PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160733, 20 August 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

legislative council. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 19. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Six Francis Bell informed the Hon. Thomson that Dr. Bird’s report on the subject of education in the Samoan and Cook Islands was for the confidential information of the Government. It was not considered desirable to make the information public yet The Hon. Thomson moved for a return showing; (1) How much coal, and of what value, was imported during the year for use on the New Zealand raildays; (2) how much imported coal was on hand row in the Railway Department, and how much on order; (3) what progress had been made by the Department in the utilisation of pulverised coal in railway locomotives? Sir F. Bell said the Government, for obvious reasons, v as not prepared to give a return upon the first two points, and therefore asked, the mover not to press the matter. Speaking of the third matter, he said the Department was in touch with railways using pulverised coal, and had had for some time a part of tlie plant required, but owing to lack of labour end material it had been impossible to go any further. Mr Thomson expressed his willingness to withdraw the motion, but expressed dissatisfaction with the refusal of the railway officials to give him, as a member of Parliament, the information required. The motion was accordingly withdrawn Sir F. Bell explained the reasons given by the House for dissenting from cer' tain amendments made by the ‘ Council to the Gaming Amendment Bill. These reasons did not appear to apply to the clauses in question, and ho therefore moved that the House be asked 'for information concerning the special amendments to which the House disagreed. Till Council adopted the proposal. The Licensing Amendment Bill (Hon. Barr) was introduced and read a first ; time. Sir P. Bell moved the second reading of the Masseurs’ Registration Bill. The Hon. Triggs traced the history of massage, stressing its great value, but at the same time urging the need for putting the profession on a proper footing. The Hon. Ccliins looked iqxm the Bill simply as a Registration Bill, and supported it as a necessary measure. He thought, though this did not affect the Bill, that massage might to be done under the direction of a medical man. ’The Bill was read a second time. The Juries Act Amendment Bill (Hon. MacGregor) was redd a third time. The Council adjourned at 3.20 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30. ■* JY A TER PIPES. The Premier announced that he intended to move that on and after Wednesday nest, for the , remainder of the session Wednesdays be taken for Government business only. Replying to Mr Luke, who asked in the interests of local bodies of the Dominion, the Hon. Herrics said it would be impossible to grant a remission of Customs’ duties on cast-iron water-pipes. The matter could be gone into next year, when the tariff is before the House. WAR GRATES. Replying to Mr Mitchell, the Hon. Sir H. Rhodes said the policy of the War Graves Commission was wherever practicable to employ a British caretaker to tend the graves of soldiers buried abroad. Where this was not practicable, other arrangements would be made. DEFENCE. The Hon. Sir H. Rhodes laid on the table the report of the Defence Department. This raised a discussion on defence, which lasted practically the whole afternoon. Mr Wilford asked if the policy of 1919 was the policy of to-day, namely to re--1 strict the period of territorial training to ages from 18 to 21 years, instead of 25. In view of the scarcity of young men required in industries, he suggested the advisability of still further curtailing this period of training, especially aa the experience of the war had shown that a,soldier could be trained in a much shorter period than was formerly supposed. The Hon. Hanan said that with the passage from war to peace there came a demand for the curtailment of defence expenditure. He contended the Dominion was not justified in- paying big salaries to men whose work was nothing like so arduous as that of men in other Departments. Ho advocated greater attention being paid to physical culture and training. Rad this been done in years past not nearly so many of our men would have been turned down for military service. ' Mr Malcolm reiterated his views on the scheme of military training for primary schools, secondary schools and universities. His great objection to the present system of military .training was that it overshadowed our first line of defence, viz., our navy. Mr Forbes said the feeling throughout the country was that we were maintaining too expensive a defence system. He agreed that naval defence was of more vital importance to the Dominion than military schemes, with which the 1 country districts were quite out of sympathy. Mr Voitch said no one could have read the Budget without becoming alarmed at the enormous expense of the Defence Department, in which he felt there must have been great waste. Mr Scddon said our defence scheme should be framed with regard to the psychology of the people, who were weary of war. Mr Kellett advocated an elastic system of training, as men who had received only three months’ training had played an important part in defeating the greatest military nation in the world. Mr Horn complained of the shabby treatment meted out to rifle clubs. Mr Mitchell regretted’ it was necessary to maintain a defence system, but the fact remained that /if the Empire was to be held together we must, be ever ready to defend ourselves against attack. Hie debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. CHRISTCHURCH DRAINAGE BILL. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Isitt moved the second reading cf the Christchurch District Drainage Amendment Bill, which he said was intended to give the city of Christchurch a complete and efficient system of drainage. The Bill was read a second time after a brief debate. WANGANUI BOROUGH G EMPOWERING. Mr Yeitch moved the second reading

