PARLIAMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 9877, 26 July 1923, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

THE DAY’S WORK.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 26,

la the Legislative Council the second reading of the Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill was moved by the Hon. T. W. Hislop, who advocated the removal of the disability •which at present rested on women. In support of his contention that the Council should pass the 'Bill he said that it twice had been passed by the representative chamber. The Hon. O. Samuel said he would reluctantly support the Bill on account of what had occurred in the representative chamber. The Hon. M. Cohen claimed that the Bill was desired by the Women of New Zealand, as women’s organisations had asked for it. Several members declared that the domestic women of the country were not seeking the right the Bill would give. One argument against the Bill was that women should not be put in the position of having to listen to the repetition of objectionable language in the repulsive atmosphere of a police court. The debate was adjourned on the motion of the Hon. J. T. Patuki, and at 5 p.m. the Council rose till 2.30 tomorrow.

HOUSE OF REPRESENT ATI VS.

Ministers gave the following amongst other answer’s to questions asked by members:—

That negotiations for a reduction in overseas freights on dairy produce are in progress at the present time, and any assistance -Ministers can give toward bringing about a favourable decision will be given with pleasure. That a short Land Bill, containing minor amendments, will be introduced, but it is not proposed this session to further extend the existing provisions relating to the acquisition of the freehold of national endowment lands. That the Government is satisfied that section 21 of the Main Highways Act places a statutory duty upon the board to allocate the tyre tax and motor vehicle annual license fees as between the .North and South Islands on the basis of the number of vehicles in use hi both islands. To enable thus to be done it would be necessary to have all motor vehicles registered annually in order that the number of such veincles in each island may be definitely j determined each year. That the Public Service Commissioner advised -.only .temporary filling the sit ion of Secretary of Marine, bole re- ard had been the efficient and economic-*! management of the department of the public service. The Commissioner further advised that he would appreciate an appeal from any officer or groups of officers who consider their j interests are being prejudiced by the ! present arrangement, j That the method proposed to be j adopted by The Customs Department j in assessing the value of and in deter- ! mining special duties which should be j imposed on German and Austiian j goods -was set out .in a Gazette notafi- ! cation published on May 31 last, j That it is usual to .consult the racing I and trotting conferences in respect to j the issue of .totalisator licenses, .and speaking generally the recommendations of both conferences are usually approved by the Minister of Internal J Affairs. The final decision, however, \ as to the disposal of .totalisator licenI ses rests with the Minister. ! That .in making up Main Trunk mail | trains .the general rule is for secondj class cars to be placed towards the | front of the train and first-class cars I and sleeping cars to constitute the rear ! portion. It is not at all certain that ! any departure .from .this arrangement ‘ would .have the effect of more .fairly i dividing, risk between the two classes • than is "now the case. In this connection it will be noted that the postal 1 ear on .the train which was involved in the recent accident near Ongarue was practically undamaged, although it was in front of the second-class cars. tit i That particularly .good work had. been accomplished in the reduction of : the expenditure of public money in j New Zealand, and already .other countries in the Empire are calling attention to the success of the Dominion administration .and suggesting that its example might be followed with ad vantage by other dominions. | That the extent to which railway rates can be.altered must, of course, be ! governed by the state of the railway and other finances, and it is hoped that a final decision .will be arrived at shortly as to the extent to which re- : ductions can be made on existing I That the Main Highways Act was ! passed to enable main roads to be kept 1 in better order, and until such time as it is ascertained how this organisation I will function the Government does not : intend to consider any increase m the subsidy to county -councils. . I That in the event of the Gaming Act ! being amended consideration will be ! e iven to the question of amending the ! regulations to permit of the opening ! of telegraph offices at racecourses and j transmission of telegrams thereto " That it is considered neithei ! able nor desirable That Post Office ! Savings Bank depositors should he permitted to issue cheques. The House adjourned at 5-30 P-*-

Rent Restriction

The House went into committee on the Rent Restriction Continuance Bl jfr Fraser said he hoped 'that, stead of this being a Bill be renewed every year, it should uc come permanent, to be repealed snecial Act when that was possible. He had been going into the question of housing in the main cities, and as a result he came to the conclusion that this legislation was more necessary today than was the case in 1.H6, vlu . it 'first was enacted. In reply, the Minister said that this was really war legislation, and should be got rid of at the earliest possible moment. He intended having a coni- ! pi etc investigation of the bousing position made during the recess, but lie ■had great faith in the new scheme i which the Government now was seek- | in,g to pass into law. After next yeai i he hoped to be able to dispense with i this class of legislation, as he was in- ' formed. that the only cities in which it ; was required to-day were Auckland and Wellington. , j ]vlr Wilford urged that the hoard which will advance money for housing ghtmld, contain at least one builder and

an architect to advise upon practical and technical questions connected with housing. Mr Massey said that where skilled opinion was required the arrangement [was that officers of the Public Works Department could give their services.

Members continued to discuss all phases of the housing problem until 1.15 p.m., when the short title of the Bill was passed. At Clause 2, Mr Fraser suggested that the Minister should delete certain words, the effect of which would he to make the legislation permanent. The Minister did not accept the suggestion, hut gave a definite assurance that the legislation would be continued so long as it was necessary.

The Bill passed the committee stage without amendment. Immigration.

The House then went into committee on the Immigration Restriction Act Amendment Bill. Mr Holland asked the to make the measure apply to all British subjects so fail as the oath of allegiance was concerned. To this the Minister aerreed, and the Bill was amended accordingly. The Bill then passed. Passed Through Committee.

The Insurance Companies Deposit Act Amendment Bill and Industrial and Provident Societies Act Amendment Bill also passed unamended. The Noxious Weeds Act Amendment Bill was committed and provoked a spirited discussion. At 12.45 a.m. the committee reached clause two on which a division was called for. the clause being retained by |3l to 15. _ „ , . The remainder of the Bill passed without alteration. All the Bills reported as unamended were road a third time and passed. The House rose at 1 a.m. till 2.30 to-morow.