HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17655, 3 September 1919, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NOTICES OF MOTION,

; The House met at 2.30

Hon. Mac Donald gave notice of his intention to introduce a Board of Trade Bill.

Mr. Veitch gave notice of his intention to introduce a Proportional Representation Bill. Dr. Newman gave notice of his intention to introduce a Government Temporary EmplO3rees' Bill.

Mr. Sernple ■ gave notice of his intention to introduce an Mining Act Amendment and Coal Mines Act Amendment.

The Premier suggested that the House should agree to the setting up of sessional committees going through the form of giving notice of the names of those proposed to constitute the committees". There was a grea-t deal of committee work to be done, and he was anxious to get committees at work as soon as possible. Sir Joseph Ward, objected to this course. Last year there was a great deal of objection taken to the constitution pt committees, and if so under the National Government it was even more necessary that the House snould know who was to be on committees under Party • overnment. The Premier said as, objection was taken he would not press the point, but the suggestion came, from the Leader of the Opposition himself, who last week urged that committees be set up with the least possible delay.

Hon. Russell gave notice,of his intention to ask the Government to disclose its intentions regarding the office of High Commissioner and whether it intended to appoint a residential Minsiter in London.1

Hon. Russell also gave notice of intention to ask for a return showing how the sum of £430,917 expended in connection with the raising of war loans in 1918-19 was distributed between banks, brokers and tlie Imperial Government? RENT RESTRICTION ACT. * Replying to Mr. Witty, the Premier said he proposed to take into consideration the question of. having the Rent Restriction Act, passed to meet war conditions made a permanent measure. • . SOLDIERS': PENSIONS. Replying to Mr. Buddo, Sir James Allen said he was afraid some misapprehension, had arisen in connection with the pension of SO/- now Jbeing granted to returned men. The position was that the Pension Board was granting a pension of 3 0/- per week to those entitled to a pension without inquiry so that there should be no delay. If, as the result of subsequent investigation, it was found it should be less than 30s, no return would be asked for, but if it was found the pension should be more than 30/-, then readjustment was made. Replying to Hon. Russell, the Prime Minister said it would be impossible to lay before the House all the papers relating to the Peace ! Treaty as many had not yet reached New Zealand. He thought members would have to be satisfied With the statement he proposed to make to the House this week. The subject was a tremendous one, and he proposed to deposit all papers in the archives of the,. Dominion for reference by future*generations. Replying to Mr. Holland, who asked the Minister if he would cable home a contradiction of the statement made by Mr. F. M. B. Fisher that he left a Cabinet position in New Zealand to help in the war, Mr. Massey said he did not intend to interfere in politics of any other country. DAYLIGHT SAVING. Mr. Sidey, in introducing the De T finition of Time Bill, said at no time during the many years he had been in charge of this Bill was the necessity for the Bill .greater than at the present moment, when we were suffering such acute shortage o^ coal, and instead of the Premier waiting for him to introduce the Bill he should bring down an Order-in-Council enacting the prinicple of the measure which was now adopted in many European countries. The Act never had a, fair trial in Australia, but had been a great success in Tasmania. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were introduced and fead a first time—Registration of Business Names (Brown), Payment of Jurors, (Wilford), Shops and Office Amendment (Holland). DEFENCE REPORT. j i I The Minister of Defence laid on j the table the report of the Defence Department. Replying to Mr. Witty, the Minister said there were about forty va. cancies on headquarters staff. These would be filled by the most capable officers returning from the front. | After such officers had spent some j time in training camp, the remainder would be gazetted out of the IForces, _ _,