THE WEEK IN THE HOUSE Rising date reservations

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33386, 19 November 1973, Page 2

THE WEEK IN THE HOUSE Rising date reservations

(By

C. R. MENTIPLAY,

our Parliamentary reporter)

WELLINGTON, November 18. Although the size of the Order Paper has scarcely diminished, the rising date of the House seems to have been confirmed as next Friday. ( The Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Freer), who was Acting Leader of the House last Friday, confirmed this as far as he could.

It is not known yet, however, which of the measures on the Order Paper—there are 58 of them, counting Friday’s addition to the Police Amendment Bill and the Tourist Hotel Corporation Amendment Bill—will be held over. Last week brought some progress, with the passing of measures like the Social Security Amendment Bill, the War Pensions Amendment Bill, the Development Finance Corporation Bill, the Transport Amendment Bill, and the Recreation and Sport Bill. Time needed It was also notable for the tardy arrival of the promised “stabilisation packet” of regulations, and for the holding of an adjournment debate on the subject, on the motion of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Marshall). The object of this debate was largely educational. It could be little else, as no vote was taken; but it might have had more substance if more time had been afforded members to study the complications as outlined in the accompanying booklet. The week ahead will require understanding between the parties if it is not to degenerate into a “six o’clock swill” of legislation. The normal 23-hour Parliamentary week will apparently be invaded (if Mr Marshall has his way) by a full-scale debate on Appropriation Bill No. 2, plus a debate on Foreign Affairs. A Foreign Affairs debate (yet to be approved by Mr Kirk) would take a full evening of three hours, and the Appropriation debate could take a day, probably under urgency.

There can only be a dim hope that next Friday morning may be devoted to the reception of Royal assents, followed by the valedictories which usually close a session. As a quick return to business is expected, it will be more like a term holiday than a normal summer break. Petroleum tax A clear indication that market gardeners, fruitgrowers and others who use petroleum products for other purposes than driving vehicles may at last have a case for nonpayment of petroleum tax was given by the Minister of Defence (Mr Faulkner) in answer to a question by Mr C. C. A. McLachlan (Nat., Rakaia). Replying for the Minister of Local Government (Mr May), Mr Faulkner quoted Mr

May as saying that the Labour Party never believed that the petroleum tax would solve the financial problems of local government. “The Government is not considering any proposal to repeal the Local Authorities (Petroleum Tax) Act, but it will certainly consider granting appropriate relief to proven cases of hardship arising from the tax.” Mr McLachlan: In cases of hardship, how will the Government recompense local bodies if the petroleum tax is removed? . Mr Faulkner: I cannot answer that. 1 suggest you ask a similar question of the Minister of Local Government when he is able to be present. Mr G. F. Gair (Nat., North Shore): Can the Minister say why his Government does hot intend to repeal the tax? “Illogical” Mr Faulkner: It would seem illogical to remove a measure that is only partly effective until a decision is made to introduce one that is really effective. Mr McLachlan: Will the Minister confirm that his Government has no alternative measure with which to replace this act? Mr Faulkner: Until an alternative source of finance, in addition to the money that has been made available to local government for sporting bodies and so on, has been found, repeal of this legislation would be premature. When Mr Freer visits the Linen Flax Corporation factory at Geraldine early next month, he should have with him a detailed departmental appraisal of the industry’s future.

: Mr R. L. G. Talbot (Nat., I South Canterbury) in a ques- [ tion mentioned Mr Freer’s t reported comment that the s Government would not allow . the linen flax industry to , collapse for want of finance i if there was a reasonable . chance that it could become viable and self-supporting. ' Mr Freer reminded Parliament that a decision on the corporation’s application for a research and development grant had been deferred to ■ allow the Government and I the corporation time to ex- : amine a report on the linen flax industry prepared by an officer of the Wool Research i Organisation. s Submission of this report . was delayed by the corpora- [ tion so that it could add comments on the state of the [ industry, research projects, . and future prospects, and give an account of repre- ' sentations by growers. Higher price? “The submissions have ■ now been studied by my de--1 partment, which in an ’ interim report has suggested 1 that consideration should be ■ given to the possibility of other assistance besides ; finance for research and dei velopment,” Mr Freer said. ■ The department’s appraisal i would include consideration of the effects of increasing i the price to growers. Mr Talbot: Is it intended ; to increase the price of fibre i to growers for the coming season? ; Mr Freer: This is one matter being examined. $95,000 farm.—A 45-acre farm on the Hamilton-Cam-bridge Road was sold at auction on Friday for $95,000. Hie farm was bought by a Wellington racehorse owner and breeder, Mr J. A. Higgs. - (P.A.)