PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 246, 17 October 1929, Page 26

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

USEFUL DAY IN HOUSE. NINETEEN , LOCAL. BILLS. AUCKLAND MEMBERS' DISCUSSION. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Time was well - spent in the House of Representatives yesterday, when 19 local bills were put through all stages and passed. They included the Auckland Electric Power Board Amendment Bill, Auckland and Suburban Drainage Amendment Bill, and Auckland City Sinking Funds and Empowering Bill. The first-mentioned bill was amended in committee to Aviden the franchise at elections. A full report is published iu another column. The House rose at 10.40 p.m. Bank Rate on Assessments. When the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Amendment Bill was in committee, Mr. G. C. Munns (Roskill) moved an amendment which would have had the effect of allowing contributing local bodies 90 daye, instead of 30 days, in which to pay their assessments. He explained that this would give local bodies time to prepare tteir estimates, get their rate notices delivered, and collect the amounts due before having to meet the Drainage Board's demands. Mr. M. J. Ss.vagc, as tho member in charge of the bill, pointed out that 30 days had been the law since 1908. The only provision made by this new clause, which Mr. Munne sought to amend, was that the board be empowered to charge the bank rate on overdue amounts, instead i of only the statutory rate of 6 per cent. If local bodies were given 90 days in which to pay who would foot the bill in tho meantime? Mr. Munns' amendment was lost on the voices, and the bill passed without amendment. Point Chevalier Beach. The question of preserving Point Cheva'lier beach was discussed when the ■Auckland City Sinking Funds and Empowering BUI was in committee. Mr. Savage, in reply to Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Auckland Suburbs), stated that the Auckland Harbour Board had aeked for clause 6, and the City Council had agreed to it. This provided that the plans for any building on the foreshore at Point Chevalier must be approved by the Harbour Board. Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Grey Lynn) stated that he would like to see clause 6 struck out. There was no possibility of shipping being interfered with by the constn°ction cf baths on the foreshore. He moved that the clause be deleted.Tho Hon. A. J. Staliworthy (Eden) urged the committee to retain the clause. Its main purpose was to prevent unsuitable buildings being placed on a very popular beach, and there was nothing unreasonable in providing that the two principal local bodies should be able to agree on anything which was done at t.liftf, nlace.

Mr. Fletcher did not press his motion, and tfie bill was reported from committee without amendment. Proposed Industrial Conference. The legislation exempting the farming industry from the operation of new awards under the Arbitration Act expired last August, and questions have been put to the Prime Minister by Mr. W. J. Poison (Stratford) to ascertain if the Government will call another industrial conference, with a view to settling this question by mutual agreement. The Hon, T. M. Wilford stated in the House to-day that he hod discussed the question with the Prime Minister, whoso reply was, "I. cannot give a committal to-tlay, but I am considering the qiiestio iiof another conference, with a view of settling the matter by mutual agreement." : Arbitration to Continue. There was a ripple of laughter in the House to-day when Mi\ P. Fraser (Wellington Central) drew from the Minister of Labour, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, the statement that it was not proposed to interfere with the arbitration system by legislation or in any other way. Mr. Fraser had askeel whether the Minister of Labour proposed to table the report of Mr. Justice Frazer on the system of industrial concitiation and arbitration in Australia, and whether in view of the prominence of the question in Australia and New Zealand, and the overwhelming decision of the people of Australia concerning- the matter, the House would be given an opportunity of

discussing Mr. Justice Frazer's report. In reply, Mr. Veitch stated that he was not in a position to give a promise that the House would be given the opportunity to discuss the arbitration system this session. That matter was entirely in the hands of the Leader of the House. He was sorry that by reason of pressure on arbitration business on the ono hand and of his, own work on the other ho had been prevented from discussing with Mr. Justice Frazer his Australian experiences. So far the report had not reached him, but he was in a position to say thai it was not proposed to interfere with the arbitration system by legislation or in any other way. Wool Levy Legislation. The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, announced in the House to-day, in reply to Mr. W. J. Poison (Stratford) that the Government will comply with the request of the New Zealand Sheepowners , Federation and introduce this session legislation providing for a levy on wool. The bill, he explained, is being drafted by the Crown Law Draughtsman. The Ministerial explanation shows that the Prime Minister is carrying out his promise to sheepowners that legislation would be passed enabling them to impose an export levy 021 wool for the purpose of co-operating with the wool growers of other parts of the Empire in a wool advertising and research campaign. The levy will not be imposed unless approved by a ballot of those concerned. \