PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 71, 22 September 1915, Page 11

PARLIAMENT

A GOOD NIGHT'S WORK SEVERAL BILLS PASSED The House of Representatives last evening dealt in Committee with the small Government Bills which the previous night had passed their second reading. The Fruit Preserving Industry Amendj ment Bill, empowering the Government to advance sums of money in the case of certain Nelson lands, on approved leasehold security, to assist the fruit industry, passed through Committee, and was read a third time. The Savings Bank Amendment Bill, which proposes to enable private savings banks to pay withdrawals, provisionally on probate being granted, to the extent of £100 instead of £20, passed through Committee unaltered, and was read a third time. The Swamp Drainage Bill went through Committee without consequential amendment, and was read a third time NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND. The National Provident Fund Amendment Bill, which makes a technical amendment to the main Act. evoked some discussion in Committee. Mr. A. Harris moved a new clause that no person shall be paid any commission for enrolling new members unless permanently in the employ of the National Provident Fund. He was against the present practice of paying commission to postmasters and others for each new member enrolled In this way there was unfair competition with the friendly societies. Mr. G. J Anderson thought Mr. Harris was a "bit previous" in this proposal. He yielded to none in his admiration of the friendly societies, of which he was a member, but he did not agree with any attempt to injure the Provident Fund He suggested instead that the Minister should meet delegates from the societies, and see what could be done to help them overcome the menace about which they complain in the competition of the Provident Fund The Minister (the Hon. A. M. Myers) said that there was no army of canvassers employed by the Provident Fund. The Fund reached many people who- were not members of friendly cieties»Mr R. Fletcher said that all that the friendly societies desired was to be placed on the same footing, as far as assistance was concerned, as the National Provident Fund, and he thought this would be a fair thing to do. Mr Parr suggested it would be in the interests of the societies if Mr. Harris withdrew his amendment. Mr. Harris contended that where there was unfair competition it was the duty of the Government to get rid of it. The Prime Minister expressed himself as sympathetic with the friendly societies He understood a suggestion had been made that a conference should be held between the representatives of the friendly societies and the Government Fund, and as Prime Minister he was quite prepared to recommend that such a conference be held. The amendment was lost on the voices. The Bill was put through Committee without amendment. WAR FUNDS BILL. The War Funds Bill, providing for the administration and control of moneys raised wholly or in part by private subsmption for purposes of or incidental to the present war, was aleo discussed in Committee and reported, with certain machinery amendments moved by tne Hon. A. L. Herdman, the Minister in charge of the Bill. THIRD READINGS. On the third reading of the National Provident Fund Amendment Bill, Mr. M'Combs protested against several of the clauses of the 1914 Act as being unfair to th© employees of local bodies who had to contribute to the fund Mr W. A. Veitch said that the 1914 Act was one of |the most incomplete ever put on the Statute Book. It was fall of weaknesses and anomalies,' and the Minister ought not to bring that part of it relating to local bodies' superannuation into force until it could be recast. The Bill was read a third time and passed. The War Funds BUI was read a third time without discussion and passed LOCAL RAILWAYS BILL.' The Hon. W.- Fraeer moved the second reading of the Local Railways Amendment Bill. The Minister explained that the Bill .proposed to give power to a local body, desiring to extend a local railway, to connect with the Government railway, and to do so beyond the limits of the rating district if necessary. ' In reply to Mr. G. Witty, the Minister said there was no intention to extend the rating powers against the will of the people. The Bill made itclearthat people outside the^ rating district could not be compulsorily rated, although th© line might be extended through the locality in which they resided, in order to be linked up with the Government line. Mr. W. H. Field supported the measure, stating that it would be very beneficial in the facility it gave to the Manawatu coanty to link up the Sandon tramway with the Government line at Greatford, or elsewhere, as may be thought suitable. The Bill was read a second time. MILITARY MANOEUVRES. In moving the second reading of the Military Manoeuvres Bill, the Minister for Defence explained that the Bill, in accordance with the British Act, proposed to give power for military manoeuvres to be held over properties, and that compensation should bo paid for any damage done. He intended to move that the Bill be sent to the Lands Committee. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Lands Committee. The Minister said it had already been sent to the Secret Defence Committee. DISCHARGED SOLDIERS. The Discharged Soldiers Settlement Bill, to make provision for discharged soldiers on ..Crown and settlement land, was introduced by Governor's Message and read a first time. The Hons© adjourned at 11 p.m.