PARLIAMENT.

Timaru Herald, Issue 170269, 14 July 1920, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

LABOUR MOTION REGARDING

IRELAND

(Per Press Association.)

"WELLINGTON. Julv 13. .'lho House met at 2.30. Mr Holland gave notice of intention to move the following motion: —"That whereas it is claimed that the recent war was entered into by ■ Britain and fought by the Allies to establish the principle of self determination, and to protect the rights of small 'notions, ■this House, viewing with apprehension the tragical situation which has developed in Ireland as a direct outcome of the denial of the. right of se'lf-no-vernment to the Irish people, and fiil.lv convinced that the problems which arise in any country can be settled only by the people of that countrv, respectfully claims for our own Mth and kin and Ireland that a full measure of self-determination \for which th" Eoldiers of New Zealand, inciudin"many sons of Ireland, believed they were fighting, and to establish which so many thousands yielded their lives on the battlefield. This House further records its unqualified condemnation of the military occupation of Ireland, and urges an immediate cessation of applications of martial law, and the immediate withdrawal of the army of occupation."

Mr Massey: "I hope this question will be looked into. Mr Speakei, before it is allowed to go on the order paper."

The Speaker: "It is a notice of motion.''

Mr Massey: "I understand that." ■Mr Holland: ' 'More censorship "

STOPPAGE AT OTIRA TUNNEL.

Replying to M r Seddon the Minister or Public "Works staled that he had received a report from hi s officers re gai-ding the stopnage of work at fho Otira tunnel. He had informed the men by wire that he was prepared to pay them day wages, and asked them to carry on in the meantime. He was sending an officer down to make further inquiry, and he hoped that some satisfactory understanding would be arrived at.

Replying to Mr Holland on the same subject the Minister said thai the whole point at issue was whether the men at the Bealey end were now working in ground similar to that at the Otira end, for which higher wages had always been paid; If the officer who ha c ] been sent down to inquire reported that this was so then the Otira rate would be given to the men at the Bealey end. I MEMBERS' VISIT TO FIJI. The Premier rend a letter from the Governor of Fiji, expressing satisfaction at the recent visit of New Zealand members to Fiji, which he trusted would be productive of mutual benefit. VOTE OF CONDOLENCE. The Premier .moved a. motion of condolence with the relaih-es of the late Commander Home, Sergeant-at-Arms of the House, whose death was report cd yesterday. In doing so hr spoke in feeling terms of the "fidelity with which deceased • had performed his dunes as an officer of the House. The motion was supported bv Mr Macdonald, Mr. Holland, and Mr A!-. more, and was carried.

On the motion oi" the Premier, tho Louse adjourned till 7.30, as a' tri unto to the memory of the hire Ser-geant-at-Arms.

SUPERANNUATION FOR JUDGES

1 The House resumed at 7.30. lh J. V. Broun (Napier)-being nrcsenc lor the lirst time this session was sworn in and took his seat. i The Hon. Mr Lee moved the second j 11 ? or " the Judicature Amendment Bill, much he explained was intended to correct an anomaly under which a Judge of the Supreme Court, who retires before ten years' service, is not entitled to any superannuation. Under the Bill superannuation anohed 1 only from the fifth to the tenth'-tear rising ii-om £225 to £450. It would only be paid to Judges who were compulsorily retired owing to Jiilirmiiv. Mr Sidey said the Bill only created another anomaly, inasmuch as Judges retired under it would only <:et = as much superannuation at the end of fen years' service, as another Judge at the end of eight years' service. He want- ' ed to know if the Bill was. intended to meet the case of any particular Judge. t Mr McCaJlum said the proposals of tue Bill were not liberal enough, and the arrangements would not eiieourage incapacitated Judges to resign nor induce the" best minds a b the Bar to accept positions on the Bench, because it meant the sacrifice of several thousands per year. The Minister in reply said the Bill uid create the anomaly complained of but the question of superannuation was very complicated, and unless Judges' salaries were increased the present nroposal was the most equitable that could be made.

The Bill was read a second time

MUNICIPAL - GOVERNMENT.

