THE SESSION.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18802, 21 September 1926, Page 10

THE SESSION.

"HASTY LEGISLATION." MINISTER DEFENDS GOVERNMENT, (?FECIAI, TO IBZ F3ESS.) TIM AIR", September 20. Speaking to a representative of The Fees? on h\s return to Timaru from Parliament, the. Hon. iir Eolleston, Attorney-General, ActingMinister for Railways, and Minister for Defend, stated that the Christchurcb Pkt,ss which us chief amongst the newspapers in its criticism of work done during the session, has complained because "subjects of first-rate importance, such as the liquor laws and the Gaming BUI, did not come before the House earlier in the session."

"Admitting the importance of the licensing question," Mr Eolleston continued, "the chief issue iu which is the form of ballot paper to be used at the election in 1928, it cannot be said that anv great harm was done in postponing the consideration of that measure until the session of 1027. As to the Gaming Bill, this came down to tho House from the Legislative Council six weeks before the end of the session, and it was a private members' Bill, and in no senso a Government measure. In any event, I think that few people, no matter what their views on the subject may be, will agree that the publication of totahsator dividends and the telegraphing of money to the totalisator, make a subject of first-rate importance, which should have taken precedence of important Government measures in a session which was necessarily a short one.

Legislating in Haste. "Again, the same newspaper in endeavouring to establish a charge of wild haste by a weary and reckless House 111 regard to tho Motor Traffic Bill, said that this Bill had been prepared and printed so hastily that it has been numbered by hand with a pen, and omits (he naino of -the Minister in charge of it. I can only say of this criticism that it shows an astonishing ignorance of ParH.tnient.nrv procedure. This Bill, in common with about 80 per cent, of Government RilK wns introduced by Governor-General's Message, and I think I can say that m the, history of Parliament no l>m introduced in that way ever has had a Minister's name on it. ( In theory the Bill comes from tho Gov-ernor-Goneral, and is not in charge ot a. Minister until it has been read a lirst time. As to being numbered by hand. if this refers to the numbers of the clauses, it is incorrect, as these numbers were printed in the usual way. When the Bill is introduced there is no other number on it, but after its first reading it. necessarily obtains a Departmental numbei for reference purposes,. and it I is difficult to see how this number can Jho put on except by hand. So much for this instance of 'wild haste.

The Harris Charges. "It was in connexion with this Bill," Mr Rolleston remarked, "that Mr Harris made charges against ment of having acted in an improper manner in order to help one of its friends, in regard to the district_ of Takapuna. These charges were given wide publicity, but a complete answer to them was given by Mr Fraser, one of the prominent Labour members, and a very strong political opponent of the Government. Mr Frnser was a member of the Committee which heard the evidence in the Takapuna case and ho got up in his place, and stated that after having hoard all the evidence before the Select Committee, be was satisfied tnnt there was not the slightest for Mr Harris's charges, and that tho Government had acted fairly and properly throughout.

Family Allowances Bill. -The Family Allowances Bill, against whichmost criticism has been directed, was put in the forefront ot the Government? programme at tie election and the investigation into the scheme prior to the legislation being occupied much time and though . As sistance to wage-earners withJarge families has been very much to fore as a social problem. It was! suggested as worthy of. adoption by the Coal Mining Commission, which recently sat. fn England, and has actually been adopted >£., f° m ° 1 * entajI countries. The Bill «s » no sense rushed through the House Two whole days were given tor its consideration, and there was not a ample vo ce raised against it. Though the sum of 2s a week may seem Si, it must bo "membered that it is paid in respect of each child above the second, and the estimated annual cost to the country is about £250,000 Further, the original pension paid to a widow ana one child was 5s a week, i.e., 2s 6d a week for each.

