THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 36

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

STEADY PROGRESS.

(Special Cobeespondent. Otago Witness.) WELLINGTON, August 21.

The House of Representatives has been making- steady progress during the week, keeping good hours and avoiding superfluous talk, with the result that Ministers are in high good humour with themselves and private members are entertaining a comforting sense of having fulfilled the purpose of their political existence. It is true the big things of the session—the Loan Bills, the more important' policy measures, and the Public Works Estimates—still have to come; but people who have known many Parliaments anticipate no more trouble over these, big things, than has occurred over the smaller ones. The House is not a critical one, certainly not a captious one, and neither of the two groups constituting the Opposition has shown any disposition towards wanton obstruction, Eor the time, at any rate, the party spirit is shorn of much of ' its pre-war bitterness, and difference of opinion are no longer , made the occasion for personal recriminations. Empty Benches. All this,-., of. course m just as it should be, but there is ariotrier feature of the aw which, is not so admirable. Even before the collapse of the Financial Debate "ie galleries had been talking about the thin'' attendance of members in the Chamber, below. Bough counts made from time to time during one week showed that on several occasions there was scarcely a quorum in the House. On other occasions there were only from. 20 to 30 members present, and very rarely as many as 50. It was known that other members were about the buildings, in the library, in the lounge room, or in some other part of the "precincts" better adapted than the pillared hall, with its prying public, to the enjoyment of the social side of parliamentary life, but it was nobody's business to remind therm of their duty to> their constituents and the country. The [Labour Party promises that when it comes into office it will institute an official roll of attendances—so that, absent wives, as one flippant member of the party lias-put it, may know what their husbands are doing. The Gaming Bill. The first serious business undertaken by the House when it reassembled on Tuesday afternoon _ was the consideration of the amendments mad© in the Gaming Act Amendment Bill. These were the restoration of the word "summary" to clause 2, which Was of only significance; the legalising of the transmission of money to the totalisator by telegram; the removal of the prohibition against the publication of the amount of dividends; an addition to the definition of a bookmaker, intended to catch the "amateur" who did not derivo the whole of his living- from the business, and the restriction of the number of races on a programme to seven during certain months of the year. Sir William ITerries, who took charge of the Bill in the absence of the Hon. G. J. Anderson, proposed that the amendments, with the exception of the one restricting the number of races to seven instead of eight, should be accepted by the House. He explained that the exception waa made because the number of entries for flat races during the winter months had grown to such dimensions it probably would bo necessary in some cases to divide the fields and hold two races in place of one, thus making eight races even if there were only seven on the programme. 01ub3 had been driven to do this during the season that had just closed.

Opposition to Acceptance. Mr H. 33. Holland objected to the restoration of the word "summary," contendiiag it wotild place too much power in the hands of the magistrates. Sir William Merries explained that the amendment would not have the effeot supposed by Mr Holland, and was supported b.v Mr T. Wilford. The attacks upon the other proposals that had como down from the Council then began. Mr G. Mitchell strongly protested against facilities being given for telegraphing money to the totalisator. People already had far too many opportunities to heb, and the Government was seeking to give them more opportunities. Mr L. M. Isitt was even more insistent, than the member for Wellington South had been. The fate of the amendments in the House, he said, would show whether or not members had any sense of moral responsibility left. He was urged by the member for Wairau to keep "that sort of stuff" for the soap box in Ohristchurch," and promptly retorted.the time wag not opportune for "silly jests or vulgar interruptions/" The solitary orator

in the House was in his best dramatic vein, but a little shaky about his facts.

