PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 27, 18 September 1914, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [[Pie Press Association.] Wellington, September 17. The Council met at 2..‘10 p.m. Hon. J. Dutbie asked the Minister of Internal Affairs whether., while the use of English words in the body of cables open to the censor may still be desirable, the use of registered cipher addresses by the established mercantile linns and companies might not now be permitted, and will the Government ' make representation thereon to the British authorities? Hon. H. D. 801 l said the Government would take action, and would make representations to the Imperial Government.

On the motion to go into committee upon the Limitation of Imprisonment for Debt Bill, Hon. Moore moved that the Bill ho read this day six months.

The Bill was committed hy 18 votes to 7, and reported from committee without material amendment. The Council rose at 3.7 p.m. ' house of representatives. The House met at 2.30 p.m, QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr Hunter, the Minister for Defence said that an outbreak of strangles had occurred amongst t)u troop horses at Awapuni, but the oulbreak was a slight one, and ever;, step was being take to check it. In reply to Mr Myers, the Premier stated that ho would ask the High Commissioner to cable particulars ot war risks being charged, and the information would bo published. < CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. The Minister of Defence laid on the table of the House a paper containing the suggestions of local bodies as to bow religions and conscientious objectors to military training could render alternative service.

Mr Russell pointed out that only G 9 persons were setting up objection to military service on religious grounds. This was very satisfactory, but he noticed that very few local bodies had replied to the questions asked by the Minister. Many of the suggestions were utterly impracticable. Ho was pleased to see that as a result of the present crisis many of those who had previously been protesting were now enlisting, and the war would remove a great deal of froth which was indulged in about our system of compulsory service. He was sorry the Minister had got so little out of the attempt to get local bodies to solve a difficult problem for him. Mr Forbes contended that the Government should never have gone near the local bodies. They should have taken up a strong stand and settled the question themselves. Such a weak policy only encouraged the shuffler.

Hon. Alien, in reply, said hel did not think there was now much need to do anything to moot the case of conscientious objectors, because they had practically disappeared as a result of the crisis. Nothing was being done to meet the case of religious objectors. They were being let off, but that was not satisfactory. The House then went into committee on the Customs Amendment Bill, which was reported without , amendment and read a third time and passed without debate. , THE ESTIMATES. The House went into Committee of Supply on the Estimates. The item, £13,451, on the clerical branch of the Education Department, was first considered.

lii reply to Mr Russell, the Minister said he hoped to liavo the Education Bill through committee in a few days.

Hon. D. Buddo advocated sending officers abroad to pick up hiuts upon administration. i

The Minister said that had always been the policy of the Department, and would bo continued. The item passed. Elementary education, £/57,165 was the next item.

Mr McCallum urged better pay for pupil teachers. The Minister replied that something was being done in this direction this year. The Department could not undertake full responsibility for conveying country children to school, but were helping where they could. Additional capitation was being provided for school committees in the new Bill. The item passed. The committee was considering the item, £98,425 for secondary and higher education, at the 5.30 adjournment. On resuming at 7.30 p.m., the House continued the discussion upon the Estimates. The secondary and higher education vote of £98,425 passed at 8.30. Votes for Manual and Technical Instruction, Training College, Native Schools, and Infant Life Protection were passed without discussion. A long discussion took place upon the vote of £5138 for the Otokaike Home for the Deaf, objection being taken to the non-erection of suitable buildings, the blame for the delay being cast upon the Departmental officers. After discussion, the item passed. The Industrial Schools vote of £12,098 passed. The votes for school buildings, furniture, and sites, £122,15G, and for miscellaneous services, £16,132, were passed without debate, and the total vote of the class, £l,227,522, was agreed to. The State Advances account of £588,299 was agreed to, after a brief discussion. i Tho Labor Department vote of £28,-

117 passed with only a short criticism from the Labor members. The vote for the State Forest Department, £31,542, was passed, and the House rose at 12.37 a.ra.