HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17484, 28 November 1918, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(Peh United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, November 27. ihe Houso met at 11.30 a.m. GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR. n Mr Poole, the MfNISTERof L)l<tL< EACE said it would be difficult to move German prisoners of war from Motuihi Island, but if the island were required for quarantine purposes he would have them removed to Featherston camp. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time:—Painters' and a!? JnSo »Protection (Mr Veitch), Crimes Act. 1908, Amendment (Hon. Mr Wilford) ' Auckland Harbour Board, Devoflport Borough Council and Domain Empowering' (Mr Harris), Whangarei Borough Empowering (Mr Mander), Dunedin City Fish. Markets and Empowering (Mr Statham), Hawker's Bay River Board (Sir John Findlay. THE KEREHOMA CASE. A discussion was raised by Mr HORNSBY °? fc ? e the table of the Reportsof the Commission of Inquiry into the Relation to the Public Trust Office and the Estate of tho late Rangi Kerehoma. Mr liornsby declared that the commission repealed gross fraud by certain individuals against Rangi Kerehoma, and ho wanted to know whether these individuals were to be allowed to hold_ their illgotten gains. Restitution had a ripht to be made. Tho process of Europeanising the Natives ought to be reconsidered by tho Government. The Hon. Mr HERRH3S said the commission went beyond its order of reference when it condemned tho Europcanising- of Natives, on which question the' Native Department was not called upon to give evidence. On tho question of restitution, ho understood that all the restitution which Rangi Kerehoma's solicitor demanded had been made. Sir Joseph Ward had seen tho commissioner that day, and completely cleared tho Public. Trust Office of any implication of fraud, but he would bring- the whole matter under tho notico of tho Cabinet for. consideration. The Aviation Bill -was read a seoond time. ' WAR LEGISLATION BILL; In tho evening the House went into' Committee on the War Legislation Bill. Mr MASSEY moved an amendment to the Definition of "Person of Enemy Origin," tho effect of which, is to exclude New Ze-alan<J-born children of enemy subjects from tno definition.—This was agreed to. s .

Mr STEWART moved an amendment to exclude from the. definition of enemy alien anyone who has been on active servico with any Allied' forces since the outbreak of war, or any member of \ his family. Tho PRIME MINISTER refused to accept the amendment, which was rejected on the voices.

air PAYNE moved to include amongst anemy aliens any Briton who is married to a German woman", so as to place the husband on tlie same footing as his German: wife.—This was rejected bv 34 votes t0...?. Clause 2, as amended, was carried by 40 votes to 3.

Mr 'VEITCH moved an amendmpnt to clause 14, making it mandatory that the Arbitration Court should increase wages to the increased cost of living. He pointed ojifc that when the cost 'of living rose 30 per cent, wages rose only 10 per cent.

Mr MASSEY opposed the amendment, contending that discretionary power must be left with the court, and the Bill asi it stood gave that.

' Tlie amendment was lost on the voices. -A somewhat similar amendment was moved by _Mr WALKER, and was also lost on the voices.

A number of new clauses, mainly for the relief of soldiers, moved by the PRIME MINISTER. were agreed to on the voices. Mr VEITCH moved a new clause repealing clauses 28 and 29 of " The War Legislation Act, 1917," providing for the nonpayment of superannuation to civil servants after their due date of retirement. >- Mr MASSEY said the conditions under which the provision was enacted had almost passed away, and he promised to bring the matter before tho Cabinet at an oarly date, when its repeal would bo considered. On a division tho motion was lost by 20 votes to 18, and the Bill was reported with amendments, which were agreed to. Tlie House rose at 9.50 p.m., and will sit' again at 2.30 p.m. to-morrow. ;•