HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10480, 16 October 1912, Page 7

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, October 15. The House met at 7.30. Mr Russell asked the Prime Minister if the Government intended to take any action in connection with the dismissal of the executive f the Taupiri Coal Miners’ Union reported this morning. This was one of the most important steps ever taken in this country, lie said, and the action of the mine-owners was calculated"to bring to an imminent stage a matter which it was hoped could have been settled quietly. Mr Massey, Tin reply, said the Government had not been communicated with nor consulted by those interested.; He did not intend expressing an opinion at that stage, but bad no objection to referring the matter to the Law officers of the Crown. The time limit for bringing up the report of the Joshua Jones committee was extended ten days. Amendments to the Widows’ Pensions Amendment Bill were introduced by Governor’s message, the main feature of which was the replealing of that section excluding a child born out of New Zealand 1 from the benefits of the Act. The Premier informed the House that lie had forwarded a cable to Hobart expressing sympathy in connection with the mine disaster at Mt. Lyall. The Hon. Allen lahl on the table a statement of receipts and expenditure of the Consolidated Fund (ordinary revenue account) for the six months ended 30th September, 1912, compared with the corresponding period of 1911. The receipts for 1913 were £4,982,980; for 1911, £4,813,954, an increase of £170,026; lexpeuditure (permanent apuronriations), 1913, £1,879,832; 3911, £1,774,206, an increase of £106,830; annual appropriations: £3,921,346; £3,704,993, an increase of £316,345. After transferring £50,000 to the Public Works Fund, the total expenditure was: 1912, £4,851,178; 1911, £4,479,198. The balance on September 10th, 1913, was £939,078; 1911, £930,239. The Widows’ Pensions Bill was iccommittod to consider further amendments. These provided for of the Act being ex- j tended to all children born in New Zealand where one of the parents had died. Provision is also made for temporary absence from the country as is the case in the Old Age Pensions Act, and for exempting of the furniture and effects of a widow from the definition of “property,” and permitting the expenditure of a certain amount as capital in any one year without prejudicing the pension claimed. These were agreed to, and the Bill was read the third time on the voices. THE DEFENCE BILL. The Defence Amendment Bill was committed. The Defence Bill was further considered in committee. Mr Witty, at Clause 3 moved an amendment excluding military barrack prisons as places for the detention of military defaulters; lost by 34 to 31, and the clause passed. At Clause 4, dealing with the discharge of prisoners detained, Mr Russell moved an amendment substituting the Minister for Defence for the Commandant as the person authorising such discharge. The Minister accepted the amendment, which was carried on the voices. At Clause 8, dealing with the military training of those detained, Mr Russell moved to vest the power of prescribing such training in the Minister instead of the Commandant. The Minister agreed to insert the words “providing that the training prescribed shall be with the approval of the Minister, ’ ’ and the amendment was withdrawn. The clause as amended was passed. In Clause 9, the Minister moved an amendment vesting the power of the discharge of an offender in the Minister instead of the commandant. —Carried. Sir Joseph Ward ohjected| to Clause 10, which gives power to recover a fine imposed on offenders under ordinary civil process, that a I man’s wages could ho attached for j payment of the fine. I The Minister replied that the I elimination of the clause would j mean wrecking the whole Act. —The | clause was passed. | Sir Joseph Ward, at Clause 13, | said ho would vote against the | clause, which provided that the I former may he recovered by way of | attachment of wages, and he would | not agree to attaching a man’s I wages after they had already passed I clauses providing for fines and im- I prisoument. _ I Mr Isitt contended that .’the clause j would irritate both men and em-1 ployers. T 5 The Minister said the* clause was \

not mandatory. It simply said “may.” He would look into the whole clause, and if the amendment was necessary, lie would have it inserted in the Upper House. The clause was carried by 38 to 25 At Clause 34, Mr Witty moved an amendment to make the age limit 31 instead of 35. The Hon. Allen declined to accept the amendment. He reminded the House that Lord Kitchener had advised raising the age limit to 25. He was not in favour of asking ho3 7 s to defend the country. Mr Witty’s amendment was rejected by 47 to 13. Mr Davey declared at Section 46 that a Justice of the Peace should not have power to impose the maximum of ton years’ deprivation of civil rights. The Minister- promised to look into the -point, but explained that in some districts it was difficult to obtain the services of magistrates. The clause passed, j Mr Isitt made a final appeal on behalf of conscientious objectors. He moved to exclude a conscientioas objector, provided au equivalent non-military service should be the alternative. The Minister said conscientious objectors could not he defined. The motion was lost by 44 to 10. Tiie remaining clauses, including the schedule, were passed. Some new clauses were added by the Minister. One provided for the repeal of the present courts-martial,_ and providing for the maximum of imprisonment of three months. 8 The- Bill was reported with amendments. The House rose at 1.15 a.m. The shelves must he cleared to make alterations to premises. Record low prices. Men’s New Zealand made Tweed Suits from 31s, hoys 3-garment suits from 7s 6d. Dress materials, flannelettes, calicoes, sheetings, blankets, rugs, linoleums, hearth rugs, mats, etc. at prices to save buyer’s money. Boots, Shoes, and Slippers at under cost. Groceries, etc., at reduced prices.—T. H. Bredia, Co-op. Stores, General Providers, North