PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 32, 1 November 1929, Page 12

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

PROGRESS ON BILLS FIVE MEASURES PASSED TOWN PLANNING AMENDMENTS Considerable progress with Bills on the Order-Paper was made by the House of Representatives yesterday. Five measures were passed before the House rose at 10.30 p.m. lhese were the Flospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill, Law Practitioners Amendment (Solicitors’ Fidelity Guarantee Fund) Bill, Pacific Cable Sale Authorisation Bill, Arms Amendment Bill, and Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland Empowering Bill. The adjournment interrupted the second reading on the Destitute Persons’ Rest Homes Bill. By Governor-General’s Message an amendment was introduced to the Land Laws Amendment Bill providing for the inclusion of a practical farmer in the personnel of the Land Development Board, while an amendment to the .Rural Intermediate Credit Act suggested an increase in the limit of advance that may be made under the scheme. Also introduced was an important amendment to the Town-Planning Act,, making comprehensive provision for the preparation of regional planning schemes. The main' business to-day will be the consideration of the report of the special Select Committee which heard evidence on the wheat and flour duties and examination of the provisions of the European and Native Washing-up Bills.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT AND ESTIMATES PASSED MINISTER’S REPLY TO DEBATE It was 2.35 a.m. yesterday before the House of Representatives concluded its debate on the Public Works Statement and passed the relevant Estimates providing for appropriations totalling over £9,000,000. The time spent in Committee in considering the expenditure was fifty minutes. Replying to the debate on the Statement at 1.30 a.m., the Minister of Public Works (Hon. E. A. Ransom) said that as far as branch railway lines were concerned the Government would perhaps have to consider seriously whether they should be kept open or whether it would be more profitable to serve the districts by road. It was his opinion that the Main Trunk railway systems should be maintained and completed as far as it was possible to complete them. In reference to a point raised by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Ransom said ho had yet to learn that, as far as the United Government was concerned, political influence regarding the railways had been more in evidence than in the past. The Reform Government had had ample opportunity to bring about a reform if it were considered to be such. If the railways were to be regarded as a purely commercial undertaking, run only for profit, it would not be in the interests of the Dominion. He looked on the railways not merely as a means of transport returning interest on capital invested but as a system to develop a young country. The railways had done more to bring the' country to its present stage of efficiency than any other enterprise. The Minister of Defence (Hon. T. M. Wilford): The railways should be the servants and not the masters of the people. “Quite so,” agreed the Minister of Public Works, who said that as a result of Mr. Coates’s statement that operating railways should not pay for development, he could now be expected to support the Prime Minister's proposal to write down railway capital by £8,000,000, as the capital cost was out of proportion to the services rendered to the country. Mr. Coates' You are determined to misrepresent me. Mangahao Power. Dealing with the Mangahao hydroelectric power station, the Minister agreed with Mr. Coates that it had been necessary for the State to purchase additional power to meet the position. The Department had contracted to supply' power to the various boards, and the arrangement made was a perfectly businesslike one. A member: What are the future prospects? “Quite excellent,” replied the Minister, who added that none of the stations should be regarded as independent units. South Island Railway. One of the objects of the Government was to push on with works in hand in order to bring them to some finality, said Mr. Ransom. That was one of the reasons why more had > not been placed on the Estimates for the South Island main trunk railway. The fact that more had not been put on was not to be taken as an indication that the Government did not intend to push on with the work. The idea was that special energy and the expenditure of a greater sum on railways now near completion would bring them more Quickly to a profitable stage, and it was proposed that the newer works should in due course receive the same favourable consideration. In the meantime more would not be placed on the Estimates than it was intended to spend in the financial year, although, of course, expenditure could be overauthorised, and, in some cases, no doubt would. Information in regard to the South Island main trunk railway, collected in the reports of various commissions, had been of great value, continued the Minister. To his mind, however, such railways should be viewed, not from the point of view of whether they would pay a certain rate of interest, but of whether they would be of value to the country. Sir. Ransom said he was convinced that the growth of losses on the railways, if the term loss could be used in that connection. would not be in the future anything like what it was at present. INTERMEDIATE CREDIT LOAN LIMIT RAISED An amendment to the Rural Intermediate Credit Bill, increasing the amount of loan that may be granted to individual farmers, was introduced into the House of Representatives by GovernorGeneral’s Message yesterday. The Acting-Leader of the House (Hon. G. W. Forbes) explained that the provision was to raise the limit from £lOOO to £2OOO and so make the Act more useful to farmers. There were other amendments to the Act, but they were purely machinery clauses. The Bill was read a first time. