COMING SESSION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 219, 15 September 1932, Page 11

COMING SESSION.

LEGISLATION ON STOCKS

UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM.

SCHOOL AGE AND TEXT BOOKS

LAND VALUATION QUESTIONS.

(ii.) There is a distinct possibility that an amendment to the Unemployment Act will be submitted. Although the legislation has been on the Statute Book for only two years, it has received such a chopping about that a consolidation, even at this early stage, would be not only desirable, but essential to effective administration. Notwithstanding the absence from New Zealand of the Minister in Charge, a consolidating as well as an amending measure could have been prepared. As it is, in the light of anomalies that have been revealed in the course of the administration of the past few months, some amendments are inevitable.

Unemployment and its problems wil again be one of the live topics of th< session, and more than one opportunitj for discussion will occur. Zest to tin demand for a reduction in the amount emergency charge has been im parted by the Prime Minister's recent statement that a review will be made in certain eventualities. It should be remembered that legislation is not re quired to reduce the amount of the 1/ in the £ tax. The Act provides thai it can be reduced from time to time bj Order-in-Council if the Governor-Genera; is satisfied that the proceeds are more than sufficient to meet the requirements of the Unemployment Board. Membere are expected to press for detailed information concerning the exact state oi the Unemployment Fund, the revenue likely to be" received for the year, and the prospective expenditure for the remaining six months. There is no doubt that the annual report of the Unemployment Board will not remain unopened in members* lockers. Correcting Anomalies. It was inevitable that legislation would be required to adjust the anomalies which were bound to arise from the operation of some of the sections of the National Expenditure Adjustment Act of last session. One amendment has already been listed. This will declare that the word "chattels" as used in the Act does not include, and never did include, a life insurance policy. The amendment arises out of the interpretation placed on the section by certain insurance companies, who have treated life insurance policies as chattels and declined to reduce the rate of interest payable on loans secured on policies below GJ per cent, which is the net rate fixed for a mortgage of chattels. In the case of other mortgages the Act stipulated that the net rate payable should not be reduced below 5 per cent. The intentions' of the Government were that mortgages of life insurance policies should not be treated as chattels, but as mortgages under the Act. The higher minimum of chattel mortgages was intended to apply only to mortgages of such items as stock, furniture and other tangible articles. The School Age. An amendment will be made to the Finance Act of last session authorising education boards to admit children to primary schools at the conclusion of the term during which they reach' the age of six years, on the understanding that the children are not placed on the roll until they turn six. While the alteration will somewhat ease the position created by the raising of the permissive entrance ago last session, it falls short of the ideas of opponents of the original measure, and the issue is again likely to. be the subject of sharp differences on the floor of the House. Although there will be no legislative peg on which to hang discussion, spirited debate may be expected also on the textbook contract question. It has been intimated that Parliament will receive another petition on the matter. It is understood that representations have been made to the Government to further amend the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act to bring within the scope of its new scheme, the variation and renewal of agreements negotiated under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act. Whether the Government is prepared to allow the whole industrial question to be reopened, as would be the • case if amendments were presented a remains to be seen.

Members on all sides of the House will await with interest the result of the Government's review of the position of miners' windows' pensions. Such allowances are now restricted to a term of two years after the death of the husband, instead of for the period of widowhood, and those granted 18 months before the passage, of the legislation are to expire on September 30. The Ministerial undertaking given last session has been interpreted to mean that amending legislation will be placed before the House next month. Land Valuations. Local bodies will welcome the projected amendments to the Valuation of Land Act. The apparent disabilities of sections 45 and 50 are fully recognised by the Government, according to a recent pronouncement, and the clauses will be altered. The sections concerned refer to the rights of property holders who are dissatisfied with the value fixed by the Assessment Court to give notice to the Valuer-General to reduce the capital value or acquire the land, and to apply for new valuations. The operation of the sections is claimed by local bodies affected to have prejudicially influenced borough finances and at the same time penalised ratepayers who were conscious of their responsibilities. Under the present system, it is argued, a propertyholder can bring down the valuation to any figure he chooses, well knowing that the State will not exercise its option, to buy, and by this means the individual practically fixes his own valuation, to the detriment of value uniformity and the creation of unjust rating liability. Proposals advanced to remedy the position include one for the decisions of the Assessment Court to be final in those circumstances where rating, is on the unimproved value; another that the public should be given the same opportunity as the Government to buy the property at the valuation fixed by the owner. Although the nature of the amendments has not been disclosed, it has been indicated by the Prime Minister that the alterations will aim to place the position on a fair basis and afford local bodies a greater measure of protection than at present. There is another side to the story, and this will no doubt be ventilated during the progress of the amending legislation.

Property-holders and mortgagees in a substantial way view the mooted changes with considerable, alarm, contending that the sections are "all the mortgagee now has left." They argue that the offering of a property to the Crown at the owner's valuation is the owner's only remedy against fictitious values, and say that cancellation of that right may mean wholesale abandonments. They have, however, no objection to the boroughs being given the same right as the Crown to purchase at the owner's price. Other Measures. Other measures contemplated include legislation defining the constitution of the new Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board and putting into proper form the terms of the agreement reached at the recent conference. There will be the long overdue consolidation and amendment of the Companies Act, and a measure for the registration of poultry-keepers. Also on the stocks are an amendment to the Hospitals Act, and a measure concerning the practice of dentistry. There will be no legislation affecting wheat duties. It is possible that an attempt may be made to tighten up the law relating to the traffic in gold. A New Member. The newly-elected member for Southern Maori, Mr. E. K. Tirikatene (Ratana), will be sworn, in. Interest will attach to his attitude, since the Labour party expect to gain his vote on a want of confidence motion if one of its grounds covers pensions reductions. (Concluded.)