PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 11

PARLIAMENT

TO-DAY'S IpROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tlic House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. ilr. F. Langstonc (Labour,' Waimarino) gave notice to ask tho Primo Minister if he would introduce legisla- ' lion, this session providing for work or . sustenance) for women unable to pro- • euro employment. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour, Avon) gave notice of intention to introduce tho AVorkers' Annual Leave Bill. Mr. D. Jones (Beform, Mid-Cantor- ■ bury) intends to ask the-Prime Minister whether he would make provision in; legislation to permit Civil servants with 30 years' service to retire upon a ■ superannuation basis to be arranged. Mr. W. H. Field (Reform, <Otaki) gave notice to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the low prices being received for wool, he would consider a scheme, on the lines of that recently put forward in Australia, for a combined marketing scheme for Now Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. Mr. T. D. Burnett (Beform, Tcmuka) intends".'to ask the Postmaster-General if lie will consider the advisability of temporarily reducing for six months all telephone rentals. Tho Leader of the Opposition (the Bight lion. J. G. Coates), on behalf of tijo cx-servicc men of tho House, asked ■ tlio Minister of Bailwajs if it waa the 'policy of the Government (o dismiss reiur'iiod soldiers from tho railway workshops. Mr. Vcitch said lhat wherever the retention of returned soldiers..could bo justified they were being retained. Thcro was no discrimination against jcUirnod soldiers, but the size of the staff depended on the- future volume of business and tho available funds. * ' Mr. K. Semple (Labour, Wellington y,m,\) asked the Prime Minister wheth- ' or, in view, of the proposed reduction an wngoa and salaries, tho Government wouJd take steps to reduce the interest payments to tho Slate Advances Department' in OTder to enablo those who have loans from that Department lo meet their obligations. The Prime Minister,replied that the ' average payment of principal anfl interest made under the advances to workers was £1 2s 6d, which wps far fcelow the average paid for rented houses. , However, if there were any cases of hardship ho would give them his, consideration. : . EARTHQUAKE LEGISLATION. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labour, Napier) asked tho Prime Minister how soon he .expects to introduce tho Bill containing the proposed earthquake legislation, 'and whether -ho will give it priority "over current business. The Prime Minister (the Right Ho.n. G. W. Forbes) said it was anticipated tlia-t the legislation would bo ready by ''L'hursday ovening, and if possiblo ho would bring- the Bill down that evening. He did not think there would be any difficulty as to the question of priority, for he expected the Bill before the House would be dealt with by Thursday. Mr. W. 13. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central): "You aro pretty optimistic." jLr. Forbes added that the earthquake legislation would bo dealt with after the current business. Mr. Barnard: "Tho responsibility is yours." •■ ~~ " Mr. Barnard also asked whether power would be given in tho - earth- - quake .legislation for the regulation of <xents by a tribunal. Information was ito hand from Napier, he said, that some Landlords were taking advantage of •the shortage of habitable houses to ask rents higher than those prevailing before, the -arthquake, and this was-likely to cause serious trouble. In one case .the rent had been increased from 25s to 30s a week and in another': from 32s 6d to 40s a week, and it was not possible'to obtain an average four-•uoomed-'eottage for less than 30s a week. ' Mr. Forbes said that there was provision in- tho Bill for regulations enabling the" Government to meet any emergency that might arise. In regard to rents, he was informed that a great many peoplo were still absent from Napier*.-.and one would have thought tliafc the rentals of _houses in 3S Tapier would not 'be rising, but that •they would be reduced. There were bound-to be quite a number of empty houses. The powers conferred by the legislation would be very wide, and if any exploitation was attempted by people with houses cases would bo dealt with. He felt confident that the good sense of the people with houses in -Napier would prevail, and tha,t they .would try and meet the wishes of the ■tenants. URGENCY FOR FINANCE BILL. The Prime Minister moved that urgency should be accorded to the Comniitteo stages of tho Finance Bill and the proceedings incidental thereto. On a point of order, the Leader of tho Labour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland) asked what would be tho effect of the motion on the meetings of the earthquake committees arranged for to-mor-row morning. Mr. Forbes: "I think I am entitled to ask tho honourable gentleman how he intends to;'deal ■With the business of the House. If reasonable^progress' is made, there can be no objection to an adjournment at a reasonable time. There is no desire on my part to force the proceedings at all, but I want to see a reasonable amount of work done." ' Mr. Holland:- "But if tho House sits all night, what will the position be?" Mr. Forbes: "I will see what arrangements.can be made. Perhaps the .-honourable gentleman will be,prepared .to. assist me." , , ' 'Labour members: "Oh, yes.' On,.a division, the Prime Minister s ■motion was carried by 45 votes to 22, Messrs. .T. S. Fletcher. (Independent, Grey Lynn) and G. C. Black (Independ- '- ent,,Motueka) voting with the Labour Party. ■ " ■' ~ .;