GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17113, 19 September 1917, Page 5

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

! LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL r {Abridged from Press Association telegram.) 1 WELLINGTON, September 18. I The Oounoil mot at 2.30 p.m. [ .REGISTRATION OF ALIENS. / Tho Registration of Aliens Bill was read a second time pro forma, and was referred 1 to tho Statutes Revision Committee.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

> Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. ! BONUSES FOR TECHNICAL SCHOOL 3 TEACHERS. )' In reply to a question by Mr FLETCHER regarding bonuses for teaoaens engaged in ' toaiiinioai schools, Sir Joseph Ward said ho would consider tho matter. Ho was not 5 certain whether tho bonus of £400,000 voted ■ for public servants was 'big enough to pxo--3 vide for outside services. KAURI GUM INDUSTRY. The' PRIME i MINISTER laid on fcbc tablo the report of the Commission on the kauri grim industry. Mr PAYNE discussed the action of the Government as ' another Masseyite bungle, ' duo to an entire lack of knowledge of the business undertaken. 3 Tho majority of the speakers considered ' tliat tho Government had saved the indus- ' try by appointing a Commission to purcha?e ■ gum till tho market revived. i Several mombers advocated tho sub- ) division of the Auckland land district, which j was considered too large to bo eifoctively . administered by one land board. Others , recommended tho appointment of a board of , development, whoso function would be to bring tho poor lands of tike far north into profit. 1 In reply, Mr MASSEY said it was in- ' tended to uso tho North Auckland lands > very largely for settling tho problem of re--1 turned soldiers. If tho eo-oal'led "Austrian" - goim-diggens could not bo sent to tho front, i thoir services would bo freely used in carry- ! ing on farms in the dominion and so keepi i;ig up the production of tho country, lie 5 favoured the subdivision of tho Auckland land district.