PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18016, 3 November 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 2. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. In accordance with notice of motion, Hon. Cohen moved that the time has arrived when the Government ought to consider the desirability of appointing women police patrols, the appointment of a woman as the colleague of the censor of picture films, and the appointment of women as Justices of the Peace. He quoted the success of police women in England, America, Canada and Australia, and spoke of the benefits which would result from woman’s point of view being available for the guidance of the film censor. There were scores of women who would be more than an ornament as Justices of the Peace. Hon. Thomson second the motion, saying he was afraid many of the young women of to-day were losing their war vigour and falling back into idle pre-war ways. It might not be necessary to appoint a woman as censor; but the opinion of a woman should be available to the censor. He hoped the Government would consider the motion sympathetically. Hon. Earnshaw, on the ground that the Council should have time to consider the matter, and in view of the important legislation awaiting attention, moved the adjournment of the debate for a fortnight. A discussion was called for, and the adjournment carried by 17 to 8. Rotorua Town Lands Bill was received from the House, and read a first time. The Legislative Amendment Bill, introduced by Sir Francis Bell, war read a first time. The Nurses’ Registration Amendment and Land Drainage Amendment were put through committee and passed. In moving the second reading of the Coal Mines Amendment, Sir Wm. Fraser said he could not accept the Hon. Mitchelson’s amendment to reduce from three to two years the period of experience necessary for a miner before he may take charge of any place in a mine. In committee a new clause was added to the Bill to amend Section 6 of the 1914 amendment to read as follows: Except by consent of the Minister a miner shall not be put in charge of any place in a mine unless he is of the age of 21 years or upwards, and has had at least three years’ experience in underground coalmining, of which at least six months (formerly one year) shall have been at the face with an experienced coal miner, or at least three years’ experience in driving, sloping, timbering or shaft sinking, or in rises or winzes in connection with underground metalliferous mining. Sir Wm. Fraser said his sympathy was very much with Hon. Mitchelson, but to adopt the admendment would probably result at this stage of the session in the killing of the Bill. The Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council rose at 5.23 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Hon. Herries, replying to Mr. Smith (Taranaki) said that so far as he knew no embargo had been placed on the publication of Customs returns at the various ports. Replying to Mr. Witty, Hon. Nosworthy said he would inquire into the feasibility of taking a census of the potatoes now in the Dominion. Mr. Reed (Bay of Islands) asked the Minister for Public Works whether it was correct that a railway commission had been set up to ascertain the best route for the North Auckland Main Trunk line north of Tio, and if so, at whose request it was set up?—Hon. Coates replied that the commission had been set up at the request of the Department. It was a Departmental affair. The officials of the Department desired a commission to decide upon the best route from Tio northwards towards objectives which appeared to be the harbours of Wharerua, Maunganui and Kaitaia. The commission had also been requested to advise on the question of route to link up the Kaihu section with the North Auckland Main Trunk. Though this did not necessarily mean that this work would be gone on with. Replying to Mr. Wilford, Mr. Massey outlined the business which was likely to be taken thijc session. The House would probably be asked to consider some eighteen Bills yet, most of theni not contentious, and he saw no reason why the session should not close on Saturday if members wished. Replying to Mr. Bitchener, Hon. Guthrie said the original negotiations for the purchase of the Hakataramea estate had broken down, but in consequence of further representations made to him, they had been reopened, and were now in progress. Replying to Mr. McLeod, Mr. Massey said he had received a cable from the High Commissioner a few days ago to the effect that the London market was practically bare of New Zealand mutton. Replying to Dr. yewman, Mr. Massey said the question of taxing motor cars would be dealt with in a Bill that was to come down dealing with main roads. Replying to Dr. Thacker, the Defence Minister said that in view of the epidemic of shooting now going on in the Dominion, something would be done to bring the Arms Act, just passed, into operation at an earlier date than had been contemplated. Amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Workers’ Compensation and Mining Amendment Bills were agreed to. A Washing-Up Bill was introduced by Governor-General’s mes-

sage, read a second time pro forma and referred to the committee. The. Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill (No. 2) was also introduced by GovernorGeneral’s message. Sir Wm. Herries said the Bill was mainly small amendments, but there was an attempt to meet points raised in connection with Dominion awards. He proposed to have the Bill read a second time pro forma and referred to the Labour Bills Committee tomorrow morning. This was agreed to. MARRIAGE AMENDMENT. Mr. Massey suggested that the interrupted debate on the Marriage Amendment Bill be taken, but as it could not be done except by the unanimous consent of the House, and as the Laboui' Party objected, it could not be done. The House then agreed to amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Animal Protection Amendment Bill. DISTRICT RAILWAY AMENDMENT Hon- Coates moved the second reading of the District Railway, Amendment Bill, which permitted the construction of railway lines of less width than three feet six inches. There was doubt about what the guage should be, so that would be left to be determined by the amount of money available. Personally, he thought the two feet guage will be perfectly satisfactory in New Zealand, for these lines were not intended to be much more than tramways. Hon. Coates, in reply to a question, said by way of example that the relative difference in cost in the construction of a light line as against the standard guage over a distance of 36 miles between Hamilton and Raglan was £lOO,OOO. This difference made it possible for settlers to construct such a line, whereas they could not construct a line of standard guage. A conference would be held during the recess at which the whole question of guage would be gone into. The Bill was read a seond time. O. AND G. DISEASES. The Orchard and Garden Diseases Amendment Bill was read a second time on the voices on the motion of the Hon- Nosworthy. STONE QUARRIES. Mr Massey moved the second reading of the Stone Quarries Amendment Bill, which he said was purely a departmental Bill, and was intended to make the working of quarries more safe. The Bill was read a second time. The House then went into committee on the District Raiways Amendment Bill, Orchard and Garden Diseases Amendment Bills, which were subsequently read a third time and passed. The Local Railways Amendment Bill was on the motion of the Hon. Coates put through all stages. An amendment moved by Mr Hockly enabling local railway boards to assume expenses in connection with the setting up of boards, being adopted. The House rose at 12.38 till 2.30 to-mprrow.