MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS TO LAW

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 142, 12 March 1938, Page 12

MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS TO LAW

Welfare Of Native Race; Discussion On Financial Measure Substantial progress was macle by the House of Representatives yesterday with the remaining business of the session, Ihe House met at 2.30 p.m., and after dealing with formal matters and passing the Thames Borough Empowering Bill went into committee to discuss the 17 clauses in the Iron and Steel Industry Bill, which provides for the establishment of that industry in New Zealand as a State monopoly. By sitting for an extra quarter o. an hour beyond the usual tea adjournment time of 5.30 p.m. toe House was able to complete the committee stage of the Bill, which was then read a third time and passed. A division was called tor . on the clause authorising the Minister of Finance to borrow up to £5,000,000 'for the development of the industry, but when tie bells ceased ringing the Opposition allowed the clause to go on the voices. Some slight technical amendments were made *o several clauses at the request of the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. D. G. Sullivan. . When the House resumed in the evening a Statutes Amenc.ment Bill containing a number of miscellaneous amendments to existing laws was introduced by Governor-General s Message. Consideration was then given the Native Purposes Bill, which . deals with matters affecting the welfare of the Maori race. Less than an hour was sufficient for the committal and committee stages of the Bill, which was passed. This was followed by the debate on the Finance Bill (No. 2), the second reading of which was moved by the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash. Urgency was taken for the Bill by the actmg-Leader of the House Hon. P. Fraser, with the object of sifting beyond the normal rising hour of 10.30 p.m. After 15 clauses had been approved in committee progress was reported, as further clauses have yet to be brought down for inclusion in the Bill. The select committee to which had been referred the Local Bodies (Amalgamation Schemes) Bill reported that it was unable to complete the taking of evidence on the measure this session. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. W. E. Parry, announced that he would reintroduced the Bill next session. The House adjourned at 10.40 p.m. A sitting will be held to-day from 10.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.