PARLIAMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19256, 21 August 1924, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. : ’V (Pbb T/fited Beebr a ssooiattoh-I WELLINGTON, August 20. The Legislative Council mot at 2.30 p.m.’ to-day. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Four days’ leave of absence was granted to the Hon. J., Grimmond on account of illness. ROMAN CATHOLIC EMPOWERING HILLS. , Tho Roman Catholic Archbishop. ,Empowering Bills of Wellington, - Auoklapo* and Dunedin were read a third time and parsed. • • ' ; STAMP DUTIES EXEMPTION. Tlie Hon. O. SAMUEL gave notice of his intention to move that in tho opinion of tho Council it, is expedient to take steps to restore the exemption, from stamp duties which had always existed before the war in favour of all mortgages and agreements tor land transfers and releases of mork gages. RIGHTS OF FISHING BILL. Tho Rights of Fishing Bill was discharged from the Order Paper for a fortnight, Sir FRANCIS BELL explaining that the measure conflicted in certain respects with the Fisheries Act. - The Council adjourned at 2.40 p.m. unti* 2.30 p.m. to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.50 p.m. PUBLIC SERVICE CLASSIFICATION. Replying to Mr Sidey, Mr MASSEY said the Public Service Classification List was being prepared, and he would las able to Gazette it next month. PAYMENT OF TEACHERS' SALARIES. Replying to Mr Sullivan, tho Hon. C J. PARR said it was the usual practice of the Education Department to make teachers’ cheques jrayable before the term holidays commenced. _ ■ Mr SULLIVAN remarked that his information was quite different. STAMP DUTIES AMENDMENT. ; The Stamp Duties Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor-General's Message! and read a first time. MINISTERS’ REPLIES. The House then proceeded to discuss the answers given by Ministers to questions. The Ministers gave the following, amongst other answers to questions:— LAND SETTLEMENT SCHEME. That the Government is fully aware that negotiations have been in progress between, the Federal Government of Australia and the Government of Great Britain regarding loan proposals for £54,01X3,000 for land settlement and development schemes, but the details are not yet available. At the present time it is not the intention of tho Now Zealand Government to enter into a similar agreement under the Empire Settlement Act. 1 COMPULSORY GRADING OF CREAMThat the subject of making the grading of cream compulsory has not been considered and discussed by the dairymen- of New Zealand over a sufficiently long period t.o enable them to be yet fully conversant with the proposal. Tho grading of -cream, is already extending very considerably on a voluntary basis, and it. is probable that by next, winter the question of making cream grading generally compulsory will be fully discussed by the dairy companies. The departmental officers will be taking all possible steps during the coming season, to assist in still further raising the standard of tho quality of our dairy products. GOVERNMENT’S ROLLING STOCK., That it is the policy of the Government to meet its requirements in the matter of rolling stock by having it constructed la its own workshops, and by contract with private firms in New Zealand. It is only when it is not possible to meet requirements by construction within the dominion that the department has gone outside the dominion for rolling stock. There ls nt> intention of departing from this policy,' The programme at present in hand ia snffieient to keep the department’s staffs fully employed. SAMOAN CROWN ESTATES. That finality has been reached with respect to the leasing of practically all the Samoan Crown estates with the exception of three large cocoanut plantations. . A* to the latter tenders have been received, but unexpected difficulties have arisen, and the policy to be adopted with regard to, them is under reconsideration. ' SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS. That it is considered impracticable to publish up to date a roll of the South African veterans. ■ ; GRANT TO SWIMMING ASSOCIATION", That the question of increasing this yea* the Government grant of £IOO paid last year to the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association is receiving consideration. i PUBLICATION OF UNSAVOURY - MATTER. That the Government recognises the importance of the publication of judicial proceedings where indecent matter, medial, surgical, or physiological details are -cour eerned, but any restriction of publication must be carefully limited. THE SPAHLINGER TREATMENT. ‘ That there have been no recent negotiations between the New Zealand Govern-’ meet and Mr Spahlinger for a supply of his preparations. The High Commissioner inquired into the matter some time ago, and it was found that M, Spahlinger was not in a position to supply any of his pre-' partition, and was not likely to be able to do so for some time to come. The case' for the Spahlinger treatment is by no means proved, and the opinion cf tho Department of Health is to the effect that the New Zealand Government should closely watch the investigations carried out by the English Ministry of Healthhut shouiq not make independent arrangements with M. Spahlinger, rather allying Itself with the British Government in thd matter. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. The remainder of the afternoon sitting was occupied with tabling and discussing departmental reports. LICENSING POLL BILL. When the House resinned at 7.30 p.m. Mr SIDEY, in the absence of Mr Isitt, moved (jhat the second reading of tho Licensing Poll Bill be postponed for four weeks. This was agreed to. HARBOURS AMENDMENT BILL Mr ARMSTRONG moved the second, reading of the Harbours Amendment Bill, providiing that two additional Christchurch, representatives be added to the Lyttelton, Harbour Board. He maintained that on. blie basis of population and capital value tho city of Christchurch was entitled to this; additional representation. Mr WITTY said tho whole object of tho Bill was to get additional representation for tho City of Christchurch so that the Harbour Board could, be induced to build a canal up to tho city at a cost of £1,000,000 . which the country settlors would have to. pay. He would block tho Bill by every 1 , means m bis power. Tho Hon. G. J. AhIDERSON (Minister of Marino) said that tho Marine Department, would not support the Bill. It was in reality a local Bill and should not be passed until the local residents affected had had. an,, opportunity of giving evidence concerning; its proposals. .. J The debate resolved itself into an exposition of town versus country interests, and on a division tho second reading was rejected by 42 votes to 23. The hour for the supper adjournment havinig arrived tho PRIME MINISTER moved that tho House adjourn till 2,30'p.m. to-morrow, and this was agreed to.