PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 40, 3 October 1914, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

[Pie Pbeii Association.]

Wellington, October 2

The House met at 2.30 p.m. In reply tg Mr Ell, the Premier said ho was consulting the Foodstuffs Commission relative to the alleged shortage of flour in the Dominion and the inability of bakers to obtain supplies. In reply to Sir Joseph Ward, who complained of people not being put on the roll, the Hon. Fisher said the system of enrolling people had not been changed, and if people would not take the trouble to get on the roll no power on earth could compel them to do so. The main rolls would bo closed on Oct. 7, and would be printed as soon as the printers could got them out.—ln reply to Mr McCombs, the' Minister said he would ask' officials to make a special effort to enrol electors between now and the 7th. DEATH DUTIES. The Attorney-General laid on the table a return showing the amount collected by way of death duty between 1909-10 and 1913-14.

Sir Joseph Ward said the figures boro out the opinion he had expressed when he made the alteration ixi death duties that the revenue therefrom would pay for the Dreadnought within a comparatively. short time. The increase since 1909-10 was £444,000,' which was very satisfactory. The increase was nearly three times as great as the interest and sinking fund on the Dreadnought. If this system of taxation had not proved satisfactory he presumed the Government would have repealed it. Mr Russell claimed that the Government had received £405,000 from death duties more than Sir Joseph Ward had received in the year he had made the change in the system of collecting this form of taxation—surely a magnificent legacy - ; and if the Minister of Finance were in ,a generous mood he would generally acknowledge it. Messrs Payne and Isitt also commented on the return as vindicating the finance of Sir Joseph Ward.

CABLE CENSORSHIP. The Opposition Leader asked the Postmaster-General if some modification could he made in .'the censorship of cables. It should-not now be necessary to insert the full name and address of the sender and receiver in commercial cables. It was highly inconvenient to business peonle. ' , Hon. Rhodes admitted that the system caused inconvenience, and said he would communicate with the Imperial authorities and see if a modification could be made. BUSINESS OF THE' SESSION. The Premier moved that on and af-. ter Mondoy next, and for the remainder of the session, the House meet on Monday at 7.30 p.in. for the transaction of Government business only. Amongst the Bills the Government intended proceeding with the Premier mentioned-that an amendment to the Legislature Act and an amendment of the Land Act would be brought down. A Bill was also being prepared for the encouragement of the breeding of remounts and horses suitable for artillery, a Workers’ Home Amendment Bill, Mining, Coal Mines, Cook Islands, Fruit Industry, and an Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act would be introduced. Probably it would be necessary to bring down two Loan Bills, There would also be a washing-up Bill. If possible, a Bill dealing with the iron industry would be brought down. Without committing the Government to drop them, lie did not at present propose to go dn with the Motor Crimes, Defamation, and Religious Instruction in Schools Bills. If the House attacked work in earnest there ;was no why the" session should not close in three weeks. :- • : •' <•. , -

Sir Joseph Ward claimed .that the Premier should make an explicit statement, and say what Bills he really intended to go on with. It was not fair to leave them in doubt, as they were prepared to help through legislation it they were treated fairly. THE LICENSING BILL. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. It was agreed to notify the Legislative Council that tiro House objected to sub-section 11, clause 6, of the Licensing Amendment Bill, ■on the ground that it would mean that wine could be sold without any limit of alcoholic standard. NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND.

Hon. Fisher moved that the National Provident Fund Amendment Bill be re-committed for the purpose of reconsidering clause 9. He stated that since the, Bill was in Committee a difference of opinion arose between himself and Labor members as to the effect of the clause; Since then he had instructed the head of the Department to consult Mr F. T. Martin re drafting an amendment, which he now introduced'. The problem was in the case of a worker employed by a local body, who, after paying into' the fund for a number of years, leaves or is discharged from the service. , The position was full of. difficulty, and he now proposed that such a worker should be allowed to pass from one local body to another and retain the benefit of the fund. If he did not pass into the employ of another local body, he would receive a refund of the money paid in. Add Parliament ffU.va :b Ouu 55m,fio

: Mr McCombs denounced the proposal as altogether inadequate protection to the worker.

Messrs Isitt, Glover, Hindmarsh, Yeitch and Pqyne continued the discussion, each contending that the amendment proposed did not do justice to t he

worker, who, if he could not get employment from another local body, would derive no benefit from his previous contributions to the fund. The House then went into Committee on the Bill, and upon the question of inserting the Minister’s amendment a division was called for, the amendment being inserted by 25 votes to 11.

The Bill was then reported .with amendment.

The third reading was then debated

Mr Veitch declared that owing to tho incompleteness or tiro Bill it wub not a sale proposal. ’ Hon. Fisher, in reply, said he regretted the opposition shown to the mil, because it had evidently been developed lor the purpose of killing a measure that was designed to help the workers, What the Labor Party wanted was legalised theft of other people’s money, 'ilhe effect of the Bill would be to steady the employees of local bou ies and prevent strikes, just as the superannuation scheme had kept oui railway men within Jbhe bounds of reason. Members had not appreciated the difficulties in floating such a scheme and had not been even considerate in their opposition. Tho third reading was then carried, and tho Bill passed. business of the session. Mr Massey revived tho discussion up on the motion to sit on Mondays, aim said he had told the House as nearly as possible what the programme woule. be. He wanted to go on quietly with the business of the session, and ho saw no reason why they should not complete the work by the end of the month. FIRE BRIGADES BILL. On the question of arrfendments made in the Fire Brigades’ Amendment Bill, Mr Sidey urged that in all case; inquests should be held regarding cau ses of fire.

Mr Payne supported this contention X)n the third readiilg, Mr Sidey con tended that the "House was entitled t an expression of opinion from the Go vernment as to the policy they proposed to follow to prevent the present enormous waste by fire in this Do minion, New Zealand having in thu respect the most unenviable record i.i the world.

Hon. Fisher said he recognised importance of the matter, and had ha( the matter under , consideration sinci he had been Minister in charge of th< department. He had declined any nego tiations with private companies. Tin profits of the department were beiiq profitably employed. There were ful powers in the Act at the present tinu to hold inquiries, but the power give l was optional. The cost of compulson inquests would be £7OOO per annum He admitted that the expenditure of £7OOO per year would pay the country handsomely. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. • The House rose at 12.55.