IN THE HOUSE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20362, 20 July 1934, Page 4

IN THE HOUSE.

Notes and Comments From Parliament. CONSIDERATION OF BILLS. (“Star” Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, July 19. Two Government Bills were passed and six other measures were considered by the House to-day. The* Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Bill, providing for enforcing of New Zealand judgments overseas, and vice versa, and the Arms Amendment Bill, controlling the importation and licensing of firearms in the Dominion, were put through all stages, and passed. Four private members’ Bills were dealt with, two disappearing from the order paper and two remaining for further consideration. Mr Barnard’s Earthquake Protection Bill was ruled out, as it involved an appropriation, but it was permitted to go to the Public Accounts Committee, purely for the purpose of hearing evidence. The National Credits and Currency Bill, sponsored by Mr Mason, was defeated by 36 votes to 27 in the first division of the session, while the Town Boards Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr Barnard, was discharged, as the Government intends to introduce a similar measure. The Auckland Metropolitan Milk-Act Repeal Bill, introduced by Mr Harris, was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Industries and Commerce Committee. A further two measures, both sponsored by the Government, got through the second reading stage. They were the Mutual Fire Insurance Amendment Bill, giving trustees the right to insure with companies of this type, and the Opticians Amendment Bill, which leaves the door open for another year for registration for qualified men, and authorises the issuing of regulations controlling opticians’ advertisements. When the House adjourned, the second reading of the Stock Remedies Bill was under consideration, and this will be continued when the House resumes to-morrow morning. Minister’s Confession. The confession that he had once been induced to take what was purported to be a weight-reducing medicine was made in the House to-night by the Hon C. E. Macmillan, during his speech on the second reading of the Stock Remedies Bill. Mr Macmillan said that the selling of spurious medicines was a recognised fraud all over the world, and they had no doubt read of stories where whole communities had been taken down by sellers of' patent medicines. In the case of human beings, it did not matter so much as long as the medicine was not harmful: in fact, in some cases human beings often cured themselves. Mr Young: Have you had that experience? Mr Macmillan confessed that he had often been attracted by an advertisement. Mr Poison: We all have. The Minister stated that an unfortunate animal could not cure itself, and was affected only by the medicine itself.

Mr Fraser: Db you know any cases of faith cures among animals? Mr Macmillan: An animal cannot read the label on the bottle.

Mr hraser: It is perhaps just as well. Auckland Milk Supply. Nearly 13,000 signatures are attached to petitions which have been presented to the House in support of the proposal for the repeal o. the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Act. The anticipated debate on the measure of Mr Harris, which seeks to eliminate the enactment from the Statute Book, did not eventuate to-day, the Bill merely being read a second time pro forma and referred to the Industries and Commerce Committee.

Disturbance in Gallery. One of those rare occurrences, a minor disturbance in the public gallery, was witnessed just after the commencement of proceedings in the House this afternoon. With his hand on one of the pillars of the chamber, a young man, said to be on parole from a mental hospital, attempted to address members. The interrupter was quietly led away. Sustenance Payment. Notice was given by Mr Sullivan in the House to-day of his intention to introduce the Unemployment Amendment Bill, the provisions of which, it is understood, will be the abolition of the Unemployment Board and payment of full sustenance rates to unemployed. Mr Sullivan is taking this course as he is not able to move the adjournment df the House to discuss unemployment. Right of Appeal. By an alteration which was made in the Arms Amendment Bill in the House to-night, the right of appeal is given to those who may be refused import licenses or registration certificates. The amendment was introduced by the Minister in charge of the Bill, the Hon J. G. Cobbe, and after it was passed the Bill was read a third time and passed. The amendment provides that any person who has had an application for an import license refused, or whose import license has been revoked. or whose certificate for registration has either been refused or revoked, may appeal to a Stipendiary Magistrate, who may confirm or reverse the decision of the police officer. Notwithstanding the decision of the Magistrate, the license or certificate may be revoked if sufficient grounds of evidence are discovered after the hearing of the appeal. First Division. The first division of the session took place in the House to-night at the conclusion of the second reading debate on the National Credits and Currency Bill, which was introduced by Mr Mason (Auckland Suburbs). The Hill sought to provide for the creation and distribution of credit and currency in such amounts as might be best calculated to ensure that people would be enabled to buy and sell, and therefore enjoy all goods and services which the people were capable of supplying, and to abolish the necessity for payment of interest as a condition for such buying, selling and enjoyment. Government members challenged the measure on the second reading, and it was rejected by 37 vote 3to 21. Messrs Atmore, Samuel, Rushworth, Stallworthy. Wilkinson, M’Doueall and Tirikatene voted with uabour. Personal Covenant.

Legislation proposing the suspension of the personal covenant under a mortgage of property owned by religious, charitable or educational bodies is to lv» introduced in the House by Mr Veitch (Wanganui).