PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160797, 3 November 1920, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 2. The Legislative Counsel met at 2.30 p.m. ' s / ■'Tn accordance with notice of motion, Hon. Cohen moved that the time has arrived . when the - Government ought to consider the desirability of appointing , women policejpatrols, the appointment of a woman as the colleague of the censor of picture films and the appointment of women as Justices of the Peace; He quoted the success of police women in England, America, Canada an?P. Australia/ ana spoke or the benefits which would result from woman’s point of view being available for the guidance, of „the film censor. There were scores of women who would be more than, an ornament as Justices of the Peace. Hon. Thomson seconded the motion,' shying he was, afraid many of the young women pf to-day were losing ' their war vigour and falling back into idle pre-war ways. It might , not be necessary a woman as censor ; but the opinion of a woman should be available to the censor. He hoped the Government would consider the motion sympathetically. Hon. Earnshaw, on the ground that the Council should have time to consider the matter, and in view of the important legislation awaiting attention, moved the adjournment of the debate for a fortnight. A discussion was called for, and'the'adjournment carried by 17 to 8 - . Rotorua Town Lands Bill was received from the House, and read a first time. The Legislative- Amendment Bill, introduced by Sir Francis Bell, was read a first time. 1 ■*. The Nurses’ Registration Amendment and Land Drainage Amendment were put through committee and passed. In moving the second reading of the Coal Mines Amendment, Sir Wm. Fraser said, he could not accept the Hon. Mitchelson’s amendment to reduce frofh two to three years the period of experience necessary for a miner before he may take’ charge of any place in a mine. ' a In committee a new clause was added to the Bill to amend Section 6 of the 1914 amendment to read as follows: Except by consent of the Minister a miner shall not be put in charge of any place in a mine unless he is of the age of 21 years or upwards, . and has had at least three years’ in underground coalmining, of which at least six months (formerly, one year) shall have been at the face with an experienced coal miner, or at least three years’* experience ’ in driving, sloping, timbering or shaft sinking, or in rises or winzes 1 in connection with underground metalliferous mining. Sir Wm'.' Fraser said his sympathy was very pinch with Hon. Mitchelson, but to adopt the amendment would ' probably - result at this stage of the session in the killing of the Bill. The Bill was' read a third time and passed. The Council rose at 5.23 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30 p.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Hon. Sir W. H. Herries, replying to. Mr Smith -(Taranaki) said that so far as he knew no embargo ' had, been placed on the publication of Customs returns at the various ports. Replying to Mr Witty, Hon. Noswortny said he would enquire • into the feasibility of taking: a oonsus of the potatoes now in the i)ominion. Mr Reed (Bay of Islands), asked the Minister for Public Works whether it. was correct that a railway commission had been - set up to ascertain the best route for the North : Auckland Main Trunk iine north of Tio K and if so, at wljose request it was set upP—• Hon. Coates replied that. the... commission had been, set up' - at the request of the Department; It was a Departmental'affair. The officials' of' the Department desired a cofnmission' to decide upon the best route- from Tio northwards towards objectives which appeared to be , the harbours bf Wharerua, and Kaitaia. The commission had also been advise on the question of route to link up the Kaihu section with the North Auckland- Main Trunk, thofigh this did not necessarily mean'that this work would be gone , on with. Replying to Mr Wilford, Mr Massey outlined the business which was likely to be taken this session. The House would probably be asked to consider some eighteen' Bills yet, most of them /not contentious, arid he saw no reason why the session should not close on Saturday if members wished. Replying to Mr Bitchener, Hon. Guthrie said the original negotiations for the purchase of the Hakataramea estate had broken down, but in conse quence of further representations made to him, they had been reopened, and were now in progress. Replying to Mr McLeod-, Mr Massey said ne had received a cable from,the High Commissioner a few. days ago to the effect that the London market was practically 'bare of New Zealand/mutton. Replying tp Dr Newman, Mr Massey said the question of taxing motor ears would be dealt with in a Bill that was to come ' down dealing with majn roads. Replying to Dr Thacker, the Defence Minister said that’ in view of the epidemic of shooting now going on in the Dominion, something .would be done to bring, the Arms Act, just passed, into operation at ah date Ahan had been' contemplated.Amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Workers’ Compensation and Mining Amendment Bills were agreed to. A Washing-Up' Bill was introduced by Governor-General’s message, read a second time pro forma, and referred to the committee, The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill (No. 2) was also introduced by GovernorGeneral’s message. - _ / Sir W. H. Herries said the Bill was mainly small amendments, but there was an attempt to points raised in connection with Dominion awards.. Hb proposed to have the Bill read a second time pro forma #nd referred to the Labour Bills Committee to-morrow morning. This was agreed to; MARRIAGE' AMENDMENT. , Mr Massey suggested that the interrupted debate on the Marriage Amendment Bill be, taken, but as it could:

not he’ done except by the unanimous consent of the House, and as the Labour Party objected, it could(not be done. 1 I The House then agreed to amendments'made .by the Legislative Council in the Animal Protection Amendment Bill. DISTRICT RAILWAY. AMENDMENT Hen. Coates moved'the second reading of the District Railway Amendment Bill, which .permitted the construction 6f railway lines of less width j than three feet six inches. There was doubt about what the guage - should be, so that would be left to be determined by the amount of . money available.,, Personally, he thought the twofeet guage will be perfectly satisfactory in New Zealand, for these lines were not intended much more th"'< trfimwevs. ’ ' Hon. Coates, in reply to a question, sa.vi oy u ay' of example that the re- ( lative difference in cost in the construction of a, Tight Hue as against the standard guage over a distance of 36 miles between Hamilton and Raglan was £IOO,OOO. This difference made it possible for settlers to construct such a line, whereas they could not construct a line of standard guage. A conference would be held during the recess at which the whole question of guage would be gone into. The Bill was read a second time. O. AND G.'-DISEASES. The ■ Orchard and Garden Diseases Amendment Bill was read a second time on the voices on, the motion of the Hon. jNosworthy..: v STONE QUARRIES. Mr Massey mqVed the s second reading of the Stone'; Quarries Amendment Bill, which he - said was purely a Departmental Biir, and was intended v to make the working of quarries more safe. • ' !-, .■• The Bill was read a' second time. The House then went into comniji*,tee on the District Railways Amendment'Bill, Orchard and . Garden Diseases Amendment Bills, which were subsequently read a third time- and passed. The Local Railways Amendment Bill was on the motion of the Hon. Coates put through all stages. An amendment moved by Mr Hockly enabling local railway boards to assume expenses in connection with the getting up of boards, was adopted. The House rose at 12.38 till 2.30 to-morrow.