THE COMPOSITE BILL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14440, 29 October 1917, Page 6

THE COMPOSITE BILL.

SPRHAD-EAGLIXG THE STATUTES. MEMBEUsIx, A MAZE. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.*) WELLINGTON, this day. i Mr' Hanan moved the second reading of the Statute Law Amendment Bill on Saturday. '"' ; Mr Buddo immediately protested' against- the introduction of. a Bill amending so many Acts m such a form, and expressing the opinion that the measure should rather be called the Statute j Washing-up Bill. 'Mr Isitt. iriaSe a strong appeal for tho addition of a clause enabling the use of school buildings alter hours for religious teachings. Surely, he argued, when we know the strained feeling throughout the country about this religious education of children it .is' 'the duty of this House to do what it can to prevent further friction. The member pointed outi that school buildings were open for the holding of political meetings, yet school committees had power to refuse the use of buildings for religious instruction after school hours; 'surely n clauso could be inserted m the Bill before the House, added Mr Isitt.

Mr Parr suspected that the education clauses came from the "slaughtered innocents'' if a Bill suddenly revived. He congratulated the Education. Department' upon the smooth working of the system while so many teachers had gone to the front. .**>■..

Mr McCallum, m supporting JVIr Isitt m iin appeal for n religious instruction clause, said*' that 'the 1914 Act contained !i clause having, for its object after hours' religious instruction m schools, but the clause had 1 been imperfectly drafted, as a result of. which; school committees had been able'to'igndre"i'r. ' When the Bill was m committee Mr Isitt again appealed to the Minister, 'who, however, sat pilent/ as various clauses were proceeded" with. It was evident that many members were bewildei*3d by the rapidity with which the measure was being pushed along, and numerous protests were voiced at rushing »it along before the education and other clauses had been submitted to select committees for consideration. Some indignation was expressed that so importtilit and' far-reaching a Bill was not introduced at least a week earlier, seeing the session was so near Conclusion. TREATMENT OF YOUNG BIRCH., A good! deal of opposition was shown to a clause amending the provisions,' dealing with the funds and accounts of Education Boards, several members declaring their intention to contest it. At 10.15 the Premier made an appeal to the committee to pass the clause, promising that it should be referred to the Education Committee before it, finally passed the -'Council; Every member must realise, he said, that if the Bill were riot put through m Some form that night it would be dead for the present session. That, he said, would be a pity, as there were some remarkably good clauses m the Bill. .

With this assurance members withdrew opposition, and the clauses were rattled I through to th© prisons amendment. Here Mr'" Parr drew attention to the Birch case, asking the Minister to give sympathetic consideration to it, as a goodi deal of feeling had been aroused

Mr Hanan replied he was as sympathetic as anyone over the matter, but that boy could; not be released yet. He had gone out of his way to persuade the Cabinet to allow an operation on the boy, and m someways he was very sorry he did, as he had received very little gratitude and a great deal of criticism over it. It was absurd to ask for the release of the boy until he had been kept under strict observation^ for a time, m order to see if the criminal propensity had been removed. Only time could prove 'tliat. CUTTING THE BILL DOWN. Clauses 17 and! 18, Uie former prohibiting defaulting ratepayers from voting at County Council elections, and the latter limiting the, application of miners' rights qualification for county election purposes 'to certain counties, were struck out The clause, givine; a Magistrate power to sentence a person evading territorial service to. nfilitary custody' withi out the option of a fine was warmly opposed by a number of members, who argued that the Defence Department already possessed too much power. The clause was deleted from the Bill. MORE IMPORTANT CLAUSES. Late m the evening a further batch of clauses were introduced m connection with the Statute Law Amendment Bill. One provides that for the purpose of securing the employment and training of discharged soldiers any provision ol an arbitration award, Shops and Offices Act, Factories Act, and' any provision of any other Act so far as such provisions take away or restrict the liberty of private Contract m matters of> trade, commerce, business, or employment may be suspended. The powers of dairy companies aro extended to purchase shares m or promote any. cool storage or refrigerating company. Tlie original definition of standard prico m the Regulation of Trade and Commerce Act is to be deleted, and the following definition substituted: "Standard price of goods means, m respect of any locality, tlie current price at which on the day specified m that behalf by any order of Council fixing v the maximum price of goods of the same nature and quality, wei*e saleable m that .locality when sold m the same quantity and' on the same' terms as to payment, delivery, and otherwise." The time for registration of. aliens m New Zealand is 'extended until December 1. ' . « THE BILL PASSED. , The Bill was reported from committee with amendments, read a third time, andpassed, the House adjourning till Monday afternoon. .