RESTORATION IN MASTERTON

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25250, 31 July 1947, Page 8

RESTORATION IN MASTERTON

PARLIAMENT

BILLS PROVIDING FOR SALE OF LIQUOR

TRUST IN ONE PART OF DISTRICT

•P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 30. Two bills giving effect to the decision of electors of the former Masterton no-licence district in carrying .iquor restoration were introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. They are the Masterton Licensing Restoration Bill, which provides for licences in that portion of the district which did not favour trust control, and the Masterton Licensing Trust Bill, which constitutes a trust with authority to establish hotels and sell intoxicating liquor in the portion of the district which voted for trust control, to a committee, which would give the people concerned the opportunity of explaining their - views. The Attorney-General (Mr H. G. R. Mason) said the’Masterton Restoration Bill dealt with toe Akitio and Eketabuna area, where licences would be issued in the ordinary way. The bill authorised the Pahiatua Licensing Committee to issue* licences in this part of the district. An Opposition member: How many? Mr Mason said there would be one licence for every 1000 electors. That differed from the general law which allowed one licence to 500 electors. That was perhaps suitable at one time but not so suitable now. Two Licences Mr Holland: How many licences will there be. then? Mr Mason said there would be two, one at Eketahuna and one at Pongaroa. The bill had been drafted after a good deal of discussion with the local people, who would also have ample opportunity to jnake representations cn the bills when they were sent to a special committee. Explaining the Masterton Licensing Trust Bill, Mr Mason said the main difference from the Invercargill Licensing Trust Act was that the Masterton trust was to be purely elective, except that the- Government had the right to appoint a member to the trust if money were borrowed, as doubtless the trust would need to do in the early stages. He had promised local residents that they would have opportunity of making representations on the bills. The number of licences was left to the discretion of the trust. Everything in the bill was provisional and he was quite willing to' be shown how any section could be improved upon.

MUSEUM CONTROL

BILL SETS UP TRUST BOARD (From Our Parliamentary Reporter., WELLINGTON, July 30. The transfer of control of the Canterbury Museum from the Canterbury University College Council to the Canterbury Museum Trust Board is provided for in a bill introduced by Mr; T. H. McCombs (Government, Lyttel-' ton) in the House of Representatives to-day. Control of the museum, which was originally vested* in the Canterbury University College Council by the Canterbury . Provincial Government in the Museum gnd Library Amendment Ordinance. 1873, will now, under the proposed legislation, pass to the Trust Board, which is to be constituted as follows: the Mayor and two members of the City Council, two representatives of suburban boroughs and counties, two representatives of rural local authorities in North and MidCan terbury, three representativ s of the Canterbury University College Council, two representatives of the Royal Society, two Representatives of the Association oi Friends of the Museum, one representative of the Canterbury pilgrims’ and Early Settlers’ Association, and the director. The income from endowments is to remain wit|i the board, and the bill also makes provision for financial contributions from local bodies in the museum area.

FINANCE BILL

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 30. When the Finance Bill was introduced in the House-of Representatives this evening, the Minister of Finance (Mr W. Nash) said there was an amendment to the income tax law to ensure that the pay of servicemen at I new rates was subject to taxation. 1 There was authority for an increase in the lim’t of unauthorised expenditure, provision having been made for a percentage of the total appropriation instead of a fixed amount. The abolition of the national security tax was valid~ted. There was. an amendment in the social security charge for persons work’’ng overseas for the Government. Stamp duty was decreased from 3s 6d to Is 3d where the amount was £2O or less. There was an amendment to the Death Duties Act.

YESTERDAY IN THE HOUSE

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, July 30, The House of Representatives spent this afternoon discussing members’ questions and Ministers’ answers. This evening, the House received two new bills, one amending the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act and the other a Finance Bill. The remainder of the evening was spent in discussing the Food and Drugs Amendment Bill.