PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 78, 29 September 1930, Page 11

PARLIAMENT

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of. Represcntativea met at 2.3Q p.m. to-day. ... ,•.;. . .■..

' "Mr. D. M'Dougall (United, 'Mataura) announced that he/proposes to ask the :Aotiac-Prime:'Ministcr whether the Goy.el/i^ent ihtisji.dß, to" ireep. ..this Union Steau.'Shipi/Company (o its contract in connection "with the Bluff-Melbourne .■servise/and; ;ix not, what alternative is in:view.;- '■' -'. ' -. '• / ■'- ■■■■■■■ / Mr.;>y.:E.-Barnard (Labour, Napier) intends to. ask,,,the. Acting-Prime Mm'- ' Safer whether during "the coming recess he will cause an"'inquiry to be made into the -question-of a universal pensions: scheme, alid submit:a: Toporfc -to Parliameni/n^xt ...session. Ho said that tlid Hinisprto'f.. Kailw'ays had -referred Approvingly;' to' such: a' scheme'in the course::o£ ,tho Pai-nell by-election. '..' , Mr. J. S? Fletcher. (Independent; Grey liynn) gave notice .to."ask the Government if it-would; see -that Now/Zealand stone 'was' iised..'in! the erection of the 1 Dbniiinou National. Memorial. " " . • Mr. C/"IE ''Chapman' (Labour, Wellingtoil North) -gave', notice to ■ ask the Acting-Prime Minister whether he would give.power "to ihe ; Public Trustee to stamp " evidence on-behalf of litigants. " ' SUPEBANNXJATION TOE . LOCAL ; . ,'. yArr-io bodies. -.'■■■■•'';■• Mr.' M. J". Savage (Labour, Auckland West) asked the. Actiug-Prime Minisr ■-.tor. if- .ho.iwouid/inelua'e •in the 'Finance ..Bill, this session, ,a. clause- giving general powers to all local bodies, iueluding- Electric Power- to : estab; lish■■■■or<■contribute' ,t6" (a)'- any scheme .to provide for the'payment to officers - and servants- bf such •" local' bodies, of •their dependants;:'of gratuities, retire ing allowances;- and-1 other such grants; ;(b) -bonus/funds- to/provide-; for tho payniant. to ~ officers and/ servants -' of such.local bodies,' or- any association■ of such:^officers ror 'servants,"::of1 bonuses,' gratuities, ;ai(d- "other's like: payments. •Mr..-. Savage- said, section: 55 of:' the Auckland -transport; Board' Act, 1928, gives'.'-similar powers to the-Auckland > Transport Board, arid a scheme which was inaugurated--by " the Government life Insurance Department is already in operation, and covers portion of the board's staff, .There-ispa general desire on/,the part >of- local : bodies that ,these powers, •should have universal application."- '-"^" /'" ""'■ ■ ■'■'■ ■ . ■■;'..' V ■':

tion." Mr. Ransom replied: "Local bodies, Including electric power boards, are now authorised to establish Superannuation Funds or to eontributo to schemes for the benefit of their employees, as - follow: —Under the local Authorities Superannuation Act, 1906, which provides that local authorities may establish superannuation schemes', of their own. The Act applies to"local authorities having rating powers, hence electric power boards are included. "The Act provides thai a Superannuation Fund may bo established by a special resolution, which must be confirmed "by "the Governor-General by Order-in-Council. Undei the National Provident Fund Act, 1926 (See. 22, ct. seq) local authorities, including electric power boards, may become contributes to the National Provident -Fund, and Ihe effect of this is that a'local authority contributes .to the fund and recovers a portion of the contribution from the officers. The officers arc thereby entitled to the usual benefits under the National Provident Fund Act, i.e., pension, sick benefiis, rtc. In addition •to the foregoing, See. 13 of the Municipal Corporations Amendment Act, 1928, provides that municipal corporations, may subsidise sick benefit societies established by employees. "If "appears"' that' the legislation al-ready-on the Statute Book should be sufficient' for' the establishment; of such senemos as advocated by the hon. mem-ber.--There lias been no general agitation for further powers in this direction/ and at is "not proposed to intijoduce legislation during this session, it, however, local authorities evince a eeneral, desire for further legislative powers;-the-matter will receive consideration should further representations be,made." , . Tlfe "Acting-Prime Minister (the lion. E WEansom) moved'that on Monday, Tucsday,"\v"ednesday and Thursday of this vrcek! thc*House sit till midnight. Mr. -P. -Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central) suggested that the supper ad■journmerit should bo cut out, and the 'House should riso at 11.30 p.m. That would enable members to catch last trams and. buses. "The House rising at 11.30 will make all the difference "between some" members go-ing1 homo •to sleep and staying to blcei> on a cquch," said Mr. Fraser. * Mr. Speaker: "I am"-afraid the hon. mcmbe-S is1 disclosing that tamo members go to. sleep in the House." (Laughtor.) Mr. Fraser:- "Not in the Chamber, buY in the precincts of the House. I % would not suggest -that members went to sleep while the House- is bitting." (Laughter.) --- - Mr. Fraser -expressed tho hope that no Bills would be dropped, but that they would stay in session until their work ■was completed. Mr. J. T. Hogaii (Independent, Kangitikei) suggested sitting on Friday afternoon and evening, leaving tlic morning clear for Committee work, Mr. 11. T. Armstrong'(Labour, Christchurch East) Said he did not mind ■working overtime provided the Prime Minister brought down all the Bills he had promised, which it was said would have to be shelved. The ' Acting-Prime •Minister said he would like to meet tho convenience of members.,; : v Mr. J. A. Nash ("Reform, Palmerston Uorth):" "Stick to 12 o'clock." • Mr. Bansoin said it might bo necessary to. take a division. Mr,-Nash: ilI am not particular1 about a vote." The motion was pnt and carried. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labour, Napier) asked tho Minister of Internal Affairs ■whether he will - make provision this session whereby tho. money refunded to racing clubs- in respect of totalisatot duty may in the discretion of the clubs, be applied toward painting and otherwise maintaining in good order club buildings erected on racecourses! The Minister (the Hon. P. A. do la Perrello) said that when the legislation for a rebate of one and a. quarter per cent, to totalisator clubs was first introduced, the rules of racing provided that the not amount received from the t.otalisator in any one racing year -nas to be given in stakes the following year. It was, therefore, necessary to earmark the rebate foi improvements or for tho liquidation of liabilities in- ' curred for - improvements, otherwise clubs would have been obliged to give tho rebate in 'stakes. Now, however, the rules of racing hud been amended and special provision mado requiring racing clubs to- give not less than 90 per cent. of the average net amount ' received from the use of the totalisator during the three previous yeais. It had been provided also.that the totalisator tax', xefcdde'd shoild not be reckoned as rtfrSiink i deriv!H: from th^use of theto'talisatNc^: Aliv Pyrrelle said he would be glad to bring the matter before Cabinet for consideration with a view to introducing amending legislation. The-Crown-and Other Lands Amendment Bill was introduced by GovernorGeneral's-" Message. : MryT. Fraaer:- (Labour, "Wellington

;Contral)'raised the question of the conferring of greater powers on tho Crown to make land available , for afforestation companies. He thought the powers ought to be restricted rather than widened. He could not imagine any more wasteful or uneconomic procedure than growing trees on land that could bs devoted-to dairying and the raising of sheep. . . ~ ,z, Mr. W. E. 'Parry ; (Labour, Auckland Central) supported Mr. leaser's remarks, and said the Government had been very unwise in the past.in making so- much excellent land available to the afforestation companies. The Government would bo well advised to review the-'whole, situation. .

(Proceeding.).