Putting the Issues in Order. Mr J. M'Combs reduced the issues before the House to a tangible shape by moving as an amendment to the Minister's motion that the House should dissent from the proposals for the telegraphing of invstments and the publication of dividends as well as from the proposal for the reduction of tho number of races on winter programmes. Sir William Herries declared that the rejection of the Council's amendment would mean that the bookmaker would continue to flourish and ply his trade. Permission to bet by telegram was the natural corollary to tho abolition of the bookmaker. Other speakers followed, some on one side and some on the other, but none of them threw any strikingly new light on the situation. .Mr Malcolm thought if the State was going to vie with the bookmaker in offering facilities for gambling the natural outcome would be a continued increase of gambling and a corresponding moral and material loss to tho community. Like other speakers on his own side, he regretted Mr Anderson, through illness, had been prevented retaining charge of the Bill. The Minister of Internal Affairs, he implied, had displayed a saner and more robust view of the situation than the one that was being urged upon the House. Mr F. N. Bartram, the successor to the redoubtable Mr John Payne in the representation of Grey Lynn, saw little difference between the totaUsator and the bookmaker. It seemed to him the Bill revealed a case in which "the bigger thief was trying to collar all the swag."

Mr M'Comb's Amendment Carried. When the question was put by the Speaker —the acceptance or rejection of Mr M'Comb's amendment—the larger -volume of sound came from the "Noes," but as members filed into their respective lobbies, watched by remarkably well-filled galleries for an afternoon sitting, it was obvious the division was going to be a close one. When the figures were brought back to the House, 30 "Ayes" and 24 "Noes," and announced from the Chair, half a dozen members wanted explanations they should have sought before the voting. For some minutes the Chamber was approaching an amusing state of confusion, but ultimately it was made clear by the Speaker that the Council's amendments restricting the number of races, permitting telegraphed investments, and allowing the publication of dividends, had been rejected. Mr Lysnar then moved to disagree with the amendment amplifying the definition of a. bookmaker, but the House decided by 46 to 8 against the member for Gisbome. Sir William Herries, Mr M'Combs, and. Mr Witty then were appointed managers to draw up reasono for disagreeing with the Council's amendments. An Emergency Bill. The- Acts Interpretation Amendment Bill, which already had passed through the Legislative Council under similar pressure, was hurried through the House as an emergency measure. . The purpose of the Bill is to enable Sir William Fraser, a, member of the Executive Council, but no longer a responsible Minister of the Crown, to carry on the duties of the Hon. Q-. J. Anderson, the Minister of Internal Affairs, during- tha ■ latter gentleman's absence through illness. Mi- T. M. Wilford wished to place no obstacle in the way of relief being obtained for Mr Anderson, but he thought it would have been possible for one of the Ministers iri the'House to have done what was necessary. In any case, a special Bill dealing with this particular appointment would have been preferable to a general amendment of the law which conceivably might produce undesirable results. The Hon. J. A. Hanan and Mr C. E. Statham having spoken to a, similar effect, the Prime Miniter amended the Bill introducing a clause limiting its ' operation to three months, and in this form it passed through all its stages.

Fre,e of Income Tax. The Statutes Repeal and Expiring- Laws Amendment and Continuance Bill, which, as its title suggests, deals with a great variety of subjects, was further considered in committee, and the discussion took a wide range. Mr M'Combs, rather superfluously it seemed to the Minister's friends, extracted from Mr Massoy a reiteration of his undertaking to issue no more debentures free of income tax. The Government, he said, did not want that provision in any further legislation. Still the member for Lyttelton was unsatisfied, and moved _ an. amendment intended to tie _ the Prime Minister., down to the principle he had enunciated. This was rejected by 44 votes to 9, the Labour members being- practically alone in the doubt they would have thrown upon Mr Massey's word. A number of other matters arising out of the proposals in the Bill wcro discussed. The Legislative Council Bill.

TJi© Legislative Council again had an easy day, sitting only from 2.30 to 3.5 during the afternoon. Sir Francis Bell moved the second reading of the Legislative Council Amendment Bill, explaining that the purposes of its introduction were to "improve in certain technical respects" the original Act and to fulfil"the promise of the Prime Minister that Parliament should have an opportunity to reconsider the measure. Sir Franoig understood the members of the Council desired further time to examine the Bill, and therefore consented to the adjournment of the debate till Tuesday next. An Afternoon at Football. The House gave up Wednesday afternoon to football, a number of the members, wishing to witness the match between the victorious All Blacks and a Wellington team, having induced Mr Massey _to stop the legislative machine for the time. Mr H. E. Holland was the only audible objector to this arrangement. The chairman of the Official Labour Party thought members might be better employed than in swelling the crowd at the Basin Reserve.

