000 would fall on the shoulders of 25,000 butter producers with the result tli.ft butter production would soon close. The discussion was proceeding when the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. At the evening sitting, the House went into ..Committee on the Gaming Bill (No. 2), the Hen. G. J. Anderson, taking charge of the measure, on behalf of the Government, brought down a. number of new clauses, providing for the setting up of a. Commission to go into the question of granting additional totalisator permits, and by Order-m-Council giving effect to the recommendations of tho Commission. Mr McCombs objected to the recommendations of the. Commission being given effect: to before tho House had an opportunity of considering them. As a member of the House he was not going to give up hTs right to say how far ihe gambling evil should spread. He would agree to the'setting up of the Commission, but the Government proposals went much further, and he objected to legislation bv Order-in-Council. Mr 3lassey said if he could reduce gambling ho. would do so, but he recognised that people would have racing. and it was necessary to control it. He believed that some centres had more permits than they should have, and readjustment was necessary, and that was what the Commission would do. Ho did not Think it proper to name the Commission at present, but there would be no one on it who had not a knowledge of racing. His proposals were not intended to take advantage of anyone, but had been put before the. Houw simply in conformity with the promise, he had made. Mr Isitt made a strong protest against the Commission reporting to the Government instead of the House. He also asked the Prime Minister to put one or more business men on the Commission. Mr Massey said they would ali be business meii. He also that after the Commission had reporfed. the Government might grant all or part or the permits recommended, but Parliament must subsequently endorse the action of the Government, and if either House refused to do so. then the present-day position would be reverted

to. .... After further discussion, in winch the terms of compromise arrived at last Tuesday morning were canvassed, it was agreed to accept the new clauses, and they were forthwith added to the Bill without "amendment. The House resumed and the Bill was. read a third time and passed. The House rose at 0.10 a.m.