PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 12, 9 October 1928, Page 13

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

THE DYING STAGES ESTIMATES AND FINANCE BILL FINAL BUSINESS TODAY A wide variety of subjects, most of them incidental to the end of the session, were dealt with by the House of Representatives yesterday. The Order Paper was cleared of the local Bills, which were due for their- second reading. The Napier Borough and Napier Harbour Board Enabling Bill, the Wairarapa Electric Power Board Empowering Bill, and the Wellington City Empowering Bill were passed. The Wellington City Milk Supply Amendment Bill was “killed,” the House agreeing to the formality of putting the measure down for its Committee stage a week hence. The Wellington City and Suburban Water Supply Amendment Bill was withdrawn. The New Zealand University Amendment Bill was passed with some amendments. The Supplementary Estimates were brought forward, and the Finance Bill, authorising the borrowing of £5, 000,000, and containing the usual miscellaneous clauses of such a measure, was introduced. The Prime Minister, at 11.40 p.m., took the feeling of the House with regard to proceeding with the work yet to be done, and it was agreed that last night the Supplementary Estimates and the Finance Bill, and also a short amendment to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act dealing with the Shearers’ Award, should be put through all stages. To-day there will be only the Appropriation Bill and the usual valedictory speeches.

LOCAL’ RATING BURDEN

RURAL LANDS IN BOROUGHS NO LEGISLATION THIS YEAR “I very much regret having to state that it has proved a physical impossibility to have the Necessary drafting done in the time to <><er adequately all the matter arising out of the exceedingly valuable reports of the commissions which inquired into the question of the rating of rural lands in boroughs,” said the Minister of Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod) in the House of Representatives yesterday, in reply to Mr. A. Hamilton (Wallace), who had asked whether legislation giving effect to the recommendations would be passed this session. “The reports,” the Minister added, “have been circulated to all city and borough councils, and so far the criticism of a directly adverse nature which has reached me respecting the proposals has been practically negligible; those responsible for local body government in the towns affected agreeing in the main that real injustice exists in many localities which, under the present laws, are incapable of being met or removed. “Further investigation by the Departments chiefly concerned goes to show that amendments to the Valuation Act are also required before adequate provision can be made to overcome fully the difficulties which are admitted by all interested in the subject. I have, therefore, to state that after reviewing all the circumstances, the Government is compelled to hold over legislation until such time as the affected local bodies have had full opportunity of going into the commission’s recommendations, and to consult with my officers in the. preparation for next, session of legislation which it is hoped will provide facilities to remove as far as possible the existing anomalies and hardships.” Case of Hardship. The Minister added that he had received a letter from one settler, as under: “I have a sixty-acre farm at Takapuna. jit is in the borough of Takapuna, which recently carried rating on unimproved value. I have got a rate notice demanding £389 for rates. The property is a farm, and has been since settlement took place, and is likely to be for a very considerable period yet. The greatest return it has ever made is £6 per week gross.”

SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES SOME OF THE VOTES The Supplementary Estimates were presented to the House of Representatives yesterday. The votes include: — Subsidies to hospital boards, an additional £15,000. Compensation to Niue Island fruitgrowers for loss of fruit on motor vessel. £2BB. Erection of accommodation for lepers at Makogai, £2OBI. Grant towards purchase of fruit-grad-ers for Cook Islands, £IOOO. Assistance towards prospecting for gold, £4884. Expenses in connection with the visit to New Zealand of Air Marshal Sir John Salmond, £4OO. Expenses in connection with injuries to John Short received by detonation of unexploded shell at Foxton. Grant towards expenses of. visit of team of riflemen to Victoria in March, 1029, £250. Search by Navy Department for the obstruction which caused casualty to the Northumberland, £227. Purchase of launch and construction of slipway and mooring point at Kapiti Island, £6OO. Payment of special rates on unoccupied farms under administration of land boards, £SOOO. Subsidy (£1 for £1) to Egmont National Park, £SOO. Contribution towards purchase, for scenery preservation purposes of area at Lowry Bay, Wellington, £2OO. Expenses in connection with the transfer of pupils from Wellington Technical College to Wellington Girls’ College clinic at St. Helens Hospital, Wanganui, £IOOO. . Land purchase for extension of try nurseries and plantations, £-0,000. LEGISLATIVE council PASSAGE OF BILLS In the Legislative Council yesterday morning the Auckland University College Reserves Amendment Bill, the Local Legislation Bill, the Copyright (.temporary) Amendment Bill, and the “Washing-up” Bill were put through all stages and passed. The Native Land Amendment Bill, the Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill, and the Engineers Registration Amendment Bill were slightly amended and passed. CITY’S WATER SUPPLY LOCAL BILL WITHDRAWN. Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) was granted leave by the House of Representatives yesterday to withdraw the Wellington City and Suburban Watersupply Amendment Bill. Mr. Fraser stated that he was acting under instructions from the Wellington City Council in seeking withdrawal of the measure.