The Cook and Other Islands. In the evening members, returning refreshed by their half-holiday, applied themselves with avidity to the discussion of the Cook Island report brought down by Dr Pom-are. Those who had made the Pacific Island trip, of varied memories, talked with the air of experienced travellers, knowing all about the history, conditions, and prospects of the' strange places thtey had visited. Some praised and others blamed the Minister and his colleagues for what had been done or left -undone, praise and blame being distributed mainly on party lines ; Mr Isitt again was the chief champion of tne authorities, whom he thought were <lolng thoir best with a. very difficult problem, and his

testimony, of course, was 1 free from the taint of political bias. Cheap Police. Dr Pomare made a spirited reply to tho attacks of his critics, quoting facts and figures to their discomfiture and making many points to the credit of tho administration. He apologised for the pay of the policeman, £8 a year, which would seem small in the eyes of Europeans, but he explained there were plenty of capable Raratongans who would bo- ready to take the job for nothing. He omitted to state what the inducements would be for this gratuitous service to the State, though, many'humorous suggestions on the point wore flying about the House at the moment. With the arrival of midnight the debate began to languish, and half an hour later members were on their way home, free to discuss the football match., or the Dominion's Pacific problems as their fancy lad them. Takes Time to Consider.

The Legislative Council, having been informed that the- House disagreed with its amendments to the Gaming Amendment Bill, determined, inspite of Sir Francis Bell's appeal to "honourable members" to accept the inevitable, to take time to consider the matter. The Hon. O. Samuel, _to the surprise of everyone, was the chief* advocate for delay, and, carrying his point to a division, he beat the leader of the Council by 17 to i 3, and the question stood adjourned till tho following day. Some Minor Matters.

The Council agreed to the amendment made in the Act Interpretation Amendment Bill by the House, limiting its operation to three months, further disoussed the Law Practitioners Amendment Bill, and put the Juries Act Amendment Bill through committee—quite a laborious day's work for the nominated chamber. But a brief debate on the second reading pro forma of the Law Amendment Bill, one of the Hon. J. MacGregor's vigorous offspring, was added to the labours of the afternoon. The discussion was carried on by the business minds of the Council, and the Bill was sent on to tha Statutes Revision Committee as desired. Defence.

The greater part of Friday's sitting of the House was occupied by Defence questions. The presentation of the annual report of the Defence Department gave members their opportunity to discuss a congenial subject and they seized upon it con amore: Mr T. M. Wilford led off with advice to the new in regard to economy and efficiency, which were to be achieved bv cutting down the number of "office" men employed by the department, and by developing the cadet system along sane and effective lines. The acting Leader of the Opposition talked with facility and obvious knowledge. Mr J. A. Hanan urged that the basis of an effective system must be a physically sound people. He deprecated extravagance, but insisted upon effi ciency. Mr W. D'. Lysnar demanded the application of the pruning knife to the expenditure of the department, . and Mr A. «. Malcolm unfolded a scheme for obtaining better results than had been obtained in the past for less money. The member for Clutha was afraid the war had produced too many high-titled officers and too many big salaries. So the. discussion ran on till the dinner adjournment, a number' of members were still wishing to speak.. *■ • The Minister in Reply.

Good progress having been made at the evening sitting, Mr Massey consented to the discussion being resumed, and after several other members had unburdened themselves the Minister replied. Sir Heaton Rhodes recognised there was a strong demand throughout the country for economy in defence expenditure., and with this he sympathised to a very great extent 3 but with economy there must be efficiency. He had outlined a policy to the Cabinet, aJid the details of that system were now being worked out by General Richardson. He did not to saddle the_ Education Department with military training, but he hoped 'to make the cadet training thoroughly effective and so have always the basis of a strong defensive army. He was against every form of extravagance and of militarism, but he wanted neither cheeseparing nor a reversion to the volunteer system. The Minister having spoken, the report was laid on the table. Miscellaneous.

