POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21399, 15 February 1935, Page 10

POLITICAL NOTES

—_♦ — [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, February 14. Second Day 04 Session The second day of the special session saw the Government's legislative programme well under way. The Companies (Bondholders Incorporation) Bill, designed for the protection of bondholders in a number of timber, citrus fruits, flax, and tung oil companies, and introduced to the House of Representatives yesterday, passed through all its stages to-day and was read a third time early in the evening. The bill met with no opposition; but some members had criticism to offer of minor machinery clauses. One of the main objections made was that the proceedings of the commission to be set up under the bill were to be in private; but the Minister for Finance explained that secrecy would be more than desirable in the majority of circumstances. The Minister was asked by Mr A. Harris (C, Waitemata) if the Government intended to bring down further legislation this session giving effect to other recommendations of the Company Promotion Commission, on whose report the present bill was based; and he stated in reply that nothing more could be achieved before next session at least. The commission's recommendations would no doubt be the subject of further legislation; but a complete survey of the possibilities in this direction had not yet been uridertaken. The bill was read a third time at 8.30 p.m.

Mortgage Corporation The House then proceeded to the second reading debate on the Mortgage Corporation of New Zealand Bill, which is regarded generally as one of the two outstanding" measures of the session. .Mr Coates spoke two hours in the opening debate, making one of his main points the emphasis of the predominant importance of the primary industries to the prosperity of the Dominion. The farmer, he said, must be assisted to reduce his costs and to retain and expand his overseas market; and the Mortgage Corporation would supply the necessary financial facilities to many who were unable to obtain working capital on a satisfactory basis. Mr Coates made an explanation of the intention and structure of the bill, concluding his speech at the time of the adjournment by expressing his belief that the moment was opportune for the establishment of the corporation. The leader of the Opposition (Mr M. J. Savage) will speak when the House meets to-morrow morning. Hot Air in Parliament A subject for frequent jesting is causing serious concern during the present period of sultry weather in Wellington. As Parliament normally opens in June and rises about the end of October, the chief ventilation problem is usually to ensure that the air in the chamber is comfortably warmed. The heating system has not always been satisfactory and is admitted to be obsolete, taking into account the progress in ventilating and heating methods since Parliament Buildings were built more than 20 years ago. Some members seeking to evade draughts in the winter months have blocked the ventilating grids with blotting paper. But when the House meets in the summer, as has been the case several times recently, members have been equally anxious to ensure that enough cool air enters the stuffy chamber.

Passed Over Ice To forestall complaiiltS of that nature, special measures were taken just before the session was resumed this week. The air, which is drawn from outside near the boiler room in the basement, is naturally hot; but the experiment is being made of passing it over ice before it is whirled three storeys upwards by a large fan. Two other fans in the roof of the chamber ensure that a cooling cross current is set up, while the vitiated air is drawn off by an extractor. The temperature outside yesterday was 83 degrees, and possibly it would have exceeded that figure inside the chamber but for the ice experiment, which reduced the inside temperature to 73 degrees. To-day was slightly cooler, so the difficulty of "cooling down" the chamber was not so great. However, the ice man will continue to call daily with a hundredweight block until the sultry weather passes. Local Body Loans Mr W. J. Poison (C, Stratford) gave notice to ask the Minister for Finance whether he would bring down some amendment in the local body loan concession legislation providing for permissive clause in the act to enable local authorities to make adjustments in such cases as, for example, ridings with no special rates, which would be mulcted for extra rates if consolidation of a debt for conversion occurred.

Local Bill Rejected A Labour member's attempt to introduce a local bill during the present special session of Parliament was frustrated in the House of Representatives to-day, after the Prime Minister had explained that the session was primarily intended for important and special legislation. Mr H. G. R. Mason (Lab., Auckland Suburbs) moved that the standing orders should be suspended to enable the Auckland Electric Power Board Amendment Bill, which sought to widen the franchise from ratepayers to an ordinary municipal basis, to proceed; and Mr Forbes opposed the motion on the grounds that it was unreasonable to bring a bill forward so late. The Minister for Finance (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) agreed with the Prime Minister, and suggested that the local body concerned should first be consulted. A division resulted in the motion being defeated by 43 votes to 28. "The attitude of the Prime Minister is. remarkable," declared the leader of the Opposition (Mr M. J. Savage). "He is willing to sacrifice every principle at the dictation of Tory interests. On a pure technicality because the Government is not ready with its business, it makes a party matter of a bill." Mr Coates assured Mr Savage that the Government was quite ready with its work. Reform Party Whip . Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton) has been elected Reform party whip in [succession to Mr J. A. N,gsn (Palia-

erston), who wag yesterdav appointed Chairman of Committees of' the House of Representatives. Subsidised Shipping The reported inability of New Zealand ships to compete against subsidised foreign ships trading he- s tween New Zealand and Australia .|| was mentioned by Mr W. J. Jordan 1 (Lab., Manukau) in a question to ■§ the Minister for Marine (the Hon. i J. G. Cobbe) in the House of Re- 1| preventatives to-day. Mr Jordan f| asked the Minister whether he 1 would introduce legislation or take 1 other steps prohibiting foreien sub- I sidised shipping from carrying pas- | jsengers and goods to and from New | Zealand ports and the ports of other | British countries. | Mr Cobbe replied that representa- | tions had been made to the Govern- | ment of the position in which British J shipping in Australia and New Zea- I land had been placed by the com- I petition of foreign subsidised ship- | ping. Conferences had taken place | between the governments con- f| cerned. These were still proceedings. || and until finality had been reached I it was not possible to indicate the I extent of any action that might be | taken. ' " •' | •i School Hostels :■■■.,j| "Because of the limited funds | available for the erection of school \M buildings *and additions, it is not I possible to set aside funds for in- 'M creasing hostel accommodation,* 1 said the Minister for Education (the § Hon. S. G. Smith) in the House of ;-§ Representatives to-day, in replying : i to a question by Mr A. S. Richards f| (Lab., Roskill), who sought a grant fl of £BOO for dormitorv additions and || alterations to the Mount Albert Grammar School. The Minister said t || that at many secondary schools the ':g| hostel accommodation was very ;-|| much in excess of requirements, and Ji for that reason the Government had ,g hesitated to provide for further ex- | penditure in that direction. Appl*- "I cations for actual classroom accom- | modation must be given preference. J