PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160726, 12 August 1920, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 11. The Council met at 2.30 p.xn. , Sir F. Bell gave notice to introduce the Legislative Council Amendment, Hawke’s Bay Elvers Amendment, and Acts Interpretation. Hon. members were added to the Statutes Revision Committee during the coi sideration of the Marriage Amendment Bill "and the Crimes Amendment Bill. The Crimes Amendment Bill was received from the House, read a Second time pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision* Committee, The Arms Bill was committed and progress was reported after several amendments were made. Sir F. Bell asking that this course be adopted, as there might possibly be other amendments forthcoming. The Council rose at 3 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30. CONTRARY TO FACT. Replying to Mr McCombs, the Hon. Mr Lee said the statement that the Government had purchased a controlling interest in the Samoan Times was contrary to fact. DAMAGED MEAT. Replying to Dr. Newman, the Premier said he had heard that some of the New Zealand meat sold in the Old Country was not in first-class condition when put on the market, but he did not think there was anything to be alarmed about. He'was convinced that what had happened would not detrimentally affect the sale of the ■ new season’s meat. Mr Lysnar said the injury to the meat was probably due to the fact that the English stares were run at a higher temperature than in New Zealand, and he asked the Premier' to inquire into that point. v The Premier said he would do so. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time : —Master and Apprentice Amendment Bill (2) (Hon. Nosworthy),, Immigration Restriction Amendment Bill (Hon. Massey), Wanganui Borough Council Vesting and Empowering Bill (Yeitch). The remainder of the afternoon sitting was taken up with a discussion on the reports of committees on petitions and Ministers’ answers to questions. QUESTIONS ANSWERED. Replying' to questions, Ministers gave the following among other answers: That the Government’ has already recognised that the subsidy payable to prospectors for gold is inadequate, and as already announced in the Financial Budget, steps had been taken Avith a view to increasing such subsidy. It is expected that the amending regulations increasing the subsidy by 30 per cent, will appear in next week’s Gazette. That there is no poAvcr to grant freehold tenure of tidal river mud flats, and it is not proposed to legislate in that direction. It is, however, proposed this session to amend Section 30 of the Harbours Amendment Act, 1910, in the direction of increasing the term of lease from 21 to 42 years, to encourage lessees to carry cut improvements. It may bo pointed out that these leases are granted at a very small rental in view of the work required to make the mud flats productive That Borough Councils are already empowered *o lend money to workers to build homes on their own sections. (:-eo paragraph (b), sub-section 1, Section 52 of the Municipal Corporations Amendment Act, 1913, as amended bj) Sect i n 9 of the Municipal Corporations Amended Act, 1915.) Legislation -will he introduced this session providing that Borough Councils have poAvcr, under proper safeguards, to lend money to workers to build homes on their own sections. That it is not proposed to make special provision by' Avay of Avar pension for members of the mercantile marine. Section 12 of the War Pensions Act, 1916, Avas passed Avith the idea of providing Avar ■ pensions for officers and men employed on transports and their dependents, but the AttorneyGeneral advised that it would not he prudent to make regulations as the section quoted proposed. The Government accordingly decided that each case should be considered on its merits, the War Pensions Board being authorised to make recommendations in regard to injury or death arising from warlike "operation. Under this arrangement pensions are now being paid, but not in respect of disability or death associated with the ordinary perils of the sea or arising from natural causes. That it is proposed this session to introduce legislation which will give to the Minister of Telegraphs the necessary’ poAAer to license and suitably regulate the operation of wireless stations of all kinds. That any Russians whom, the New Zealand Government desired to repatriate- to Russia apparently could not establish their nationality to the satisfaction of the Soviet Government, because permission to send them to Russia avbs withheld. That single teachers of cither sex having others entirely dependent upon

