PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160795, 1 November 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 30. The House met this (Saturday) afternoon at 2.30. Replying to Mr McCallum, the Premier, said he could not say if the session would finish by next Friday, but he hoped so. He would be able to say by the middle of next week if it would be necessary to sit in the following week. In replying to Mr Mitchell, the Minister of Defence said he could not announce what was proposed to be done in the matter of a national War memorial, because it may be necessary to take certain land for the purpose, and if knowledge of the possible site got abroad it would result in the value of the land being unduly raised. v The Minister of Lands informed Mr Williams that delay in opening certain land in Tolaga ,Bay district was due to the fact that certain drainage work had to be carried out. The Minister of Education, replying to Mr Luke, said the system of shifting school inspectors from one district to another would be beneficial, by tending to produce uniformity in the teaching systems of the several districts. It would also enlarge the experience of the inspectors themselves. Replying to questions by Messrs Hawken and Witty, who complained that people were being robbed through shortages in the contents of canisters used for various foods and other commodities, the Minister of Internal Affairs said it was not intended to bring down legislation this session dealing with the matter.. He would, however, go’fully into it during the’- recess. Steps would be taken to see that consumers were given the fullest protection possible under the law as it stood, and if further power was needed a Bill would be introduced for that purpose. Mr Hawken mentioned that tins ostensibly containing one pound were found to have anything from lloz to 16oz. So-called tobacco tins contained only Ifoz. VARIOUS BILLS. The Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claim Adjustment Bill (Sir W. H. Herries) and the Aviation Amendment Bill (Sir R. Heaton Rhodes) were introduced and read a first time. The former was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. Amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Wanganui Borough Empowering Bill and the Counties Bill were agreed to. The Minister of Labour moved that amendments made by the Council in the Housing Amendment Bill be agreed to. Mr Fraser moved that the Council's proposal eliminating the liability of a .newspaper to a penalty or fine of £IOO for publishing fin advertisement stipulating or demanding a bonus or piemium for obtaining occupation of a house be disagreed with.—Sir William Herries said the disagreement might jeopardise the ,Bill, and he hoped the House would accept the Conuoil’s amendment.—Mr Fraser’s amendment was lost by 47 to 15, and the Council’s amendments were agreed to. Amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Municipal 'Corporations Act were agreed to. Mr Massey moved the second reading of the Iron and Steel ‘Tnduitnes Amendment Bill, providing for the ’jmyment of bonuses for the manufacture of iron and steel in the Dominion. He mentioned that a representative of an English iron industry had been lately inquiring clpsely into- the possibilities of utilising the iron sand deposits in Taranaka and the ore at Parapara.— Mr Smith (Taranaki) urged that the Government should take an active part in developing iron smelting.—Mr Howard suggested that the Government should start an experimental blast furnace.—The second reading was carried. The Nurses’ Registration Amendment Bill was read a second time. Both the above measures were put through committee, read a third time, And passed. The Land Drainage Amendment Bill was also put through its final stages and passed. Mr Massey moved the second reading; of the Incorporated Societies Amendment Bill, which he explained, empowered societies such as Farmers’ Unions, Guilds, and other bodies to establish branenes’. —Mr Veitch, while supporting the Bill, pointed out that the principle included in this Bill was j-ejected by the House in the Labour. Party’s Industrial Conciliation Bill earlier in the session.—The second reading was carried and the Bill put through its- filial stages and passed. The Government Railways Act was introduced by Governor-General’s message) read a first time, and referred to the Railways Committee after being read a second time pro forma. The House adjourned at 5.45 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. on Monday.