PARLIAMENT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 4 September 1930, Page 16

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S SITTINGS. house of representatives.(AEUII/GED I'BESS ASSOCIATION BBPO*T.) WELLINGTON, September 3. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr W. E. Bax*nard (Lab., .Napier; gave uotice of intention to introduce the Companies Amendment Bill. The Patea Borough Empowering Bill was reported from the Local Bills Committee, with amendments. The following Bills were reported from the Statutes Revision Committee with amendments: Judicature Amendment, New Zealand University Amendment, and Law Practitioners Amendni<The Committee reported that Mr H. G. R. Mason (Lab., Auckland Suburbs) was desirous of withdrawing his Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill, and permission was given for this course to bo adopted. Mr Mason explained that ttie Bill had been designed to provide for the liability of shipowners with respect to loss of life and accidents at sea. This was a subject that would come before the Imperial Conference this year and as the Conference was actually on the point of meeting it would be desirable to hold the matter over in the meanlime. It would be preferable, if legislation could be promoted covering the whole of the British Empire, and he hoped this "would be achieved at the Conference.

Dominion Museum. j The .National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum Bill was introduced by Governor-General's message. _ Replying to the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates* Mr Ransom said the Bill provided for the incorporation of a Board to establish, maintain, and control the National Art Gallery, Dominion Museum, War Memorial Carillon, and Hall of Memories. In addition to vesting in the Board the land promised as a 'site for the buildings at Mt. Cook, Wellington, there was provision lor a suhsidv of £IOO.OOO for the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum and a subsidy of £15,000 for the carillon. There was no provision for a, contribution towards the maintenance costs of the buildings because the need for • such a contribution would not arise this year. As the Government already contributed towards the maintenance costs of the existing museum, he anticipated -it would contribute in this respect to the costs of the new building. The subsidy towards the cost of erection of a carillon would be paid this year, as he expected the building would commence almost immediately. The subsidy for the other buildups would not be paid before the end of March. Members pointed out that the demolition of the old barracks at Alt. Cook, and the erection of the new buildings would provide a wod deal or employment, and they urged work should be undertaken as soon as P °Mr bl Eansom said if it were desirable that this work should be undertaken before March it would be P oßß^ 1 ® ™ ido so, because the Board would haw in hand £IOO,OOO, contributed bv the | public. The Government's subsidy or '£loo,ooo would not be available y W. r j. Poison (Ind., Stratford) entered a protest agau ithe Government expending m°ney on '•the museum at a time like the P r ' B6 Mr P. Fraser (Lab. Wellington .Central) declared the . Governjmenfc was simply putting operation a promise of long standing. [He pointed out that the project was la national one. , „ rr„™rW<i Mr H. M. Campbell (R., Hawke s (Bav> said he considered the sch ®"® could have waited another year or two in view of the present stringent finan- ; cial position. If money should to spent to provide work for unemployed it should be spent on developmental work in the country. The Bill was read a first time. Replying to Mr Coates. Mr Ransom -said he would be prepared to enable ia full discussion to be J/"® session on the soldiers' rehabilitation • report. .

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (TBJSSS ABBOCIITIOH TBLEGBAM.) WELLINGTON. September 3. The Legislative 'Council met at 2.30 p.m. The McLean Institute Rill and the Otago Presbyterian Church Board of Property Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. The Charterers' Association (Protection of Names and Uniforms) Bill was read a second time. The Magistrate's Courts Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred: to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Council: adjourned at 2,50 p.m. until 8.30 p.m. to-morrow.