PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20042, 3 September 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

(Abridged from Press Association.) THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2. i-BCiISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment Bill (Hon J. Macarewas read a first time. Sir Francis Bell, moved the second . eading of the War Regulations Con■luuance Bill, and explained that ho •■• ouid move at the proper time to in--m in the schedule of regulations to i'o continued that which prohibited us, unless when licensed, from apJi'oaclung merchant vessels when load--a?:.or unloading at the wharves. v',i e r • , H ; L " Michel supported the i>ul, but doubted whether the Govern. Jient was going far enough in ih e matte r ol preventing dangerous people from entering the Dominion. 'J lit iiill was read a second time and .reined to the Statutes Revision Cohu miitee. ihe Napier Harbour Board Empowering ana Loan Act Amendment Bill (Hon j' - fciow) and Ocean Beach Public Domain Act Amendment Bill (Sir J. R: Sinclair;- were put through their final stages and passed. .i tie Presumption of Survivorship Bill (Hon J. Macgregor) was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee for further consideration. The W'anganui Borough Council Empowering and Acquisition Bill (Sir William Hall-Jones) was committed, read a third time and passed. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SITTING. Replying {•> Mr Wright, Mr Massey saicl that heads of Departments and puijuc servants receiving salaries 01 £75!) would not participate in the Public Service bonus. They would be dealt with in the ordinary w;iy through the Supplementary Estimates- Between men receiving £550 or £750 a'nomalies had been created by recent payments made, and ho had given certain instructions with a view to having those anomalies removed. The Treaties of Peace Act Amendment Bill (Mr Massey) and Military Service Act Amendment Bill (Sir Heaton Rhodes) were introduced and read n first time. Mr Massey laid on the table the report of the State Coal Mines Department. Tho debate which resulted emphasised the need for improved conditions for miners before a larger coal output could he expected, EVENING SITTING.' In the course of a statement Mr Massey said that Cabinet had not definitely "turned down" the proposal to grant increased allowances to superannuated public servants. When it was before Cabinet some time.ago a minute was made, "No action at present." That meant Jtivould come up for consideration again. That might be in about a month's .time, when, if the

finances of tho Dominion permitted, as he thought they would, ho had no doubt something would be done. Air Wilford: Will you make it retrospective? Air Aiasscy: Ah, that will require consideration. On the motion of the Hon E. P Lee, the Law Practitioners Act Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Hie Coroners Act Amendment Bill, which provides lor fixing fees and expenses to bo paid in connection with - coroners inquests, was’, on the motion of the Hon L. P. Lee, read a second time without debate. The Hawke’s Bay Rivers Act Amendment Bi l was put through committee, re<id u third tuuo nnd passed. Air Massey moved the second reading of Civil List (No. 2) Bill, providing for increasing the payment of memoers of both Houses to £3OO in the case of Legislative Councillors and ,£J, , in the case of members of the House Oi Representatives. Ho said tho Bill was based on a motion carried by last Parliament, in which the principle was amrmed that some increase in payment !ot members was necessary. He pointed out that sessions were longer than they used to be, and the work of members had greatly increased, to say nothing Oi the increased cost of living with the result that the present payment was found to be quite inadequate. He could remember many men who had come into the House rich men and who had gone out poor men after giving the best jeais of their lives to the service of the people. Not only should the payment ue increased, but some system of sxroeranimation should be provided for members. This was a very difficult one'stion to settle, because it necessarily wasvery complicated by reason of the varying ages of members, and l>e was quite prepared to set up a committee of tho House to go into the matter and endeavour to devise a scheme. He quoted the payments made to members of other Parliaments with a view to showing that isqw --.oalaiiu legislators were underpaid He said the Bill was not complete as it stood, but ho moved the second reading in order to get* opinions of members on various points, _ so that amendments could be_ made in committeeAir Wilford said he wished to identify himself witli the, Bill, of which lie- approved, except that be 'thought the payment should bo fixed at £SOO. and that some scheme of superannuation should be- provided, by the deduction of ten per cent from the payment. He further considered that the Premier’s salary should at leasfc.be £2OOO per year. The JBill was strongly supported by the Hon J. A. Hanan. Alcssrs Isitt, Reed. Atmore. Nash, Holland, Lysnar. ,Sulli! van, Kellett, Al’Nirol. Howard and Al’Leod, most of whom suggested that a member’s salary should bpr£soo, and ilm_ Ministers’ salaries should be proportionately increased. In reply, Air Massey said he approved of the suggestion that a committee should bo set up to consider' tho Bill, and he proposed to-morrow to nominate a joint committee for that purpose. His' personal views on the suncrnuuuation scheme seemed to differ slightly from those of the majority 0 f members who had snoken. but he had no doubt an adjustment could bo arrived at. The second reading was agreed to on the voices.