The remaining business of the House was not of great importance. The Statutes Repeal and Expiring Laws Continuance and Amendment Bill.was put through its final stages and passed, and several local Bills were advanced a stage or more. A sign of the busier times coming was contained in the Prime Minister's notice of his intention to move that on and after Wednesday next, Wednesdays would be taken for Government business only. In the Council

In the Legislative Council, Mr G. M. Thomson, in moving for a return concerning the coal supplies of the Railway Department, talked interestingly of pulverised coal. He did not press his motion, which he had been given to understand did hot meet with the approval of the Government and its representative in the Council, but he complained of having been unable to obtain information from the Railway Department which he" thought should be- ready to assist members of Parliament in such matters. The adjourned debate on the proposal that the Council should not insist upon its amendments to the Gaming Bill was further adjourned on account of the discovery that the House had not correctly represented its reasons for dissenting from the amendments. The Masseurs' Registration Bill got its second reading after the Hon. W. H. Triggs and the Hon. Dr Collins had pronounced high eulogies upon • the value of massage as a curative treatment. The Juries Act Amendment Bill, which provides for the acceptance of a five-sixths majority verdict in trials for offences not punishable by death, was read a third time and passed, and the further consideration of the Anns Act was deferred till Tuesday next. Mr J. Barr introduced the Licensing Amendment Bill, which is intended to prevent the practice of allowing licenses to lapse' in one part of a district in order that they may bo revived in another part. The Estimates.

The House spent the greater part of Friday in Committee of Supply on the Estimates, which does not mean, of course that it confined itself to a discussion of the finances of the country. Successive revisions of the Standing Orders have done a good deal to restrain promiscuous talking

and tiresome reiteration, but none of the ingenious minds that have applied themselves in this prodigious task has yet managed to overcome these evils altogether. After the disposal of the formal business, and before going into Committee, Mr David Jones asked the Prime Minister if he had seen the communications that had passed between the Council of Action at Home and the Official Labour Party in New Zealand. Mr Massey had seen the published copies of the cablegrams, and expressed profound _ regret that any political party in the Dominion, however small and insignificant, should be seeking to add to the embarrassment of the Imperial Government at the present grave juncture in international politics. Mr Peter Fraser, under the guise of a personal explanation, announced his determination to acknowledge any communications he might receive from such a'representative body as th e Council of Action, which contained members of the House cf Commons and two ex-Ministers of the Crown. Being called to order by the Speaker, h e shouted out his concluding remarks above the din of disapproving interruptions. The National Memorial.

When in Committee of Supply members were treated to a more or less edifying discussion on the item of £IOO,OOO in the Internal Affairs estimates for a national war memorial to be erected in Wellington. The item was passed last session, but some of the money was expended, and th© vote had to be renewed. Mr James Craigie, usually one of the most deferential and conciliatory members of" the House, launched a scathing attack • upon Wellington and its people, the burden of which was that the capital city had made a great deal of money out of the. soldiers, their relatives, and their friends, and ought to provide its own memorial without any special assistance from the Government. Mr J. P. Luke,-the Mayor of the city, protested ■ very mildly against Mr Craigie's remarks, which he thought, were not intended to be taken quite seriously, and then the discussion ran on for several hours, apparently without purpose and hopeless of effect. The Minister of Public Works, who had charge of the vote, in the absence of the Hon. G. J. Anderson, and the Prime Minister had their say, but they failed to stop the flow of talk. Mr J. M. Dickson was opposed to the erection of a national memorial in Wellington, and Mr J. Horn thought the money would be better emploved in founding scholarships for the dependants of men who had fought in the war. Be believed in local monuments, and the people did not want subsidies from the Government for thes© memorials. Finally, Mr M'Callum moved that the amount should be reduced by £BO,OOO, and shortly after this had been rejected on the voices, the vote was passed. Day's Work. ;,..