CITY MILK SUPPLY

PRIVATE MEMBER’S MEASURE KILLED BY HOUSE The Wellington City Milk Supply Amendment Bill received its quietus in the House of Representatives yesterday, when it was ordered to be “set down for commital this day week.” “This is possibly one of the most important Bills brought before Parliament this session,” said Mr. J. G. Eliott (Oroua) in moving the second reading. He explained that the Bill, as amended by the Local Bills Committee, conferred on a body of farmers who were supplying fresh milk to the Wellington City Corporation the right to vend, without interference by the City Council. The farmers, he said, considered 'that they had a right to vend the products of their farms without interference by any local body. He hoped that the Bill would be passed by the House. “The Wellington members could not possibly agree to the passing of this Bill,” declared Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central). “If Mr. Eliott would be content to have the secbnd reading carried and then to bring his Bill before the House again next session no opposition will be raised. If, however, he considers it his duty to proceed with all stages of the Bill, we will have to proceed to discuss the merits which the Bill accidentally possesses and the demerits which it certainly does possess. (Laughter.) If Mr. Eliott can see his way to agree to my suggestion, it will be one of the most popular decisions of the sesSl °The Minister of Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod) said he thought Mr. Eliott would be wise to let the Bill drop after it had passed the second reading. (Hear, hear.) A large number of suppliers in his constituency had asked him t.o protest against the passage of the Bill. “For a number of years I was strongly of the opinion that injustices had been placed upon the nearby suppliers,” said the Minister. “Step by step, however, those injustices have been removed, and to-day I agree with those who say that the nearby suppliers have been placed in a particularly good position. For that reason I intend to vote against the Bill.” Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) also expressed the hope that the member in charge of the Bill would adopt the suggestion made by Mr. Fraser. Replying, Mr. Eliott said he would remind the Minister of Lands that the fai--mers he (the Minister) represented were in no way affected by the provisions of the Bill, which sought to protect the nearby farmers only. Recognising that there was no chance of the Bill being passed, he was quite prepared to be satisfied with the second reading. He could assure Mr. Fraser, however, that that was not the last that would be heard of the Bill. It was his intention to again bring it before the House early next session.

The Bill was read a second time and “set down for committal this day week.”

SAMOAN MILITARY POLICE MAINTENANCE OF FORCE Having retrospective effect to April 1 last, a clause appears in the Finance Bill now before Parliament empowering the Minister of Finance to appropriate such isums as are required for the maintenance of the military police force in Western, Samoa.

A further provision enables the Administrator to expend for such public purposes other than public works, as he thinks fit. sums up to £30,000 of the moneys advanced to the Samoan Treasury by the New Zealand Government. Past expenditure on such purposes is validated. THIRD PARTY RISKS EXEMPTIONS FROM LIABILITY The House of Representatives last night agreed to the amendments made by the Legislative Council to the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third-party Risks) Bill. The amendments make clearer the exemption of insurance companies from liability in respect of the death or injury of persons riding voluntarily in private cars, or of non-paying passengers in cars plying for hire. REPARATION ESTATES’ PROFITS The application of the profits which accrued to the New Zealand Reparation Estates Account for the last financial year was defined in the Finance Bill introduced into the House of Representatives last night. ' The Samoan Treasury is to receive £12.000, nnd 50 per cent, of the residue may be applied towards the development of the estates. The bajnnce is to be credited to the reserve fund. NAPIER BILLS .Sponsored by Mr. J. Mason (Napier), the Napier Borough Empowering Bill was read a second time in the House of Representatives yesterday, nnd “set down for committal this day week.” The Napier Borough and Napier Harbour Board Enabling Bill was paseed,

