PARLIAMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11927, 21 October 1919, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Per Press Association. Wellington, Oct. 20.

The House met at 7.530 p.m. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

Replying to Mr Poland, Mr Massey said all soldiers’ gratuities would be paid before Christmas. Replying to Mr Witty, Mr Massey said he would ,consider the question of repealing the “anti-shouting” clause, lie had heard all over New Zealand'that the clause was a farce.

Replying to Mr Holland, Mr Massey said there was a shortage of ships on the New Zealand coast suitable for carrying coal, but they were endeavouring to remedy that as soon as possible. Replying to Mr Poole, Mr Massey said he would ask the Board of Trade to inquire into the reason why rice was being sold at 8d per lb. mlPiji while from 7d to 8d was being paid in New Zealand. In doing this, Mr Massey said it mast be remembered that it was much easier to supply a small population than it was to supply the New Zealand population. Replying to the Hon. Myers, Mr Massey said he did not think it was possible to set up a committee chosen from both sides of the House to consider and report on Lord Jellicoe’s memorandum on naval defence. The information given in the confidential report could not, of course, be disclosed to any committee. Replying to Mr Holland, Me Massey said he was inquiring into the legal position under which people were being turned out of their houses pending the accomplishment of the Government’s housing scheme. On the motion of the Hon. Ngata, the Pumice Lands Development Bill was read a first time.

The National Provident Fund Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor’s message. Hon. Henries explained that three important matters in the Bill were—raising friendly societies’ maternity bonus to £6, raising the amount which a participant could earn from £250 to £300; and raising the age of a participant from 45 years to 50. The rest of the Bill was of a purely machinery nature.

The House went into committee on the Public Health Amendment Bill, Chattels Transfer Amendment Bill, Public Authorities (Party Wall) Empowering Bill, which were put through and afterwards read a third time and passed. Mr Massey moved the second reading of the Expeditionary Forces Voting Bill. He said the Bill applied only to men in the forces in New Zealand. There was no proposal to permit the wives of men to vote who came back and who had not been in New Zealand for a year. Neither was there provision to enable men on the sea to vote. The matter was most difficult. He thought it Inadvisable to let the men vote until the names of candidates were known. The last arrangements for voting for parties worked out badly in every way. Something might be done by wireless, but he hoped all the men would be back before the election. Mr P, Fraser made an appeal for extension of the seamen’s vote to men serving on oversea ships trading regularly with New Zealand, also the wives of hulk keepers. Mr Massey said he thought the latter amendment should he made.

Messrs Wiltord and Myers suggested some general measures, should be taken to give soldiers at sea a vote if at all possible to do so. Mr Massey said he would instruct the Chief Electoral Officer to have machinery read}' to be used in the event of it being required. The Bill was read a second time, and the House went into committee on the measure, which was reported unamended.

The Bill was then read a third time and passed. The House rose at 11.31 p.m. till 3.30 p. m. to -morrow.