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Patents, Designs and Trade Marks Amendment Bill was put through its final stages and passed without amendment in the Legislative Council yesterday. The Hon. E. W. Alison, on account of illness, was granted leave for the remainder of the session. The Mi nister of Lands (Hon. G. W. Forbes) gave notice in the House of Representatives yesterday to introduce the Prodwrtß Amendment Bill,

DISHONEST SOLICITORS PROTECTION FOR CLIENTS VOLUNTARY BILL PASSED The House of Representatives yesterday passed without amendment the Law Practitioners’ Amendment (Solicitors’ Fidelity Guarantee Fund) Bill. Moving the second reading, the Minister of Justice (Hon. T. M. Wilford, K.C.) explained that the Bill was promoted by the legal profession, and had been considered by all the district committees and the Law Society of New Zealand and also by the council of the Law Society. The proposal was to reimburse those people who lost money through the dishonesty of solicitors. That would be done out of a fund which it was proposed to establish. The honour of the whole profession was bound up in the honour of each individual member. The lawyers desired to give those people who trusted their money to them an assurance that they would not suffer if a defalcation took place. Mr. J. A. Nash (Reform, Palmerston) : Has every law society agreed to the Bill? “Yes,” replied the Minister, who added that there were roughly about 1500 practising lawyers in New Zealand to whom the Bill applied. Under the Act the governing body was empowered to collect not less than £5 and not more than £lO a year from those affected. It was estimated that the revenue would amount to £7500 per annum. When a lawyer ceased practice his contribution would be refunded. The money collected would be invested in trust securities. “On behalf of the profession, which wishes to raise its status nnd standing, I ask the House to give me an opportunity of placing this very desirable and voluntary measure on the Statute Book,” concluded the Minister. The Legislation Required. Members generally expressed the view that there was a need for the legislation, and that any comparatively unimportant imperfections should not imperil its passage. Welcoming the Bill, the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland) suggested that if people wanted to be perfectly sure about their trust funds they might invest them with the Public Trustee. 4 “Oh, no,” cried the legal members of the House, including Messrs. W. E. Barnard and H. G. R. Mason (Labour). “What about investing them in the Labour Party’s funds?” suggested a Reform member. Mr. Holland: I am afraid the Labour Party’s resources are not as extensive as those of the hon. member’s party. (Laughter.) Audit of Accounts. Replying to the discussion. Mr. Wilford said there was a provision in the Bill whereby the local law society could order a registered accountant to investigate’ the affairs of a solicitor at any time. At present the trust, account was audited every year. but. in the meantime it was possible for all sorts of irregularities to take place. He had been told that there were as many young men studying law as were engaged in the profession. It was very desirable, therefore, that the legislation proposed should be passed. The Bill was reported without amendment, read a third time nnd passed. TRANSPORT BILL . PREMATURE STATEMENT There was an amusing incident in the House of Representatives yesterday, when the report of the Select Committee which has been hearing evidence on the Transport Laws Amendment Bill was presented. The Acting-Leader of the House (Hon. G W. Forbes) had intimated that the Lands and the Native Affairs Committees had reports to present. Mr. C. H. Clinkard. Government member for Rotorua, is chairman of the latter committee and is also chairman of the Transport Committee. Having presented reports from the Native Affairs Committee, he proceeded to announce that the Transport Committee had considered the Transport Laws Amendment Bill, and recommended that it be allowed to proceed with amendments. There was immediately a chorus: “What are the amendments?” “There are practically no amendments,” said Mr. Clinkard. “They are shown on the copy of the Bill.” It was then that Mr. Forbes realised that business was being presented in advance of the programme. Observing that there seemed to be some misunderstanding, Mr. Speaker suggested that Mr. Clinkard should be allowed to make his report to-day. nnd that was agreed to.