UNIVERSITY CONTROL

AN INCREASE IN GRANTS ESTABLISHMENT OF CHAIRS AMENDMENTS TO BILL Several amendments to the New Zealand University Bill were made at the instance of the Minister of Education (Hon. R. A. Wright), when the measure was in Committee in the House of Representatives last night. The clause which sought to make it mandatory on the part of the university authorities to obtain the consent of the Minister before a new Chaii’ was established at any of the colleges, was amended so that this authority would be required only when Government funds were involved. The Minister said that this would give the universities a free hand when they obtained bequests for the foundation of Chairs, but where public funds were required it was essential that the authority of the Minister should be obtained. It was necessary to prevent the duplication of chairs for which there was not a great demand. For instance, two or more colleges might start Chairs of Forestry when there was room for only one. The amendments also made provision for increased payments to the university colleges from the Consolidated Fund. The Auckland University College is entitled to a payment of £4OOO under the Auckland University College Act, of ISB2, and in 1914 provision was made for a further annual payment of £SOOO. This extra payment was increased to £7500 in 1919. The grant is now raised to £9750. of which £1250 is to be used for the purposes of a school of architecture at the college. Victoria University College, which since 1919 has been receiving a payment of £7500 in addition to the sum of £4OOO provided for in the Victoria College Act, 1905, is now to be granted an additional £250, bringing the total payments up to £11,750. No condition is attached to the added grant. Canterbury College was given an annual payment of £2OOO under the legislation of 1914, and this was increased to £4500 in 1919. In 1920 provision was made in the Finance Act for the payment of an additional £2OOO, of which £l7oo was to go to the engineering school, and the remainder towards the salary of a professor of education. The amendment made last night provided for the payment of £6OOO, of which £4500 is to be applied for the school of engineering. _ For the Otago University the amendments allowed for a payment of £15,350 against £IO.OOO provided for in the legislation of 1919, and £SOOO in that of 1914. Of this year’s grant £6OOO is to be used for the medical school. £ISOO for the dental school, and £3OOO for the home science school, and £350 for the mining school. Moving the committal of the Bill, the Minister said that the clause dealing with the payment of contributions by the State to the university was of a controversial nature. At the present time £3B4u was granted to the University Council every year. There was no need for such a grant. The council to-day was saving about £4OOO a year, and it had a capital fund of £70,000. The proposal before the House provided that the money should be divided among the college councils. The money was not being taken away; it would still be used for university work. Members’ Views. Air. M. J. Savage (Auckland West) said the explanation given by the Minister in justification for the new clause indicated that an attempt was being made to save the University Council from itself. ~ Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) said that he would have to vote against the clause if sounder reasons for its insertion were not advanced. Mr. T. Forsyth (Wellington East) thought the most controversial clauses had been removed. The Bill was a step in the right direction, and the Minister was to be commended on the manner in which he had met the objectors.

Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) contended that there was no necessity for the clause. It would only cause unnecessary irritation, and he hoped the Minister would not insist upon its inclusion in the Bill.

Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) said lie hoped the Minister would stand by his decision in regard to clause 3. He refused to believe that a Minister would not consent to the establishment of a Chair if it was necessary. Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) said there was a feeling that Wellington was interfering too much with the other educational bodies. There was a tendency to look upon Wellington as having all the brains. “Psychologically.” added Mr. Howard, “the Bill is wrong.”

