PARLIAMENT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1785, 3 November 1919, Page 11

PARLIAMENT.

TO-DAY'S SITTING.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Press Association

WELLINGTON, November 3. The Legislative Council met at 10.30 a.m. to-day.

A message from trie House of Representatives stated that the amendment made by the Council in the Hawke's Bay Rivers Bill ha,d been disagreed with, the House maintaining that the Hawke's Bay Rivers Board should not have power to raise a loan without a poll of ralepayers. * The Hons. J. B. Gow, E. W. Alison and W. Earnshaw were appointed Managers to attend a conference on the point at issue at 5.30 p.m. The Native Washing-Up Bill and the Undesirable Immigrants Exclusion Bill, received from the House of Representatives, were read a first time. s The Council adjourned at 11.15 a an. until 2.30. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE TAINuTbISASTER. The House of Representatives met at 11.30 a.m. Replying to Mr J. Craigie (Timaru) the Hon. W. H. Herries (Minister of Marine) said that it was the desire of the Government to prevent such disasters as occurred on the Tainui. Regulations regarding the carrying of benzine had been referred to the Crown Law Oflicers, and whatever steps were necessary, in view of the inquiry recently held into that disaster, would be carried out.

Electoral Legislation

Replying to the Bt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward,- the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) said .that there would be electoral legislation this session, but he was unable to promise legislation to prevent minority representation. Bonus to Railwaymen. Replying to Mr S. G. Smith (Taranaki), the Prime Minister said that the question of a bonus for members of the Second Division of the Railway Service had been before Cabinet, but the matter had not yet been sufficiently developed to enable him to make' a statement to the House. However, he would keep the promise he had made. No Gratuity for Home Service. Replying to the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward (Leader of the Opposition), Sir James Allen (Minister of Defence) said that no gratuity could be paid to Home Service men. He regretted that no further gratuities could be paid than those which had already been arranged for. Cost of Living Will Fall.

Replying to Mr J. McCombs (Lyttelton); the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) said that he hoped to see a reduction in the cost of living as soon as the Board of Trade Bill came into operation, as this was the most drastic anti-profiteering measure which had been adopted in anv British country. If there had been as much profiteering in New Zealand as there was in Great Britain, in proportion to the population, there would have been a revolution here long ago. Racing and Trotting Permits.

Replying to Mr A. E. Glover (Auckland Central), the Hon. J. B. Hine (Minister of Internal Affairs) said that no further permits would be issued to trotting clubs this year. He recognised that there was an unfair distribution of racing permits at the present time, and- the Racing Conference had been informed that before next year's permits were approved a redistribution must take place. Motor Ambulances. ,

Replying to the Hon. T. M. Wilford (Hutt), the Hon. Sir James Allen said that the Government was getting out motor ambulances, and hospital boards had been given an opportunity of applying for them.

Government of Samoa. Replying to the Hon. A. T. Ngata (Eastern Maori), Mr Massey said that, in view of the Dominion's great responsibilities in Samoa, he entirely approved of the idea of members visiting the islands, in order that they may better realise these responsibilities. The Meat Problem. Mr Massey read a telegram from the Imperial authorities, intimating that they were unable to decide whether thev should continue the requisition of New Zealand meat until they were nearer a decision in connection with the River Plate and Australia. He did not know why New Zealand should be put in a position secondary to those countries. He was therefore making further representations. The Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph - Ward (Leader of the Opposition) said that, if the River Plate and Australia got preference, the meat supply position would be serious, because they would then get preference in shipping.

Mr Massey said that tills was exactly the position he wished to guard against. Superphosphates for Dominion. Mr Massey also read a telegram from the New Zealand Agent in Melbourne, stating that the Commonwealth Government had agreed to export GOOO tons of superphosphates to New Zealand. He did not think that this was 6000 in excess of the previous promise, but that it was the total quantity which the Commonwealth Government would allow New Zealand to have.