“And considered this <lny six months,” facetiously added Mr. P. Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central).

Notice of his intention Io introduce the Nurses and Midwives Registration Amendment Bill was given by the Minister of Health (Hon. A. J. Stallworthy) in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. W. H. Field (Reform, Otaki) gave notice in the House of Representatives yesterday to ask the Minister of Railways whether the Department would, when renewing culverts under the railway constructed in swampy land by the Wellington-Manawatu Company, many of which were insufficiently low. lower the same so as to enable landowners to drain their swamps east of the railway lino.

PACIFIC CABLE SALE CONFIRMED SUPPORT FOR RETENTION EVEN AT LOSS The strong personal conviction that New Zealand should have retained, even at the risk of annual losses, the Pacific cable service was expressed by the Post-master-General (Hon. J. B. Donald) in the House of Representatives yesterday during the Committee stages of the Bill which confirms the sale of the service to the Communication Company. Although the matter had been before the House on several previous occasions and the opinion was almost unanimous that as the sale was an accomplished fact all that could now be done was to ratify it, much time was taken up in traversing the views already placed on record by members. Minister’s Attitude. a It was the Leader of the Opposition (Right Hon. J. G. Coates) who inquired, by way of interjection, of the Minister what line of action he as a business man would have,taken when the negotiations for the merger were under way. The Minister replied that he would have purchased the Pacific cable service at the price at which it was sold to the merger company. Mr. Coates said he could not understand such an attitude on the part of the Postmaster-General. He asked the Minister to give reasons for his expression of opinion. Mr. Coates defended the sale of the service as being in the last resort the best arrangement that could have been arrived at in view of the threatened danger of the communications going into foreign hands. At least, as a result of the merger, the communications of the Empire were securely tied up and secure for the use of the Empire. New Zealand had had a big voice in the arrangement. “You made- a very bad bargain then,” interjected Mr. W. J. Polson (Independent, Stratford). Mr. Coates: It is all right to make a comment of that sort, but New Zealand had her representative there and no one can suggest that Sir James Parr is not competent in any business dealings. “Master of Its Services.” Replying, the Postmaster-General pointed out that the sale was an accomplished fact, and it only remained for the House to confirm it by passing the Bill. Expressing his own personal view, the Minister claimed that the Dominion should be master of its own cable communication. even at the risk of losing a fair sum of money annually. “I wish to assure the House,” he said, “that had I been called upon to adjudicate I would have thought hard and long before I agreed to the sale of the Pacific cable. I consider the Dominion could still have afforded to have lost up to £200,000 a year to be master of its own cable communications —always supposing we could have bought out the interests of the other parties.” It would have been necessary for New Zealand to take over the balance of a loan of over £1.000,000, but the Minister thought the Dominion could have afforded to do it. It would have been a step taken in the interests of the Dominion. Tbe Trader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland) considered that a stronger attitude should have been taken on the matter at the Imperial Conference. As the position now was. there was no way out of it but pass the Bill, and let it go at that. After a fairly protracted third reading the Bill was passed. . PRIMAGE DUTY EFFECT OF INCREASE The doubling of the primage duty, as far as could be determined, had not resulted in the tax being passed on to the average householder, said the Leader of the Legislative Council (Hon. T. K. Sidey) in the Council yesterday. Speaking on the second reading of the Customs Amendment Bill, the Hon. W. W. Snodgrass (Nelson) said it was extremely unfortunate that the Government had take up this particular tax to meet the deficiency. Owing to the tax merchants had reduced the discount on accounts paid "by It per cent. The increase of 1 per cent, in the primage duty would mean that the people of New Zealand would pay £500,000. More careful consideration should have been given the list of exemptions, which included imported articles that would compete with our own products. In reply the Leader of the Council said it was necessary to have taxation extra to that under the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill. It was considered that the increase in the primage duty would be least felt. As far as could be ascertained the tax had not been passed on to the average householder. Tlie Bill was put through its final stages apd passed without amendment. NATIVE LANDS SETTLEMENT RESTRICTING ALIENATION Several amendments have been made to the Native "Washing Up” Bill as a result of the scrutiny of the Native Affairs Committee, which yesterday recommended that the Bill