PARLIAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22711, 25 October 1935, Page 10

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 24. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.tn. SANCTIONS BILL Moving the second reading of the League of Nations Sanctions (Enforcement in New Zealand) Bill, the Loader of the Council, Mr R. Masters, said tliac if war could not be banished by conciliation the nations would have to arm to the teeth. He urged members to discuss the Bill with a full sense of the responsibilty that was theirs as representing this section of the British Empire. Mr W. H. MTutyre said he was not opposed to taking steps to prevent war, but he was not of the opinion that the country should send one man to assist the slave drivers of Abyssinia. He saw no necessity for the Bill because New Zealand was pledged by the Covenant of the League. If the League wanted to end war as soon as possible why not use the combined forces of the world against Italy? He favoured the Bill, but objected to its milk-and-water aspect. Mr W. Perry said the Bill was a gesture to the rest of the world of the solidarity of the British Commonwealth of Nations. It might be necessary to apply naval and military sanctions and New Zealand, as a signatory to the League Covenant, must not flinch from that possibility. At the moment New Zealand was not prepared to play her full part because the volunteer force had not been encouraged. Mr E. Waite pointed out that this generation could not escape its responsibility. Mr G. J. Anderson asked what preparations had been made in New Zealand for carrying out its responsibilities under the Covenant. The country should go further than military training. There should be power to conscript the manhood and the womanhood, and all the profits earned during the war should go into the State’s coffers. Others who supported the measure were Sir James Allen, Messrs J. A. Hanan, D. Buddo, H. A. Russell, C. J. Carrington, E. R. Davis, W. W. Snodgrass, L. M. Isitt, A. Burns, V. Ward, T. O’Byrne, and Sir Francis Bell. Replying to the debate Mr Masters said the present Bill was necessary, and if it were intended to go further then it would be necessary to provide further legislation even if it meant calling a special session of Parliament. The Bill went just as far as the members of the League of Nations were going, and as far as the League desired New Zealand to go. The second reading was carried. In committee Mr E. M’Callum asked whether an assurance could be given whether the country could send a force if necessary. Mr Masters replied that the Government was not called on at the moment to say whether men would be sent or not. The Bill was passed. BILLS PASSED The Judicature Amendment Bill, the Administration Amendment Bill, the Law Practitioners Amendment Bill, and the Alsatian Dog Bill were passed. In the Law Practitioners Bill solicitors in Government employ are given the same right as other solicitors in making application for admission as barristers. The Council rose at 8.20 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, October 24. The House of Representatives resumed at 11 a.m. to-day, and during the first few hours rapid progress was made with the measures on the Order Paper, no fewer than three private measures and 14 local Bills being put through their final stages and passed. Two new Bills were introduced and added to the Government’s programme, these being the Native Purposes Bill and the Local Legislation (Washing Up) Bill. The Public Works Amendment Bill, the Police Offences Amendment Bill, the Mining Amendment Bill, the Land Laws Amendment Bill, the Banking Amendment Bill, the Rating Amendment Bill, and the Agriculture (Emergency Regulation) Confirmation Bill were put through all their stages and passed. The House rose at 0.40 a.m.