PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160725, 11 August 1920, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (Per United Press, Association.) WEULINGTOSr, August 10. Tire House Met at 2.30. Mr Massey gave notice of his intention to introduce aft Immigration Restriction Amendment Bill. REPLIES •TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Ivlf Sidey, Mr Massey said the Government had done, and Vrould do, everything possible to-keep ddwn the rate of interest. 'Replying to Mr At more, the Hon. Rhodes said the committee appointed to report on ' sites suitable for the national war memorial had looked at Ihreo sites and would repoft to the main committee oft Friday nest. The decision then come to would be reported to Cabinet on Saturday. Replying to Mr Savage, the Hon. Herries said he was hopeful that negotiations between the Colonial Sugar Company and their employees would bo sc conducted as to avert a strike. ' Replying to Mr Holland, Mr Massey said he had already agreed to an adjustment between the Railways and Mines Departments which should have resulted in a settlement of the trouble at the State coal mine. He was convinced that the trouble, which resulted in the stoppage of work at the mine, must liave been due to some misunderstanding. , Replying to Mr Milford, Mr Massey said that when banking legislation Was before the House he would consider whether some reasonable system could be devised by which banks could take care of bearer bonds owned by people who Were not customers of the bank. Replying to Mr Wilford, the lloii. I'omare arid he did not think it necessary to further inquire into the grievances of white settlers at Rarotonga. An alteration ifi the law' would be made this session, giving white settlers representation oh the native council which, lie understood, removed their principal grievance. Replying to Mr Holland, Mr Massey said Die military censorship of letters would have to be removed by Statute as it came in by Statute. A Bill to do, Hlis was now before the House. Replying to Mr Mitchell, Mr Massey said he had given instructions to send lifiy tons of flour to Fiji to relieve the shortage there. ' MAGISTRATE’S COURT ACT. « An amendment to the Magistrate s Court Act was introduced by Governor’s Message. The Hon. Lee said the amendment srave, power to appoint a Magistrate fit the Chatham Isles. TE AROHA LAND TENURE. A Bill granting right to acquire the freehold in the Borough of Te Aroha was introduced. In reply to Mr Wllford and Mr McCombs, the Hon. Guthrie said the Bill proposed to give effect to the recommendations of the Commission which sat to consider this subject some time ago. The Bill was read a first time. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS ACT. The Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act Amendment was introduced by Governor’s Message. Air Massey said the Bill was not a consolidating measure, but included a large number of amendments found necessary fiom time to time. Replying to Air McCombs, the Hon. Parr said ' it would not be possible to nationalise our system of hospitals except under additional expenditure of half a million, and he w r as not disposed to go to Cabinet and ask for that sum td do it. The present system of subsidies to local bodies was working out Unfairly, and a new schedule would be submitted to The House, this _ session. Tlte Bill was read a first tune. _ Discussion on the taxation proposals continued till 11.5. After that Hospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment was referred to the Public ■Health Committee. STATUTES REPEAL. Mr Massey moved the second wadino- of the Statutes He pea I aiid Expixiu<r Loans Amendment and Continuance Bill. He explained that the Billy repealed certain features of war legislation no longer found necessary, while it continued others which could not yet bo dispensed with. waft no policy in tli-© Bill, as it dealt with a number of provisions which had no relation to each other, bubjects on which legislation Was not repealed .were monopoly, prevention of rotation of crops on Crown lands, and the housing question. , , Mr Bidey maintained that there wak a good deal of policy im the Bill; He dealt at length with the difficulty under which houseowners laboured owing to rent limitations put upon them by legislation, which it was intended to continue. , In connection with the housing proposals, Mr Fraser regretted the Intention to alter the definition of “returned soldier” as it was’certain to act detrimentally- towards many ihen who had ■joined tlie forces, and lie liopea tile House would resist this attempt _to toko that protection away. No ejections whatever should be permitted until such time as there were houses for all. provided rent was paid and ordinary conditions observed. Mr Isitt contended that the clause dealing with returned soldiers was not put into the Bill to the detriment of soldiers, hut fur tlieir benefit, as many ion» service soldiers were being kept out* of their houses by those who had never been to the front, and who were only nominally returned soldiers. Mr Yeiteh complained of the repeat of legislation dealing with the National Provident Fund. The manner in which the Government was. dealing with this class of legislation' was leaving the House quite in tne dark as to its humanitarian policy. . After 1 o’clock discussion was continued by M&ssrs Holland, Hudson, Atmote and McCombs. The Bill was lead a second time. 1 The House rose at 1.30.