should be allowed to proceed subject to the amendments. No vital changes have been made in the Bill, but power is provided enabling the Native Minister to carry more fully into effect the policy of facilitating the development and settlement of Native lands. To that end a clause has been inserted. providing that, by Order-in-Coun-cil the alienation of any Native lands, in respect to which tbe Minister has given notice that he intends to apply the settlement provisions of the measure, may be prohibited for a period not exceeding twelve months. LAND DEVELOPMENT BOARD PRACTICAL FARMER TO BE INCLUDED An amendment to the Land Laws Amendment Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by GovernorGeneral’s message yesterday. The Minister of Lands (Hon. G. W. Forbes) said the alterations made were to give effect to the desire of the House that a practical farmer should be included in the personnel of the proposed Land Development- Board. The amendment was agreed to. The Leader of the Opposition (Rt. lion. J. G. Coates) took the opportunity to inquire from Mr. Forbes how many had taken advantage of last year's legislation. whereby special provision had been made as to the acquisition of settlement lands by not less than two persons. Mr. Forbes said that, as far as he knew, there was no provision in the present Bill for that phase. That matter was dealt with entirely outside the present Bill. It applied to any freehold property which might be selected by the applicant, and which had been approved by a Land Board. An advance up to 95 per cent, could be secured, the money being lent at five per cent. Mr. Forbes said that only about ten or twelve people had so far taken advantage of the provision. although he had mentioned it whenever he had spoken on land settlement.

“IN THEIR TRUE SENSE” REGIONAL PLANNING SCHEMES MODEL FOR GUIDANCE A NEW PROCEDURE Provision for the preparation of regional planning schemes in their true sense is contained in the Town Planning Amendment Bill, introduced into the House of Representatives yesterday. It is made clear that these schemes are to serve as models, and that adherence to their provisions is to bo optional.. The Bill in the firsj place provides for an extension of the time within which borough councils are to complete the preparation of town-planning schemes. It was intended originally that these should be ready by January 1 next, but the Bill proposes that the date be fixed by Order-in-Council. It is further suggested that where necessary the time so prescribed can be extended still further to meet the cases of boroughs which are unable to complete the preparation in time. ' A New Name. An explanatory memorandum states that the term "regional planning scheme,” as employed in the 1926 Act, is not used in the true technical sense of that term, and that as it is now intended to make provision for the preparation of regional planning schemes in the true sense, it has been necessary, in order to avoid confusion, to apply a new name to the schemes at present referred to as “regional planning schemes.” These, say the memorandum, are, generally speaking, complementary to town-planning schemes, and are designed for areas, which, although not'within the boundaries of a borough, have certain urban characteristics. The name proposed to be adopted for them is “extra-urban, planning schemes.” . Regional Schemes. The Bill gives authority for the preparation in their true sense of regional planning schemes, the general purpose of which is described as being the conservation and economic development of the natural resources of the region by the classification of the lands for their bestsuited purposes and by the co-ordination of such public improvements, utilities, services; and amenities as are not limited by the boundaries of the district of any one local authority or do not relate exclusively to the development of any one such district. Preceding the scheme there is to be carried out a comprehensive survey of the natural resources of the area and of the present and potential uses and values of the lands in relation to national, regional, or local public utilities, services, and amenities. Regional planning schemes are to serve as models for the guidance of local authorities engaged in the preparation of town planning or extra-urban planning schemes; and adherence to the provisions of them is to be optional, and not compulsory. With the approval of the Town Planning Board it will be competent for adjoining local authorities to unite in the preparation of regional planning schemes. Gazette notice will define the area to be comprised in any regional planning scheme, in the determination of the boundaries of which regard will be had to natural geographic borders and common social and economic interests. “ Work of Preparation. The work of preparation will be in the hands of the regional planning committee the Bill proposes to establish for each region. On each committee, the council of every borough of ten thousand or more inhabitants will be entitled to two members, the council of every other borough and county, one member, and the town board of every town district not forming part of a county, one member. Where within thirty days of being required by the Town Planning Board to do so, any local authority fails to