HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17126, 30 October 1917, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WAR LEGISLATION. The House of Representatives met ' ">" at 2.30, and proceeded to consider the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the War Legislation Bill. ; i The Hon. Herdman explained that - the Council had amended Clause 16 by extending relief to contractors who had entered into contracts bet ore or after ' " the passing of the Act, if the contracts ' i were interfered with by war conditions, rhe Council had also' amended Clause 29 by providing that any Civil ser- " * vant whose services were compulsorih /■ retained by the State and refuses U ' -4 v ?f y ww'k > his superannuation rights - / shall not be preserved to him. The Minister moved that the amend- ' '•' inents be agreed to. Several members urged that such a condition should riot'1 be forced upon men who had earned a retiring allowance, and who were entitled to retire it they wished to do so. They pointed " out. that if a Civil servant, was entitled \ - to retire on an allowance of £2, and be compelled to remain at £3; he would ! bo working for only £1 jfer week. That was unfair. ..„._■....'^ li^...^;WrtJ . The Hon. Herdman said the position was that many young men were leav- ' ing the service to go to the front to fight for those who remained behind -*\ and it was not much sacrifice to ask 'men-iif gbbd-posMdM to remaiTm the service and give the country the benefit of their long experience. However, in ordsr to prevent a long debate and waste of time, he was quite prepared to ■ disagree with" 'an amendment about which he was not very particular. ' " Agreed to, and the Hon. Buddo and Messrs. Yeiteh, Parr, and the Hon. Herdman were appointed to draw uj reasons for disagreeing. '> EXEMPTION OF CLERGY AND TEACHERS.- - . . The Minister of Defence moved th« amendments made by the Legislative Council. in the Expeditionary Forces i Amendment Bill, i.e., the elimination - of Clause 3, providing for the exemp, won of clergy and teachers' from 'ser" I vice. -' Mr Lee said he would vote to ref •st the amendment back to the Council, ebcauso he wished to see the clergy exempk but not teachers. As the clause was put to members in the House, h« had no opportunity of voting in that direction, and he desired to have that opportunity when the Bill came bac* ■ from the Council. The motion was agreed to and 4he \ Premier, Sir Joseph Ward,' Sir JohnFindlay and the mover were appointed ' a committee to draw up reasons for disagreeing with the amendments. ' Later, the Speaker announced that the Committee had agreed to urge upon the Council that their amendment wad not in the best interests of the country. • \ ■ . s CONDOLENCE. The Premie^ in the course of a sympathetic and appreciative speech, moved the customary motion of condolence with tho family and relatives of the late Hon. William Beehan, a former member of the Legislative Council, recently deceased. Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Jennings, Sir John Findlay, the .Hon. Myers,' Mr. Dixon (Parnell) Mr. Glover, Sir Jas. Allen, and Mr: Payne each paid a tribute to the patriotism and public services of the deceased. gentleman, and' the House adjourned at 3.35. until 7.30 as a mark of respect to his memory/ did not say. all powers; He considered the passfmg of the motion would land" the Council in a muddle. The committee could not delegate its powers, and would always need a quorum in attendance. In any case it would ""*" have to report to the Council. He, - considered it would be better to have! nine councillors on the Council. Cr. Sateliffe considered the proposal R-ould be in t!he best interest of the borough. They Lad been without a, policy. ' The Mayor said that when he took' office there was a compliant Mayor dominated by the Council. " He had subordinated himself, except in some things, of late, to the -will of th« Council. Cr. Miles considered seven member* enough to carry the work on. \ The Mayor pointed out that the committee work be not open to ratepayers, whereas they were entitled to be present at Council meeting. iW business of the Council bad not beei* running too well of late, and his pra-f - posals,, he thought, were, necessary fo* administrative purposes. The motions were carried unanini ousiy.