The Hon. Mr Anderson moved the second reading of the SSuageipal Cor pcrations Bill/ -which, lie Said was £ consolidating measure, as no such Jegis lation could be passed during the war The Bill embodied suggestions made b-, .the last Muncipal Conference tine would be referred to a Committee ol the House, by whom it might be further amended. An explanatory memorandum would be published in a i c \v days., which would make clear the proposed amendments in tho law. He 'hoped that when the Bill came back from the Committee it would be found to be a measure to give to municinalities many powers they did not poh'sess. Mr Luke, while consratulnlia"- the 11 mister on bringing the Bill "down early in the session, thought the Bill was not nearly progressive enough, "it did not propose to abolish small boroughs on the confines of cities, and there was nothing about town'planning. Power should be given to consolidate rates in the interests of economy, and power should also be given to cities to supply surrounding areas with electric light and power. FTo advocated holding municipal elections one year and harbour board elections the next year, as great confusion- resulted from the' present method. He urged the Minister to extend the scope of the Bill so as to embrace public health, public works.' and valuations, and thus make the measure thoroughly comprehensive of: all that concerns municipal work. Mr Wright condemned the present' system of electing the mayor liv the j ratepayers, which often resulted" in a! man unfamiliar with the work cf at municipality being elected. The Mayor should be elected by the council, as is dene in many cities in the Old 'World > and Australia. He also suggested that' the General Government should be j shorn of nower to override municipal ! by-laws. They should be amenable to law as much as anyone else. I . Mr Sullivan argued that the -orovision in the Bill allowing councils to transfer moneys from a special fund to the common fund was a very dangerous one, because there was a. temptation to corporations carrying on trading - concerns to keep the prices of products ' up in order to obtain moneys with which to strengthen the common fund. Tho.=e'availing themselves of municipal trading concerns were entitled to benefit from their success, in cheaper products. He oombatted the propos-il under which the .councils would elect the mayor, and urged the necessity for-a - ■ A

i provision by which electors -would fce~Cplacetf on the roll. Greater should he given to municipalities -co ehi ter more freely into trading so as to reduce the cost of Jiving. Past "■'- experience showed that there was not' hiiely to he any wild cat speculation in"," ; this respect. , 3 ' ,-: Mr Sidey complained that the 'real-/, proposals were not in the Bill :,t aliLbut were coming down in a .-neniora'r£": : ■" dum m a few days. This. proceeding--w:,s to say the least extraordinary, aid'-" seemed to indicate that the Govern-- " ment was not ready with their ote " legislation. . ",. .. Air Fraser advocated the extension--" I - ?l un , lel P al enterprise. Especially* J should they be empowered to establish " " municipal bakeries, in the -event ». ba S BS leto&ns to produce -- biead for the (people except at their* ' own pnee. Provision should he mtfgv. uught be elected on the basis of iiE - portional representation.- * ------- Jir Lysnar condemned the ■ turn to elect the mayor from wrtbiri " the-council, and the counciJlors «S portional representation. He favoS" the separation of local body elecSl"- « ■> 11 * "Plumping" 'should h# made illegal. ° - ~.--,°4k .The Hon. Mr Parr thought that t>rri§ ' vision for town planning should lot he l ' "' embodied m this BilL It special Bill-applying to all loSnSs£ The Minister, in reply, said-he rare?-* fc-rred to g« cautiously in the inatt^S-• '- municipal Trading. L far fKlad" fe n ? grea * - desire pressed by locaTbodies to «o into trading, as in replytd' ~ onWn U J ar T* ° nt b * ?lle only one reply wzs received. That-was' " Councu/which' > ricks - He m should be abolished. '" llie Bill was read a second time and was referred to a special committee. -*-"_ NATUPcAUSATION. S The Hon. Mr Anderson noved the-" second reading of the Revocation, of Amendment Bill 'wLiclf- ■ gives power t 0 the authorities toiecovcp'- - Jetters of naturalisation from persons - wlicse naturalisation waa revoked under/ '■ tne Act of 1917. .. \ : ," Mr Sidey said that some persons had? suffered injury by taring their natural-* -; isation revoked. He asked the Minister " to consider the introduction into the-" present Bill of some provision under '" which such persons might lave some' 1 remedy. -, Mr Malcolm supported Mr Bfdefa • contention on the ground of broad "'. tolerance, which was the basis of JBrit-' . ; ish citizenship. Precautions necessary during war might well he" relaxed itf time of peace, and persons who lost-: their British nationality during the war" •, should at least hare ihe < pportnnity"' of being heard in support of their desire' ■- to retain British citizenship. . - Mr Holland said -the Revocation of -" Natural isation Act, 1917, was the be-- ■ ginning of a system- of tearing up scrapa of paper and ruthlessly breaking <jon-'"--fraots. The suggestion made by Mr"".' Sidey would to some extent mitigate' -" the iniustice done under that but" " the whole policy wss contrary to -the spirit of the immigration laws of iKe- !' Dominion under which many foreigners'' were iduced to come to this country! - * How could w & consistently tienounce""a ,-;■ violation of treaties when we tore lip our own scraps of paper? . ■_• The Minister, in reply, said he would "-<. consider the advisability of giving aliens- * whose nationalisation had been revoked- " some form of appeal. The Bill Tias necessary, because al? aliens were"" not "' the innocent and injured people Mr .- Holland would Iflce to mpkeoiit. ;. V Tho Bill was read a second time, and - the House rose at 11 - '