PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 19770, 19 February 1923, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

CLOSE OF SESSION. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON, February 17. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr Wilford, MR MASSEY said instructions had already been given to the law draughtsman to prepare legislation for the session of June next. In reply to Mr Holland, the Hon. G. J. ANDERSON said that there was no truth in the rumour that the State Mine, known as the Macdonald Mine, had been sold, to a member of the Legislature. Replying to Mr Fraser, MR MASSEY said it was just.as well to admit there wa.s a certain amount of unemployment still existing, but he thought it was not more than usual. The Government would make preparations for the coming season, though he was confident it would not be necessary to provide anything like the amount of work required last winter. The financial position was much better and that would be reflected in a greater amount of private work being put in hand.

Replying to Mr Wilford, the HON. D. H. GUTHRIE sain the Advisory Railway Board set up last session was now in full operation. Commercial agents had been appointed and were now busy travelling to each* district where business required their attention.

The SPEAKER announced that he bad waited on His Excellency the GovernorGeneral and presented to him the Address which the House had agreed to in reply to His Excellency’s speech, and His Excellency had been pleased to accept the same.

The debate was then resumed on the adjourned question of breach of privilege raised by Mr Holland in connection with the comment of the Christchurch Press on his speech, when nominating Mr McCombs for the Speakership, and, finally. Mr Holland said that as ‘he matter had been ventilated. he would drop it.

The following Bills were introduced and read for the first time: -Electoral Reform Bill (Mr Wilford >. Dominion State Bank Bill (Mr Veitch), Agricultural Bank Bill (Mr Wilford). Housing Amendment Bill (Mr ‘Fraser 1, and Unemployed Workers’ Rill (Mr Fraser).

By Governor-General’s message, the Stamp Duties Amendment Bill was introduced. Mr Massey explained that the Act was passed somewhate hurriedly last session and a defect had been found in Clause 118, in which the exemptions were not considered to be sufficiently comprehensive and defined and on the advice of the AttorneyGeneral he was now asking the House to postpone the operation of the Act until the end of the year, by which time the measure could receive further consideration.

Mr Wilford said that the Bill was a shocking example of what was known as ‘ hasty legislation.” The Bill was put

through all stages and passed after a brief discussion. , At 4.15 the Premier moved that tne House do now adjourn. Mr Holland and Mr Howard protested against the adjournment, arguing that the House should proceed to deal with matters which urgently required attention. The House, in the evening, rose, and the session ended. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. and passed the Stamp Duties Amendment Bill and adjourned.