PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1924, Page 5

PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

CASES OF EX-SOLDIERS. REPLY TO RECENT CHARGES. FLOOD LOSSES OF SETTLERS. By Telegraph.—-Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. In reply to Mr. J. W. Munro (Dunedin North), the Hon. Sir M. Pomare, ae Minister for Public Health, said it was not true that any articles offered for sale at Dunedin recently when Government stores were disposed of had been exposed to infection when in use at the quarantine island.. Replying to Mr. A. Harris (Waiteniata) with regard to certain charges made by Colonel McDonald concerning certain returned soldiers who were committed to mental hospitals without the usual statutory preliminaries, Sir M. Pomare said it was true that this course had been followed, but it had been done in the interests of the soldiers themselves, who by thte means avoided leaving their names recorded in the books among the insane. Replying to Mr. G. McKay (Hawke’s Bay), Mr. Massey said no financial relief could be given to Hawke’s Bay settlers who had suffered by the flood by way of gift* It would have to be by way of loan. Money had been set aside for this purpose some months ago, and he did not know why there had been any delay. The precedent followed was the Raetihi fire some time ago, when £70,000 was advanced to settlers, every penny of which had been paid back without the slightest trouble. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time: Footwear Regulation Amendment Bill (Hon. G. J. Anderson) ; Dairy Industry Amendment Bill (Hon. W. Nosworthy) ; Scaffolding and Excavation Amendment Bill (Hon. G. J. Anderson). An amendment made by the Legislative Council in the Engineers’ Registration Bill was, on the motion of the Hon. J. G. Coates, agreed to. The Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill was committed, read a third time and passed* IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. The Imprest Supply Bill (No. 4) was introduced by Governor’s message. The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland protested against the manner in which the House conducted its business. The House was without system and as a result members became exhausted by long hours, rendering them physically and mentally unfitted for their work. He suggested that the work of the House be done during daylight hours, as was the growing practice in Australia. The House should, on four days a week, meet at 10 a.m. and adjourn at 5.30 p.m.. giving one full dav a week to committee Work. The Bill, authorising an appropriation of £1,763.428, was then put through the committee stage. On the third reading Mr- Massey said lie agreed that some reforms might be made in Parliamentary procedure, but it would he unwise to adopt the system followed in Queensland, because there was no comparison between the work done there and here, because the Queensland Parliament only dealt with State matters. Federal matters being managed from Melbourne, while we in New Zealand had to deal with matters of national and provincial importance. He agreed that a revision of standing orders was necessary if the business of the House was to be carried on satisfactorily, and something in the nature of a closure was necessary. He did not think they had much to complain about as far as hours were concerned. Personally he was in his office at 8.50 every morning, otherwise he could not get through his work, hut he did not feel much worse for it. Presently, when the committee work was completed, they would be able to meet in the morning, and so conclude the work of the session. They seldom sat after midnight, and that was, he admitted, late enough. Mr. Massey road a cable from the High Commissioner on the subject of the Wembley Exhibition, which gave a most satisfactory account of the New Zealand court. He also promised, in reply to a question by Mr. Wilford, to inquire whether Chinese, Japanese, and German stalls were open at the exhibition. The Bill was read a third time and passed. The House rose at 10.20 p.m. till 2.30 pm. to-morrow. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. On the motion of the Hon G. M. Thomson, the Council placed on record its opinion that it is desirable that tho Tongariro National Park should be kept for all time as a reserve for native plants and birds and as a recreation ground for the people of New Zealand, and that it should not be permitted to anyone to convert it into a preserve for imported game or plants. The Local Bodies Loans Amendment Bill and the Seddon Family Burial Ground Bill were read a second time. The Police Offences Amendment Bill wfts read a second time pro forma end referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Council adjourned at 3.45 p.m. until 2.30 p.m- to-morrow.