PARLIAMENT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 97, 29 August 1923, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Per Press Association. Wellington, August 28. The Legislative Council sat 10 a.m. to-day. The New* Zealand Universities Bill was passed. Moving the second reading of tho Electric Power Boards Bill, Sir Francis Bell said the object of the Bill was to enable boards to levy what was 1 known as an electric rate. The Bill was passed.

When the Hospitals Bill was under consideration some members expressed regret that the time fur looking into the Bill was so limited, but they approved the Bill and congratulated the Government on bringing it in. The Bill was passed. Tho Justices of the Peace Bill and the Harbours Bill were passed. The Hon. M. Cohen asked why Mr Robert Bell's gift of £3OOO for a Chair of Journalism at Canterbury College had not been subsidised by the Government. Sir Francis Bell said he was not in accord with the view that all gifts should be subsidised, and he added that if that idea were carried through the finances! of the country might be embarrassed.

The amendments made by the House of Representatives in the War Pensions Bill and the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Bill were agreed to. The Apprentices Bill was introduced from the House, and wag described by Sir Francis Bell as an experimental measure, designed to deal with a serious problem. There were urgent requests for the passage of the Bill. The Bill was passed. The Land Drainage Amendment Bill and the Corporations Amendment Bill were passed.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Minister for Defence explained an amendment to clause three of the War Pensions Amendment Bill eliminating the limitation of the amount to be received by a. pensioner (which under the original provisions might be limited to £3 10a weekly). Clause ten was amended to permit appels to be lodged against any decision of be lodged against any decision of the Appeal Board. Clause fifteen was amended to provide for an increase in the percentage of disability, making an injury to the left arm count on an equality with the right, and also increasing the percentage for* leg amputation from eighty-live to "ninety- per cent; - ■ The Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor-General's message, ibut through all stages and passed. An amendment to the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act was introduced by Governor-General's message, providing for a modification 01 the procedure in connection with forced sales of soldiers' farms, and also placing South African veterans on the same footing as men who took part in the Great War in the matter of obtaining settlement lands. The Supplementary . Estimates, amounting to £204,434, were brought down by Governor-General'ii mo^sage.

On the railway estimates, tne Minister or Railways said the question of the payment of conjugation to the victims of tne Ongarue tlisaster would bo dealt with after the report of the commission oi inquiry was received.

Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon) moved a reduction of £3 in the Health Department vote as «n indication that the Government should reinstate the vote of £75 to Societies for the Health of Women and Children in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and, Dunedin. Mr Nosworthy, in rpely, said it was not possible for the Government to do more in this direction than they were doing, and they could not, ih the absence of the Premier, indulge in further commitments, and it was no use his getting up'and making further promises in that direction. As an instance, he pointed out that the Pdunket nurses were now costing the country some £16,000 annually, whereas when the present Government took them over they were only costing between £7OOO and £BOOO. The reduction of tho vote was rejected W 34 votes to 29, and the vote wag passed. When the Valuation Department's vote was under consideration, Mr M. J. Savage (Auckland West) complained of the perfunctory manner in which valuers did their work. The Hon. W. Nosworthy said the staff of tho department had been recently increased and was still being strengthened.

Mr Massey &aM the since April I to the present date the amounts of loans granted by the Advances Department totalled £3,460,875, fvliich wa s a very fair indication of the great amount of woik the department was doing.

The votot was passed. At 12.'J0 a.m. the final class hi the Estimates wag passed and the House went into committee on local Bills. The discussion wa s si-ill proceeding when the telegraph office closed at 2 a.m.

ANOTHER LATE SITTING* Per Press Association. Wellington. August 29. A discussion on the Auckland Oity siifj Auckland' Harboor Boa id Em-

powering Bill continued until 3.15, when Mr Howard moved to report* progress. This was defeated by 29 to 28, whereupon Mr J. S. Dickson, who was. in charge of the Bill, said he recognised there was organised obstruction to the Bill, and as he did not wish to delay the House, he moved to report progress. This was agreed to on voices, and progress was reported. Tho Wellington City Empowering and Special Rates Consolidation Bill was read a third time and passed.

The Appropriation Bill was then introduced.

On the second reading Mr Holland dealt with railway grievances, and with tho failure of the Government to bring down the Fruit Export Control Bill.

Mr Atmore criticised the action of the Government in the same connection, contending that the Government had given a definite pledge that the Bill be brought down this session.

Mr Wilford welcomed Clause 22 of the Bill, dealing with "credits in aid," and which brought New Zealand into line w'th the British practice. This wa s the most progressive step taken by the Reform Party since they came into power. Hon. W. Nosworthy defended the action of the Government in its failure to bring down the Fruit Control Bill, but notwithstanding this failure the Government would stand behind the fruitgrowers for at least another year, and by exercising some form of control he hoped to B*ert the disasters of previous years. In committee, Mr Holland objected to the payment of £IOO/XXi towards the naval fiase at Singapore, which was opposed by many prominent British Admirals.

Mr Wilford defended the yofo from the point of view of Imp-ferial Defence and as protecting the trade routes. He thought that for such a ( purpose a vote £IOO,OOO was ft niggardly grant. The Minister of Defence said the British Admiralty was of one mind on the necessity of a naval base »fc Singapore. Hon. 0. J. Parr pointed out that the clause was permissive, and no thing would be dene until the Premier discussed Singapore with experts at the Imperial Conference. Mr ELoward contended the clause could be used for propaganda purposes by the Premier in Britain. On a division the clause was retained by 4G to 12, the Labour Party alone voting against the clause. • The remaining clauses were quickly passed without amendment, and the Bill was read a third time and , passed. Hon. W. D. Stewart laid on %he table a copy of the Legislature Amendment Bill, commonly known as the Electoral BilL ■ . ' ■ The Minister of Itaflways laid M the table a copy of the Railway Classification, viz. D 3. The House rose at 4.30 a- m - **■". 11.30 a.m.

END OF SESSION. FELICITOUS SPEECHES. Per Press Association, Wellington, August 39. When the Speaker resumed .the chair at 12.40, he announced that the Governor-General had sin the name of His Majesty the King sv©n his assent to the Appropriation Act. In the absence of the Premier, Mr Nosworthy in a few felicitous remarks congratulated the Speaker, tha Chairman of Committees, and the officers of Parliament for the efficient manner an whjtch they had discharged the auties of their respeotijVia offices. He also thanked the press for their faithful reports and to the Leader of the Opposition and Mrs Wilfwd £<e extended the good wishes of the House on their proposed trip to the East. £o the Leader of the Labor Party he wished a pleasant recQiS, and to the members a joyful rest after such a strenuous session.

Messrs Wilford, Holland, the Speaker, and Mr Young suitably replied, whereupon the Rouse adjourned, and the second session of the twenty-first Parliament came t* an end at 1.10 with the singing «£ the National Anthem.