GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18199, 21 March 1921, Page 7

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ~ (Abridged from Press Association Telegram) WELLINGTON, March 19. MORNING SITTING. The House met at 11 a.m. ' ' ■ The SPEAKER announced that the Gov-ernor-General had received the Address I'tilr passed by the House In reply to his Speech. ‘ A REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr J. P. Luke, Mr MASSEY said the question of appointing a .harbour engineer for the dominion had not. ■ been overlooked. He thought he , knewj where a very suitable man oouid be. found. Replying to Mr T. E. Y. Seddon,.Sir R. Heaton RHODES said he' contemplated,. ’ ‘ \ sending an exhibition of war trophies round the dominion. ' > -1i Replying to Mr W. H. Fibld, Mr NOSr ; "is WORTHY said the question of freighta_ on, flax was being looked into by the Prime Minister. The question of encouraging the. ‘>| growth of flax was under consideration by] the department. NOXIOUS WEEDS BILL. ( The Noxious Weeds Bill was introduced for the first time on the motion of Mr W- * ' < NOSWORTHY. , _ " r. The House then went into committee on* the Statutes Repeal Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, which was , reported un~ .. ■. amended, and read a third time and passed.. - Mr W. NOSWORTHY moved the sebondX',i?| reading of the Noxious Weeds Bill. Hei- --5; explained that the Bill was directed against | -, J lire blight. For that purpose hawthorn' .} had been declared a noxious weed. and. foE.,- J ' ' the future must not bo planted. ] This might not eradicate the disease, but it would *,v help to cohtrol it. ’ Mr T. M. W ILFORD (Leader of the Op- h'l± position) complained that the Minister bad.:-V-w not given sufficient information to warrant" the passing of the Bill Mr J. A. YOUNG doubted whether" fine' blight existed in New Zealand. : -Power to eradicate hawthorn should "be left in the' 1 '.l hands of the local authority. ,y Mr G. WITTY declared there wag doubt about the existence cf fire blight in- '-;[i New Zealand, and the department must "be' , very careful m the enforcement of the Act, t -’ otherwise great hardship might; bo : - in- r'tT flicted. - '-‘IM Mr NOSWORTHY said he was satisfied that blight existed in the- d(P".'j££ minion. ■ r : - r '•?«: Mr PARR said that in the interest- at'g;* the fruit industry the Bill must be passed: The debate was In progress when thMjJft House rose for the luncheon adjournment. AFTERNOON SITTING. "vj£ The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. The debate on the Noxious Weeds Bill was continued by Messrs ATMORE, HUDSON, FIELD, HORN, RHODES, HARRIS, WILLIAMS, and who supported the Bill. The MINISTER, in reply, admitted that he did not expect the measure to signalise Nf.? the end of the fire blight, but it would aid .in attaining that, and he believed it possible, to keep blight ont of the South 'lsland, and~-, A 5 his department would do its utmost in that, direction. ' The Bill was put through the stages and passed. • . ,'-.^l The amendments nude by tte . Lemalative Council in the Shops and_ Offices Bill ■>. w were agreed to on the motion of the MINISTER. , . -'■.vf# It not being convenient for the, Pnn» . X Minister to move the second leading oLthe Finance Bill, the .House adjourned till 11 a.m. on Monday.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ■.*; ■ 'V The Legislative Council met at 2.30p.m,t \Jfjr The Statutes Repeal and Expiring Laws L Continuance Bill was put through. all its. - stages. The Shops anc Offices Amendment was further amended for the purpose . 0*; ri making it clear that only a diopKeepar,.einr'-,-. ' - ploying no assistants, other than a member , of his family, is entitled to apply :. -for - - vf. exemption from the early closing lawi - Magistrate’s Court was substituted for Ap»i bitration Court as the body to which »p----plication for exemption is to be made. . ” The Bill, as amended, was put through.■" /- its final stages and passed. . Sir Thomas MACKENZIE was sworn m ’ and took his seat. ■ » I The Council rose at 2.45 p.m. till XX un. on Monday. '1 *