Notwithstanding- this long; drawn out interlude the day's work included the passage of the Police, Justice, Stamps, Internal Affairs and Tourist Department estimates, a record with which the Chairman of Committee had good reason to be satisfied- The House rose a few minutes after midnight. Half a Loaf.

The Legislative Council, on the advice of its leader, did not insist upon its amendment* to the Gaming Bill th e House had refused to accept. This Sir Francis Bell urged would be better than risking the passage of the" measure, and having the bookmaker to flourish for another' season. One or two Councillors would have preferred a conference' on the subject, but were persuaded it would be better to secure half a loaf than go without bread. The other business of the Council consisted for most part of advancing- bills that had been sent tip from the House.

Cabinet decided on Saturday that the next New Zealand census should be taken on the Justice Sim on Tuesday morning. The three tion (says our Wellington correspondent) is to make this an Imperial census of the people of all parts of the Empire, but -it •will not be possible to take the census in all centres on the same day, or even in the same week. The census will be taken, however, in all countries within a period of a few months at most. A Press Association telegram from Weir lington states that Mr Massey on Saturday received a cable from Mr A. H. Cockayne, the Agricultural. Department's officer, who is in Australia investigating the matter of the potato embargo, stating that Mr. W. M. Hughes agrees to send an expert to New Zealand, and if the expert reports favourably the embargo will be removed. '- A session of the Supreme Court at Invercargill will be opened by his Honor Mr Justice Sim to-morrow morning. The three criminal cases for hearing -are the trials of • William ', Gunn . MTntosh and Norman M'lntosh for rape, of James Taylor. Brass and Thomas White for cattle stealing, and of Alexander Mitchell for carnal knowledge. An unusual ease among the civil business for the court is the claim of J. G. Ward and Co. against William Edward Duthie, William Holland, and William Joseph Lyons for the recovery of £7OO, the value of 593 cases of petrol stolen from the plaintiffs. This is a sequel to criminal proceedings involving these defendants taken at a previous sitting of the court in Invercargill. There are three divorce cases set down for hearing. _,_ - -

A couple of recent incidents have marred the usual freedom from crime on which Dunedin prides itself. About, a fortnight ago a successful entry was made \o tho house of Mr ..A. Hall, a taxi-driver, living in Crown street, -North-East Valley, and a sum of £6O was stolen. About the same time a robbery with violence is reported to have occurred in George street at an early hour one evening. The victim was Mr F k J. Wood, stationer and printer,- who had a bag containing £lO in silver and copper snatched from his hand, while he received, apparently from a second person, a blowfrom behind that stretched him oh the pavement.

The Southland News states that Nightcaps people are interested in an unusual position which has arisen between Mr Gavin Brighton, of Nightcaps, and the Ohai Railway Board. It appears that the Ohai Railway runs through Mr Brighton's property, the board having leased the right-of-way - for a period of 50 years. One of the clauses of the lease gives Mr Brighton power to. re« enter his property should any of the conditions of lease be violated, and apparently thia position arose last the result!

being that,,, after warning the board, MiBrighton took possession of his property again last Saturday. During Sunday he erected a barricade across the line at his boundary, and hoisted a warning signal for the trains to stop. On Monday morning, the driver ignored the barrioa.de and signals, and drove straight through the blockade, scattering timbers on either side. At present there is a trace between the parties, by mutual arrangement, but it is understood that Mr Brighton intends to carry the matter .further.

A motorist who traversed the road from Eanfurly to Dunedin, via Pigroot yesterday, states that the portion from Morrison's to Swinburn is almost impassable for motor cars. On this part of the journey snow was lying to a depth of fully eight inches, and one car broke down as the result. Our informant states that it will be some days before this route is passable for motor traffic. It is understood, however, that the thoroughfare via Macraes is passable. After, our illustrations had been printed we were imformed that the name of the family whose photo appears above the title "Keeping the Cradle Full" should have been Mr and Mrs James Pcarse (not Spiers), of Mosgiel. We regret the mistake which was made by the parties Twho brought the photograph to us for reproduction'.