PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12776, 21 October 1919, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

(Abridged from Press Association.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20

EVENING SITTING. The House met at 7.30 p.m HOUSING.

Replying to Mr Holland, Mr Massey said he was inquiring into the legal position under which people were being turned out of their houses, pending the accomplishment of the Government’s housing scheme. BILLS. Tlie Pumice Lands Development Bill (Hon A. T. Ngata) was introduced and read a first time. The Official Appointments and Documents Bill passed its final stages. Air Massey moved the second reading of the Ihiblio Health Act Amendment Bill. He explained that the Bill was almost entirely departmental in nature, and wa.s intended to meet oases which arose during tho recent epidemic and to meet the recommendations of the Epidemic Commission. The Bill was read a second time. The Chattels Transfer Act Amendment Bill, Public Health Act Amendment Bill and I’liolie Authorities (party wall) Empowering Bill passed their final stilus. SOLDIERS’ VOTES. Air Alassey moved the second reading of the Expeditionary Forces Voting Bill. He said the Bill applied only to men in tho forces in New Zealand. There was no proposal to permit the wives of men who come back and who had not been in New Zealand for a year to vote, neither was there provision to enable men on the sea to vote. That matter was most difficult. He thought it inadvisable to let tho men vote until tho names of candidates were known. Tho last arrangement of voting for parties worked out badly in every way. Something might be done by wireless, but he hoped that all the men would be back before the election. Air P. Fraser made an appeal for the extension of tlie seamen’s vote to men serving on,oversea ships trading regularly with Now Zealand, also to the wives of hulk-keepers. Air Alassey said he thought the latter amendment should be made. Air AVilford and Air Myers suggested that some moans should b© taken to give soldiers at sea a vote, if at all possible to do so. Mr Alassey said he would instruct the c.bu f electoral officer to have machinery ready to bo used in tlie event it was required. I he. Bill was read a second time, committed, read a third time, and passed. The House rose at 11.34 p.m-