Workers' Compensation,

"Another measure of great social importance," Mr RoUeston stated » the Workers Compensation Bill,, wliicu has raised the benefits to injured workers from 58 per cent, of their average weekly earnings to 06 --3 per cent and has increased the total amount of compensation and funeral allowance now payable, amounting to £BOO, to £IOOO. This gives a considerable advance in the benefits, and will be carried into effect without increasing tho premiums payable by empl°yeCS - Rural Credits. "The question of rural credit came before the House when the Commission's report was presented. This report did not come down until a late period in the session,- but it was referred to and carefully considered by a Select Committee with the result that, the Rural Advances Act was passed into law, the main feature of whicii is to ! ompower tho State Advances Office to raise more capital fo r advancing loans to farmers on the long-term mortgage principle, i.e. for a period of 315 vears with a nalr.vearlv sinking fund payment, and at the lowest possible rate of interest. Tho maximum amount which mav be advanced under the Rural Advances Act is £5500. the existing maximum under tho state Advances Act being £3500. The Bank of >ew Zealand scheme for providing tor similar long-term mortgages at a used rate of interest of sis per cent., plus one per cent, sinking fund, also received legislative approval.''

Town Planning. ■Regarding the Town Planning Bill, llr Rolteston said it was a measure which had been the subject of discussion m Parliament for the last fifteen or twentv vears, and which various Municipal Conferences had frequently urged the Government to pass into law, yet- when the Bill actually came down, there were the usual protestsagainst hurried legislation and requests for postponement, "One effect of the Bill, he said, "will be that in future a population will not be allowed to settle itself haphazard without regard to health conditions, and another effect will be to eliminate slums in the larger towns and to prevent tie creation of slum areas in future. Anj other important provision of the Bill ! is contained in the betterment clauses, which provide that a local authority shall be entitled to cjaim a betterment half of the increase in value of any bnd attributable to a town planning

scheme. This clause, if it does nothing else will be an effective check on.land speculation in urban areas, rhose who vrced the postponement ot the BUi were really ureing that the .present ur desirable condition of slums in large cities should continue for another year. This Bill in no way limits the powers of local authorities, but rather increases thorn, and it is much to be regretted that such a measure was not in force some fifteen or twenty years ago.

local Bodies' Loans Board. '•I think it will he found that when tho Local Government Loans Board Bill is in working order, ratepayers who aro called upon lo vote on the questions of a loan will find considerable assistance in the knowledge that their loan has beeu approved by the best engineering and financial advice available, and further than that, tho money for the loan should be more readily available, and possibly at a cheaper rate of interest. Experience shows that at the present time the number of ratepayers who record their votes is a very small percentage of the whole. On some loans involving over £500,000 less than 20 per cent, of tho ratepayers have voted; consequently some further check is required, and in setting up a Board the Government has followed the principle which has been in force in England [ for many years."

Other BilJLs. Mr Kollestou proceeded to say that amongst the other Bills which wero passed were several in which he was personally interested, viz.: (a) The Destitute Persons Amendment Act, which makes provision for the better collection of moneys duo under maintenance orders. (b) The Justices of the Peace Amend-, ment Act, which empowers the appointment of women as Justices of the Peace and makes possible the service of summonses by registered post, thus saving much expense in mileage (c) The Guardianship of Infants Act, which given the mother an equal right with the father to the guardianship of children. (d) The Lights on Vehicles Amendment Bill, which makes it necessary for every cyclist to carry a red reflector at the rear of his cycle. (e) The Tolico Offences Act, which makes some offences which were formerly punished only if committed "by night" now punishable if committed "by day." This Act also contains a clause designed to prevent the commission of thefts by pickpockets or by idle and disorderly persons. "It is obviouslv impossible to please everybody,'' the Minister said. '' When time is spent in Parliament by uuproparednoss on the part of a Ministor, or by unnecessary talk, there are loud com- ' plaints that we are wasting valuable time. When Bills are ready for discussion and no time is wasted, then we are accused j of wild haste and rush legislation. The public, to whom w« aro responsibls, will have the opportunity of judging for themselves, but I venture the hope that the first session of the Coates Government has amply justified the confidence which the electors placed in the leader at the last General Election. "it is manv years since a Parlii ment passed so much'important legislation in ■ a single session. All the measures above referred to were cardinal features of the Government policy, as put to the electors. The real truth is that Parliament settled itself down to real, solid work right from the beginning. There was ample time given for the discussion of every measure and no attempt whatever was made to force any Bill through against the wish of the House. If the critics will name any specific measure which they allege was hastily prepared or rushed through the House, I am prepared to meet that criticism by stating • the facts in regard to that measure."