PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 18936, 24 September 1920, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Abridged from Press Association Report.) WELLINGTON, September 23. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL. The Municipal Corporations Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Local Government Committee. POST AND TELEGRAPH BILL. The Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill was committed. The HON. M. COHEN referred to the difficulty experienced by societies in the matter of withdrawals from the Post Office Savings Bank. The HON. C. H. IZARD suggested the issue of cheques against the amount of deposits. SIR FRANCIS BELL promised to consult the Postmaster-General to see if societies could he assisted in the matter of withdrawals. Clause 4, which relates to the exclusive authority of the Post Office to carry letters for hire, was deleted with* a view of substituting a new clause to be brought down later. Progress was reported, and permission was asked to sit again. The Council rose at 5.15 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 3.30 p.m. OLD AGE PENSIONS. Replying to Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston North)', the HON. SIR WILLIAM MERRIES said that he had not heard of a proposal to pay old age pensions at courthouses instead of post offices. He would inquire into the matter and make a statement. ELOCUTIONARY COMPETITIONS. Replying to Mr J. P. Luke, the HON. C. J. PARR said he would favourably consider giving school children the necessary leave of absence to enable them to attend and compete at the annual elocutionary competitions. He wished to consult the Department about it. WOOLLEN COMPANIES’ PROFITS. Replying to Mr D. G. Sullivan "(Avonl, the HON. E. P. LEE said the Board of Trade had made inquiries into the profits made by woollen companies in New Zealand, and it was proposed to publish the results, shortly. SALE OF MEDICAL STORES. Replying to Mr A. D. McLeod (Wairarnpai, the HON. SIR HEATON RHODES said he would take into consideration the question of selling military medical stores to medical men other than those who served at the front. The PREMIER moved, and it was agreed, that the Butter Committee have an extension of seven days in which to report. GIFT OF NAVAL GUNS. SIR HEATON RHODES stated that at the suggestion of Lord Jcllicoe the Admiralty had presented to the dominion guns, mountings, and stores to the value of £BI7O. These guns were similar to those in use on H.M.S. Chatham, and could be mounted on the Philomel. In ca.se of necessity they could be used as armed merchant cruisers, but for the present they would be used purely for instructional purposes. LORD JELLICOE'S ARRIVAL. Replying to a question, MR MASSEY stated that it was not now expected that Lord Jcllicoe would arrive at Wellington before Tuesday, owing to the ship meeting with contrary winds. An announcement on the matter would be made later on. The remainder of the afternoon sitting was taken up with the discussion on the adjourned motion; That the report- of the Public Health Committee on the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill do lie on the table, the debate being again adjourned. The House adjourned at 5,30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 and discussed the War Regulations Amendment and Peace Treaty Amendment Bills as reported elsewhere.