DYNAMITE?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 206, 30 August 1940, Page 6

DYNAMITE?

MR. HAMILTON'S FEAR. STATUTES AMENDMENT BILL WELLINGTON, this day. In moving the committal of the Statutes Amendment Bill in the House of yesterday, the Attorney-General, Mr. Mason, said it had been referred to various select committees and only minor amendments had been made. The bill was substantially the came a≤ when originally introduced. The measure contained, clauses of a miscellaneous character and, a≤ it would be difficult to describe the legislation in a few word.;, he thought the details could be explained in committee. Mr. Forbj3 (Opposition, Huninui) : Which are the sticky ones? The Minister said he had not noticed any clauses of the character suggested. Possibly a few of them would be questioned because they affected economic conditions. All the provisions were clear in their meaning. Clause IL illustrated the routine nature of some of the I clauses. It omitted the word "prior" from a section of the Haniner Grown Leases Act. It was a trivial alteration. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Hamilton, said he did not think the Minister was fair to the House in ask- ! ing it to accept the Bill without a fairly i extensive explanation. Each Minister concerned should explain the clauses dealing with his particular Departments. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. ! Parry: Wait until the clauses are reached. Mr. Hamilton: Some may not be trivial; they may have dynamite in them. 1 Thirty-Two Acta. The bill dealt with 32 subjects and they amounted to 32 little Acts in effect, Mr. Hamilton continued. Mr. Parry: An "all in" bill. Mr. Goosman (Opposition Waikato): There may be hidden points. Mr. Hamilton: Yes. Some traps. I think the House is in an extraordinary position. The order paper has nothing on it. We must have got near the end. Referring to the section dealing with coal mines, Mr. Hamilton suggested that restrictions in mines were being looeened by allowing an uncertificated man to run a winding engine. Mr. Parry: In hoisting? Mr. Hamilton: It does not mean on the level. "I -would like to hear the Minister of Lands give an explanation of the five clauses dealing with land." said Mr. Hamilton. He then referred to the mining section, saying that the seven clauses dealing with the subject were extensive enough for a separate bilL Drivers' Licenses. The motor vehicles section was criticised by Mr. Hamilton, who said it appeared that the Government was asking for more money. He wanted to know why a driver should have to undergo another driving test because he had not renewed his license within three months of its expiry. It was cuetomarv now for

local bodies to renew a license if the application was made within two years of the expiry date. Mr. Schramm (Government, Auckland East ■: The bill makes a oommonsenso pro\ n. TL. .iuviaiwiia dealing with the opening and closing h>urs of shops wer? also critieked by Mr. Hamilton. He said it appeared that the Government was endeavouring to bring about a compulsory universal half holiday. Was that intendeti? If he were right in his contention his view was that there should be a specific clause stating this. "The Minister of Transport is getting caught with his own legislation," said Mr. Hamilton, when referring to a clause giving the Minister of Transport authority to refer appeals back to licensing authorities. "The Minister wants to throw back the buck,"' he added. Under the original legislation the Minister had the power to determine appeals. Gilbert and Sullivan. Mr. Holland (Opposition, Christehurch North): Gilbert and Sullivan again. Mr. Hamilton said the Minister should stand up to his own legislation. If there was a change the appeals should go before a magistrate. The bill went a long way in respect to workers' compensation, said Mr. Hamilton. The Minister of Labour, Mr. Webb: We have followed the example of England. Mr. Hamilton said the Minister should be careful in what he copied. Undsr the clause a worker could obtain compensation even though he acted contrary to instructions and was injured in consequence. Prime Minister Explains. If the Minister in charge of the bill went into* an explanation of all of the clauses during the second reading the. debate would be interminable, the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, said. Where a full explanation was wanted it could be given in committee. Mr. Fraser added that he did not want the House to pa»s any cUuse that was not understood, but members would realise that there were some technical clauses where they had to rely on the explanation of legal experts. Mr. Broad foot (Opposition, Waitomo): A lot of difficulty would be overcome if an explanatory memorandum were attached to the bilL Mr. Frase-r: I quite agree. That is done with the Local "Washing-up'" Bill, and I think that in future we should have it for the Statutes Amendment Bill. The bill had cast a wider net than usual because of the brevity of the session, he said, in conclusion.—(Parliamentary Reporter.)