appoint its representative, the Minister of Internal Affairs may fill the vacancy. The committees are empowered to link up as associate members experts in town planning, representatives of State Departments, local bodies, professions, or sports bodies. Points to Consider. Tlie first step of a committee will be to conduct a prelimnary survey of the natural resources and potentialities of the areas, and then set about the preparation of the scheme for submission to the Town Planning Board. In the preparation of the scheme the committee will be required to have regard to: — (1) Communications and transport facilities—railways, first, and second class arterial and regional roads, bus and tram routes, harbours and navigable waterways, and airports. (2) Zoning—Allocation of areas for urban development, differentiating, where possible, between residential, business and industrial areas, with special reference to offensive trades; allocation for agricultural purposes, specifying the particular form of land utilisation suggested, including afforestation: and recommendations as to building lines and the maximum height and bulk of buildings to be prescribed in the statutory town planning schemes in the region. (3) Public utilities. —Land drainage, sewerage, and sewage disposal; water supply, including catchment areas; electricity and gas generation and distribution. (4) Amenities, public parks, reserves, and recreational facilities, preservation of places of historical or archaeological interest or natural beauty; and recommendations for the control of outdoor advertising. Apportionment of Cost. Committees are to remain in existence after the preparation of the scheme has been completed and approved, and can only be dissolved by resolution of a majority of the represented local bodies. It will then be the function of the committees to advise or make recommendations regarding the preparation of townplanning or extra-urban planning schemes for areas within the region. Following the constitution of a regional planning scheme the committee is to prepare an estimate of the expenditure involved in the preparation, and recommend a basis of apportionment among the represented local' bodies. Except with prior consent the estimated expenditure is not to exceed the amount that would be produced by a rate of one-fiftieth of a penny in the pound on the capital value of all the rateable property in the region. The Town Planning Board will appoint a principal local authority in each region to be responsible for the expenditure incurred. Erection of Buildings. Borough councils at present have power, pending town planning schemes becoming operative, to prohibit the erection of buildings or the carrying out of works which would be in contravention of the scheme. The Bill proposes to extend that authority to enable county councils to exorcise a similar power in cases where a scheme, complementary to a town planning scheme, is being prepared for an adjacent area. The Bill was road a first time. GARRATT LOCOMOTIVES COST OF REPAIRS. Information as to the cost to the Railways Department of repairs and adjustments to the Garratt locomotives, and the cost of the trial runs since the engines were assembled in an effort to make them fit for service, was recently sought by the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. 11. E. Holland). A return tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday stated the cost was £2203, or, approximately £734 per angina,

PRISON’S WALLS A MINISTER’S IMPRESSIONS REST HOMES FOR THE AGED DESTITUTE FAVOURABLE RECEPTION TO BILL i A vivid description of a Minister’s impressions of gaol enlivened the second reading debate in the House oi Representatives last night of the Governments measure providing for the establishment and maintenance of rest homes for destitute persons who by reason of age or infirmity are unable to take proper care of themselves. Moving the second reading of the Bill the Minister of Health (Hon. A. J. Stallworthy) said that as a Justice of the Peace who had sat on the Bench of a metropolitan Police Court, he knew there were hundreds of cases where men and women were sent to gaol on manufactured charges of vagrancy. Such old people went through a dismal process of going in and out of gaol—the old men to polish tins and the women to spend miserable days in idleness. By this process they were not improved, but became worse and worse each time they were sent to prison, and rapidly became a menace to society. This Bill would make possible “a change from prison walls to blue skies and God s open air.” ~ , , „ “There among the birds and flowers and God’s fresh air the old people would be given a chance to rehabilitate themselves,” said Mr. Stallworthy. The ister said he knew that any man who had been to gaol knew wffiat conditions were. Surprised Reform voices: Have you been to gaol? The Minister: Yes, I have been, and I make no secret of it. Mr. J. A. Nash (Reform, Palmerston) : Did you stay long? The Minister: Well, I stayed long enough to convince myself there was a great deal amiss with our prison methods. Mr. Nash: Oh, you were a free agent, then? Mr. Coates: It was not bookmaking, was it? The Minister: No! I was not a free agent, as I went under compulsion. Mr. Coates (laughing) : They all do! Compulsion of Love.

