PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160737, 25 August 1920, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 24. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Legislative Council Amendment Pill was further adjourned to Thursday week. The Masseurs Bill was put through committee, and new clauses added to prevent any person other than a registered masseur or medical practitioner recovering fees for massage operations or advice, ILe Arms Bill, in committee, was amended to provide for compensation for unlawful weapons taken. T'ho A. and P. Societies’ Bill was read a second time. The Council rose at 3.5. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30. FISHERIES ENCOURAGEMENT. Replying to Mr Craigie the Minister C£ Marino said the Government contemplated widening the scope of the Fisheries Encouragement Act, with the object of assisting fishermen, to secure rets and other plant. He was looking into the question of marine insurance to cover fishing vessels, which at present the fire insurance department coulj not undertake. THE WATERFRONT TROUBLE. The Hon. Mac Donald, Leader of the Opposition, asked the Prime Minister what was the position on the Wellington waterfront, and what steps the Government proposed to take to secure a settlement of the dispute there. Also, what was going to be done to carry on the work of the House if the light was not available rn the evening. Mr Maasoy replied that he had received no official information regarding the waterfront dispute. He and the Minister of Labour intended to look j closely into the whole question. So I far as the House was concerned, if | Urn ordinary- lighting service was not ; available, a special apparatus would be tried. if this proved ineffective, he | proposed to ask the House net to sit : in the evening but to meet at ,11 in i the morning till 5.30 daily during the trouble, and committee work could bo dealt with in the smaller rooms in the evenings. The Hon. Herrics, as Minister of Labour, added that the Labour Department was taking hold of the waterfront dispute. One of the Conciliation Commissioners was inquiring into the wholo matter. J Mu Veitch asked if coal could be i provided for Wanganui, which was in i a c-rilica! stale. I Mr Massey said several towns were I similarly situated. Any coal available j v'oidd have to he equitably divided | among the necessitous places. ELECTRIFIC ATION OF OTTEA TUNNEL. Replying- to Mr Witty the Minister for Public Works said negotiations wore progressing- with the British Electric Company for tho acceptance of a tender for ’ the electrification of tho Otira tunnel. He could not disclose tho price, but the competition Ix-tweefi the different tenderers was close. The tunnel should be completed in eighteen months, BULLER, COAL MEASURES. • Mr Holland asked whether in view of the fact that the coal supply from Av. strata would ho restricted under the new export regulation, the Government would push on with the Buller Gorge rail wav and open up coal measures in tha f district. The Premier Tended recognising the value of the Buller coal deposits, but added that if they waited till these could be made available tho people would suffer considerable inconvenience Thev must do something much more quickly to deal with the coal situation. N.Z. LABOUR AND THE COUNCIL OF ACTION. 'Ere Prime Minister announced that in response to a request by Mr VeitcU the Government would give the House an opportunity to discuss the exchange of cubic messages between.Labour members of this House and the Labour Ihi! Tv in Bribim in connection with what” was called the Council of Action, lie had consulted the Loader of the Opposition, who had acquiesced in his proposal' to move a motion “expressing the confident hope that the Empire will onmrge from troubles which, judging bv past history, are inseparable from a - period of reconstruction, more solid and more powerful than ever before. The announcement aroused an outburst of protests from the Labour benches. Messrs Ilciluucl and eraser attempted to nsk questions, which the Speaker declared not permissible' on a statement by a Minister. .Mr Massey, however, indicated that when the matter came on for discussion there would be no objection to questions. " THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. The report of the Agricultural ment was presented and furnished subject for discussion during the rest of the afternoon. Members eulogised tho work done by the existing experimental forms and stations, hut urged the need for inanv more of these in various parts of the Dominion. As the hour of 5.30 approached the Chamber wae gradually enveloped in gloom. Before tho House adjourned Mr Massey announced that the City Council had arranged, to supply light so that the House would bo able to sit till 10.30. GOVEENMENT BUSINESS. Mr Massey announced henceforth Government business would take precedence on Wednesdays during the remainder of the session. Various important measures, the Finance Bill, Loan Bill, Death Duties Bill, Income Tax Bill and others, would soon be ready for submission to the House, which would have a great deal ahead of it before the session closed, which he believed would not be before No vember. The Hons© adjourned at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. ANNUAL REPORTS. On the Premier’s motion, the Public Service Commissioners’ annual reports were laid on the table.