Minister’s Reply. Replying, the Minister said there would be no interference with the work of the universities. All the Government was asking for was to have a voice in the expenditure of national funds. Surely no man outside Porirua Would allow his wife to spend right and left without having a say in the matter. (Laughter.) The principle was the same. The Bill was passed. MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT Additional facilities for travel by steamer, or alternative means of transport, are provided for members of the Legislature in the Finance Bill, read a first time in the House of Representatives last night. If the Bill passes Parliament, members will be able to travel free by steamer to and from Wellington at all times, or by service car over any portion of the journey, if there is no reasonably convenient railway or steamer service available. In addition, members are to have at all times free steamer journeys between Wellington and Lvttelton, and Wellington and Picton. The only condition imposed with respect to the increased privileges is that steamers of the Union Company must be used.

FINANCE BILL

CREATION OF SINKING

FUNDS

RETIRING ALLOWANCES LIMITATIONS REMOVED A number of items of interest are incorporated in the JPinance Bill read a first time in the House of Representatives last night. , .. ... The Bill seeks to invest the i üblic Trustee with the administration of sinking funds in connection with certain loans raised for the West port harbour The Ordinance of 1860, establishing the Nelson Rifle Prize. Fund, is repealed The fund is to remain in the public account, and the moneys are to be invested as the Minister of Finance directs, lire moneys accruing to the fund are to be applied as the Minister of Defence authorises for the provision of prizes, and the encouragement of rifle shooting and eihciency in small arms training in the defence forces and rifle clubs in the Nelson district. . , , ... . Provision is made lor the estaolisliment of a sinking fund to liquidate loan moneys raised in connection within the State coal mines. The moneys in the sinking tunas established under the State Supply of Electrical Energy Act, 1917, are to be applied towards the redemption ol securities at or before maturity. The section of the Land and Income. lax Act which makes the mortgagee in possession liable for land tax is to be amended by adding a proviso that in each ot tne three years of assessment immediately following the year in which the mortgagee entered into posscsison the commissioner shall, if satisfied that the mortgagee is in possession solely tor the purpose of furthering the realisation of this security assess him separately in respect of the estate or interest in which he is deemed to be the beneficial owner. The Bill also deals with the superannuation of National Provident funds. It provides for the removal of the statutory limitation of retiring allowances under the Superannuation Acts and extends to certain persons benefits under the National Provident Fund Act, in respect of incapacity arising out of illness or injury. Persons temporarily employed in the Public Service may be admitted in certain cases as contributors to. the Public Superannuation Fund by giving notice to the board after having obtained the concurrence of the Public Service Commissioner. The fund may be joined frorii the date of the commencement of the temporary service or from the date of application. The board is to decide in the case of applications under the former heading the amount to be paid into the fund in respect of the past service. EFFECTIVE PROTEST NON-CIRCULATION OF BILL COUNCILLOR LEAVES CHAMBER An attempt to proceed with the Wellington City Empowering Bill when the Bill had not been circulated among councillors was responsible for a protest in the Legislative Council last night. “I make my protest by leaving the chamber,” declared the Hon. W. Earnshaw. “I will not,” he added, as he turned to walk to the door, “assist ill the measure unless the Bill is before us.” The Lender of the Council, Sir Francis Bell: The Bill is not printed. Sir James Allen also entered a protest against the procedure, whereupon the Hon. Colonel Smith suggested that the House report progress with leave to sit again. This course was adopted. “Ring up the printer and tell him we can’t get on till we have the Bill,” culled Sir Francis Bell to a messenger as the House adjourned till the “ringing of the bells.” INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENT A VALIDATING MEASURE A short amending Bill to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act to give sanction to an agreement between the Sheepowners’ Federation and the Shearers’.Union was brought before the House of Representatives last night. The Prime Minister said that under the law as it now stood it was not permissible to make industrial agreements for a greater period than three years. The Sheepowners’ Federation and the Shearers Union had come to an agreement covering a perijd of five years, the wages to be on a sliding scale, rising when prices for wool were above a certain level and coming down in sympathy with any retrograde movement. The Bill was simply to validate the agreement.

SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES

The Supplementary Estimates were passed at 1 o’clock this morning.