THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12775, 20 October 1919, Page 6

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

FLOODS OF ELOQUENCE.

IMPORTANT MEASURES.

(Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, October IS. The House of Representatives has been sitting the round of the clock and talking nil round the compass for a week. Government loaders arc locking pale, bm, the size of the Bill book is decreet,’ng end the number of completed measures inomi-ing. Housing, Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement,Mortgage; Extension. Education Purposes Loans, Post and Telegraph Amendment- end two Samoan measures arc among the Pill; {bat bare completed t-b.ir eourso so far as Hut House is concerned. Abn there have been the usual number of local Pills. This creditable performance has been attained only by driving the House. The Opposition has not been driven: there has been no need for it. Criticism from the Opposition benches lias been brief and entirely reasonable, hutindividual members in all quarters of the House have talked to “ Hansard” to their heart’s content.

On Hie Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Bill members combined in handing bouquets to Air Guthrie, for his sincerity lias evidently impressed them, even if bis results have not been as great as hi; desire;. They urged him to exorcise compulsion for the purchase of estates, but the urging was in vain. Air Alassey replied in effect that compulsion in the past bad not been a, success, and, any way, the Government was obtaining what land it required. The fart; ho quoted in support uf_ this statement seemed rather to indicate that the burden of providing for the soldier was. falling upon a few patriotic landholders, 'there was nothing to show that the majority were doing their duly. . When the Alortgngos Extension Bill came out for a preliminary cantor earlier in the session there was a rustling of wigs and gowns as the lawyers in the House ro=e in a body and produced their briefs But since that time many words have been said in some secluded room, whore the Statutes Revision Committee has been arguing the matter out without- the benefit of “Hansard.” So when the Bill again emerged on Tuesday the lawyers nad little to say beyond prai-ing the fine points of the measure which they had had some share in framing. Of course Air Payne and one cr two others were bound to speak, but little attention was paid to their remarks, and tho Bill passed. Not so the Housing Bill. Even the possession of a mortgage docs not give tho layman tho right to speak with authority upon these necessities, but evervono can talk about houses, and everyone did. The loader of tho Opposition considered tho Government’s proposals 100 expensive. He would reduce the cost by borrowing the money from tho Post Office Savings Bank and charging interest at 3J per cent; by doubling the period for repayment, jind thus halving the sinking fund; ,nd by building In concrete so that there would bo a good security. When the Bill went into committee two days later it was seen that the Government had profited, if only a little, uj cir Joseph Ward’s plans, for it was agreed to extend tho term of repayment slightly and to make a reduction in tho interest charged. In another way also tho Government showed an open mind, by extending considerably the income limit, though it did not go so far ao the leader of the Opposition counselled. Really the only discordant note in tho passage of the Bill was sounded by the Labour four (Air Walker was away). They objected to the power being given to employers to borrow from t)\e Government to erect houses for their employees. This, they said, would place n dangerous weapon in the h>nds of employers in tho event of a strike or other industrial disputes. Reform and Liberal replied that tho danger could bo removed by regulations, but Labour refused to be convinced. The other sections of the House did not mind this much, but they did not like it when Labour started to argue the case again on the third reading after midnight. Two Samoan Bills put m an appearance on Friday, and were debated on different lines. Sir Joseph.Wnpd did not oppose tho measures, tho necessity for which !u admitted, but ho protested against the proposal to put a. blank cheque in the hands of tho Government. The Bills do not go into detail —everything is to be done by Ordcrvin-C’oimcil, and fho leader of the Opposition, granting the necessity for this at the present time, urged that it should bo done again in a regular way next session- Though Air Downio Stwart and on or two othrs gav a high tone to the debate, it eventually became- a wrangle cm the question of indentured labour. This was opposed fiercely by Labour members, and tho Government promised not to increase the number of coolies and to limit the operations of the Bill to twelve months. Incidentally there was much of what one member termed ‘‘ second primer stuff ” on Samoan history and geography talked in this debate. The Post and Telegraph Bill, a machinery measure, was remarkable only for the small talk about small things for a long time. No member actually read the Post Office directory, but several quoted just as much of it as they could remember.