them are paid the cost of living bonus at the rate payable to married men. That substantial additional capitation payments Avere made to Secondary School Boards last year to enable them to increase the salaries of their teachers, and provision is being made in the Estimates for further increases this year, As announced in ( the Financial Statement, it is proposed to provide a Dominion scale of staffs and salaries for secondary schools, but before this can be done statutory authority is required. and necessary amendments in the Education Act are being considered in connection with an amending Bill shortly to be introduced. In the meantime all secondary school teachers are receiving the same cost of living bonus as fublic servants, including special concessions to : lady teachers with dependents. The House adjourned at 5.30. The House -m-unied at 7.30. NATIVE LAND AMENDMENT. The second reading of the Land Amendment Bill was moved by Mr Wilford pro forma. The Bill was read a second time, and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. ~ POLICE OFFENCES. The Police Offences Amendment Bill Avas, on the motion of Mr Statham, read a second time without debate. Mr Statham explained that the effect of the Bill, if passed, would be to make it an offence to take part in a live pigeon match. STATE BANK. On the motion of the Prime Miniver, the Dominion State Bank Bill introduced by Mr Yeitch Avas struck off the Order Paper. His reason for taking this course was that the Bill was an appropriation measure, and could not proceed without the Consent of the Crown. MAORI WAR MEDAL. The House then went into committee on the Maori War Medal Bill in charge of Mr Wright (Wellington South). Mr Jennings intimated that in clause 2 he Avould move, in line 13, after the Avord “fire,” to insert the following Avords, “or who was called up for service and Avas under arms* during the Parihaka and East Coast disturbances after the yearJß6B-69.” He said he did not approve of the Bill, but if it was intended to open the door again, then it ought to be opened wide enough to include those who took part in Parihaka and East Coast disturbances. v Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes said had ho been present when the Bill was read a second time, he would have opposed it. It opened the door far too wide, and Avould entitle thousands to claim the medal, Avhich would utterly destroy their value. The Bill was called the Maori War Medal Bill, but there was no Maori Avar medal. There was a New Zealand medal, so that ho presumed a special medal would have to be struck to comply with the terms of the measure. Mr Isitt said the Bill was a farce. Four Royal Commissions had sat to inquire into the claims for/these medals and the subject bad been closed. No evidence could uoav be procured to prove the claims, and he hoped the House would give the Bill short shift. Hr Rhodes (Thames) claimed some further recognition for the Maori War veterans. Mr Luke said if a man was entitled to a medal he Avas entitled to a pension, and he thought that the Bill established a bad precedent which the House should not agree to. • Mr Wright, in the course of reply to criticism, said the Bill would not cost the country a penny, because he intended to provide that the recipient! ot the medal should defray the whole cost of the decoration. _ ' After further discussion, Mr Wright said he Avould take the sense of the House on the voices, Avherenpon pro* gross was reported on the Bill. A similar course was adopted with the War Pensions Amendment Bill in charge of Mr Harris, who said Government was embodying his proposal in one of their measures. TEMPORARY EMPLOYERS BILL The Temporary Employers Bill was on the motion of Dr Newman postponed for a fortnight. *

ANZAC DAY. Mr Mitchell moved the second reading of the Anzac Day Bill. He said some might object to another holiday, but he thought AA r e should not object to consecrating the 25th of April as the day on Avhich to commemorate the memory of our soldiers. No matter where our soldiers were in France, in Flanders, Egypt, or Palestine—-they Avere always worthy of our people. For that reason they asked that one day be dedicated to them, the day to be kept as a Sunday, not merely as an excuse for another race meeting or some other form of enjoyment. Their Sacrifices were surely Avorthy of this, for they fought not to make i a few men rich, but to make all men free. Mr Jennings said celebrated St. George’s, St. Andrew’s, and St. Patrick’s Days in this country. We kne\v very little about these Saints, but to many homes in this country Anzao meant a great deal, and he entirely concurred in the idea of celebrating it on a special day. Mr Massey said he entirely, approved of the idea of setting apart a day in memory of our soldiers, and he was glad the 25th of April had been selected by the returned soldiers for that purpose. He hoped it Avould be a holy day rafher than a holiday, a day of rejoicing. It Avas a great achievement of our men. The day should he a day of thanksgiving at the result of those achievements, which Avould help to keep our Empire together and hand it down greater, better, and brighter than ever. Mp Isitt stressed the propriety of keeping the day as one of solemn thanksgiving that our sons were not found wanting at a time of great crisis in the history of the Empire, and every one, especially the children, should bo set free to take part in, celebrations which would lift this day to an even higher place in New Zealand than Independence Day is held in the estimation of the American people. Messrs Seddon,' Craigie, Potter, and Hockley supported the Bill, Avhich was read a second time on the voices. Members then rose and sang the National Anthem, after which the Premier moved the adjournment, and the House rose at 10.26.