PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18018, 5 November 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 4. After the telegraph office closed the I debate on the Education Bill was coni tinned by Mr Fraser, who supported | Mr Holland’s amendment. | Mr Mitchell said he believed in the i principle of the amendment, but he asked what effect it would have if carried. The Minister said it would kill the Bill, Mr Holland : "Not unless the Government wants to kill the Bill.” On a division the amendment was lost by 42 to 23. The House then went into committee on the Native "Washing-up” Bill, I which passed without amendment. | The Education Amendment Bill was then taken in committee. In Clause 10, Ml’ Holland moved an amendment, increasing the school ag>s to 16, which was lost on the voices. At Clause 23, Mr Willord moved an amendment providing that on and after March 31st, 1922, provision for the payment of salaries and enrolment of teachlers shall be made by Statute and not by regulation. After discussion the amendment was lost by 38 to 25. The Bill was then reported from committee, read a third time and passThe Native " Washing-up” Bill was also read a third time and passed. I'he Hon. G. J. Anderson gave notice of intention to introduce the Births and Deaths Registration Bill. The House rose at 4.15 till noon today. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 4. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Education Amendment Bill, received from the House, was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Education Committee. The Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill No. 2 (Hon. Mac-. Gregor) was read a first time. Tlie I Bill, he explained, embodied an | amendment which he moved when I the Government's amending Bill was before the Council earlier in the week, and which several members said they would have voted for had not there been a risk of endangering the Bill owing to the possibility of a disagreement with the House. I The Stone Quarries Amendment and Native Washing-up Bill were I put through all stages and passed. I The Council agreed to amendments proposed by the GovernorGeneral to the Housing Amendment, Mining Amendment, Municipal Corporations Bill, and Counties Bill. The Council rose at 3.16 p.m. The Council resumed at 4.30 p.m. The Education Bill was committed. An amendment was made to enable managers representing the employers and the employees on Technical School Boards to be elected by the bodies concerned instead of being appointed by the GovernorGeneral. On the third reading the Hon. Nerheny protested against clause 27, which provides that holders of National Scholarships must hold them at secondary District High or Technical Schools. He claimed that they should be allowed to be held in private schools. He maintained that Catholics contributed very largely to the cost of State education, and therefore Catholic children should be allowed to hold scholarships at their own schools. The Bill was read a third time and passed. Notice was given by i’he Hon. Smith in the Legislative Council to-night of liis intention of asking the Government whether it will consider the effect ol the recent award increasing the bonus on the industries of the Dominion and endeavour to find some way of assisting such industries to pay the bonus and so save numbers of them 'having to close down. The Council rose at 5 p.m. The Legislative Council resumed at 8.45 p.m. and adjourned immediately until 11 a.m. to-morrow. : HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House resumed at 2.30. A number of amendments to Bills already passed were brought down by Governor-General’s message. Sir Wm. Herries explained that in the Housing Bill power had been taken in Clause 8 to instal heating as well as lighting, etc., in houses built under the Act. Clause 15 now made it clear that the capital value o r ' a house was to be the value in 1914. The Labour Department was given, in Clause 19, power to apply to a Magistrate to have rent reviewed as well as the tenant in the case of sub-letting. A new clause was inserted giving the Crown power to recover unpaid Instalments of principal or rent, and Harbour Boards were given increased power to erect houses. Sir Wm. Herries said that so tar as the £1 000 limit to local bodies was concerned there was no mention of it in the main Act, and the limit was apparently fixed by the capacity of the lending department, so that it was a matter for the Minister of Finance. Mr Holland raised a protest against this method of amending important Bills, as he was sure few members understood what the amendments were. Mr Witty said that the amendments complied with almost every wish expressed in committee. The Hon. Anderson explained that tuo amendments in the Counties Bill enabled County Councils to provide fuuds for the maintenance of war memorials. In the Municipal Corporations Bill an amendment enabled councils to spend money in improving endowments. Mr Massey explained that the amendment in the Mining Bill made ■ provision for assisting prospectors for oil and natural gas. The amendments were agreed to. Mr McCombs asked the Premier to remember his responsibility in this mat-

ter, for his responsibility was undoubtedly great. If the Bill passed he feared it would fan the fires of religious hatred throughout the country. He thought the position would have been met if it had been made an. offence to question the validity of a legal marriage. The Bill was merely the price which the Reform Party had to pay for getting into office with the ?. d of the P.P.A. Mr Massey hotly repudiated the suggestion that the lie form Party got into power by the aid of the P.P.A. or that it had any price to pay to thai body. I There was not a particle of truth in sucfi a statement. He traced the history of the Bill and the history of the amendment which *as put in by the Legislative Council. That amendment had been referred to a carefully selected committee of the House, and they had reported on it. That being done, his duty was to see that the House had an opportunity of expressing an opinion on it. He was not making it a party question. He had not endeavoured to influence a single member. He only hoped that the Houtie would, (express that opinion that night as he wanted to get on with other important business. At the same time he now saw no hope or finishing the work of the session this week because he was not going to rush legislation. The Premier concluded by making an appeal to members to approach the matter in a calm and tolerant spirit, and to eliminate bitterness from the proceedings of the debate. Mr Smith (Waimarino) failed to find any justification for this legislation, and the Premier had given no reason for it in his speech that night.