of the Wanganui Borough Council Empowering and Acquisition Bill, which was agreed to. At the hon member’s request the Bill was put i lb rough all its remaining stages and passed. , During the progress of the Bill through committee Mr Veitch sought to insert an amendment. giving the ■Governor-in-Conncil power to fix the rate of interest. To this there was general opposition, as several local Bills already had been passed in whieh the rate of interest was definitely fixed at 5| per cent. If the rate .was left open in the Wanganui Bill, and a higher rate than was offered, other local bodies would be prejudiced ,in raising their loans at SJ. At the Premier’s suggestion the amendment was witlidrawn, the Premier stating that legislation would be brought down this session under which the rates of interest: could be adjusted as the price of money rose or fell. HAWKE’S BAY RIVERS. Mr Massey moved the second read mg of the Hawke’s Bay Rivers Amendment Bill, which was agreed to without debate. STATUTES REPEAL. Mr Massey moved the third reading of the Statutes Repeal and Expiring Hours Amendment and Continuance Bill, which was agreed to after a brief discussion. The Hon. Noswdrthy moved tha second reading of the Agricultural and Pastoral (Societies Amendment Bill, which provides that A. and P. Societies may not dispose of Crown granted lands except with the approval of the Governor-General in-Council, The Ball was subsequently put through all stages and passed. DEFENCE REPORT. The House then resumed the debate on the Defence report. Mr Mitchell, continuing, urged that while we must maintain a defence system we might do it more economically. Hon. Sir H. Rhodes replied after the supper adjournment. He said he was convinced that the cost of the de- c fence scheme must he cut down. At the same time, though the country wanted a smaller defence force, it f wanted an efficient force. A scheme to meet these wishes had been submitted by him to the G.0.C., who was at present working out details. When this was completed, the scheme would be submitted to Cabinet for approval. He could not disclose the scheme, but ho would say there would he no camps this year. The cadet force would be retained, but a number of half-days and whole day drills, which proved so irritating, would be abolished. Camps would be held for cadets, and after they passed through those camps they would be drafted into softie sort of reserve. Ho thought men could be sufficiently trained, but N.C.O.’s could not be trained in so short a period. Aviation would be used in connection with military services, but by utilising it in a civil capacity the • loss to the country would not ho so groat. There would be a committee of defence, consisting of the commandant, General Russell and General Richardson, the Naval Adviser, General Robin and himself, 'the duty of which would be to co-ordinate various aspects of the defence scheme. The committee would be a purely advisory body, and would not dictate the defence policy of the Government. Regarding the R.N.Z.A., he was waiting for suggestions from the commandant before deciding what would bo done with that force, which lie admitted had .not been kept up to full strength. Ho approved of training cadets at Duutroon, as he had odne iu former years. No better officers had taken their place in the N.Z.E.F. than those who had graduated from that institution. Ho strongly approved of a large measure of physical training in connection with military development, but ho would not consider reversion to the volunteer system. The territorial system was much preferable, proof of which was that it was on the territorial basis that our expeditionary force was built up. Vocational training would not be overlooked, and General Birdwood’s suggestion that our officers should be exchanged with the officers of the Indian forces was actuallv being carried out though lie could not say how many New Zealanders were in India at the present moment.

The paper was laid on the table and the House rose at 10.43.