The Minister: Well, it is strange to me that some members are still out. (Loud laughter.) The compulsion under which I -went to gaol was a compulsion of love to see how some of my fellow citizens were spending their lives. I found the conditions dismal, and could not see that much was being gained by keeping them there. I could not see why something more constructive could not be done. This Bill gives a wise Administration scope to do magnificent work. The Minister stated that when the measure was in Committee it was his intention to move an amendment to ensure that no charitable institution could be declared a rest home under the Bill without the consent of the controlling board. "The Old Hands.” Agreeing that the objects of the Bill were excellent, the Leader of the Opposition (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates), referred to the effect the provisions might have on some of the “old hands.” who were accustomed to their own way of livng. If members of that class—and some of them were disagreeable old chaps, too — were committed, they might at least be given their heads and allowed freedom, provided their methods of living were decent. Mr. M. J. Savage (Labour, Auckland West) said that as there was a desire to give the Bill its second reading, he would confine his remarks to complimenting the Minister on the Bill and his amendment, which would ensure that no charitable institution could be declared a rest home under the Bill without the consent of the controlling board. “Sit down ! Sit down 1 Play the game 1 That’s dirt!” were the cries which greeted Mr. J. A. Young (Reform, Hamilton), former Minister of Health, when he rose a minute before the hour of adjournment to speak. Mr. Young said the provisions of the Billl were important, and he desired to discuss them. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment. POLICE SUPERANNUATION DEFINITE STATEMENT PROMISED A promise to make a definite statement on Monday regarding police superannuation was given by the Minister of Justice (Hon. T. M. Wilford) in tbe House of Representatives yesterday. Tlie question was raised by Mr. J. A. Nash (Reform, Palmerston), who asked the Minister whether the Government proposed to introduce legislation on the subject this session. “I shall be able to give you full information on Monday,” replied Mr. Wilford. “I had a consultation with the secretary of the Public Service Association, who is interested in any question dealing with superannuation of Public servants generally. and I placed my views before him. He in turn gave me the views of the association, and I hope to be able to say definitely on Monday whether anything will be gone on with or not.” RELIEF TO SPORTSMEN ARMS AMENDMENT BILL The Arms Amendment Bill was passed by the House of Representatives last night. Moving the second reading, the Hon. T. M. Wilford said that the object of the Bill was to relax the severity of the requirements of the Arms Act, 1920. It was not proposed to make any alteration in regard to revolvers and automatic pistols. There would be no necessity for ordinary sporting guns and rifles to be registered. All the irksome restrictions on sportsmen and rifle clubs would be removed. Licensed dealers, however, would be required to register sales so that the police could see who had purchased firearms. There was no reason why anyone should carry an automatic revolver in New Zealand, and it was proposed to leave the law on that point as it stood to-day. The Bill provided that it would not be necessary for farmers to have the permission of the police to buy explosives for blasting. The dealer, however, would have to record the sale. “This big change is in the interests of sportsmen, and I think it will be welcomed.” said Mr. Wilford. Members generally expressed their approval of tbe measure. The Bill was put through all its stages and passed.