POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 18714, 16 August 1924, Page 4

POLITICAL POINTS

[From Ora Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 15. PURCHASING CLAUSE IN LEASES. It was mentioned in (he House by the Hon. D. Buddo to-day that several petitions have been submitted to Parliament from farmers who have got into difficulty over the compulsory purchasing clause in their lease. He; asked the Minister of Finance if be will amend the Stamp Duties Act, so that the Commissioner of Stamps could refund to lessees the duty charged to them through the department charging them full transfer fees on leases with the compulsory purchasing clause. Many of these men who took up leases between 1918 and 1922 had been unable to complete purchase, but they could get no refund. of stamp duty, and some of them had been ruined through their obligation under these leases. Mr Massey replied that a Stamp Duties Bill was being introduced this session, and be would be glad to take the point raised into consideration. « * * * A SLEEPY, TOOTHLESS WATCHDOG. Discussing the Government’s duty in relation to the activities of monopolists and combines, Mr Forbes said the public looked to the Government as the watchdog ; but if it was asleep there was no protection. Labor Member: It has no teeth ; it is too old. Another Member : It is dead ! Mr Forbes: It is certainly not functioning.;,but Ido not know with what disease it is afflicted. * * * » WORSE THAN AN OLD SCHOOL. The Minister of Justice, the Hon. C. J. Parr, replied to a complaint by Air Forbes that the wooden portion of Parliament Buildings was a poverty-stricken-looking place, and that the Government should either renovate it or proceed with the completion of new premises. The Minister said that no one could defend the appearance of a structure half of which was in sublime marble and the remainder more decrepit than anything else, except, perhaps, one or two of his schools. (Laughter.) It was the policy of the Government at, as early a date as possible to complete the new structure. Mr Lee: We want an umbrella in our room. Air Parr: You are right; the wooden part of the building will not last much longer. * * * * DID IT CURE HIM? The Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Justice, replying to criticism by Air Sidey of the Finance Alinister’s figures in the Estimates, remarked that Mr Sidey was evidently the financial brains of the Opposition. Mr Massey: They are very small. The Hon. C. J. Parr: He is a hard taskmaster, and he worries my unfortunate chief because he has not got his Estimates right to a penny. Air Sidey : Nothing of the sort. Mr Parr; Then why all this talk about the accuracy of the Estimates? There is not a debate on finance but Air Sidey gets up and grumbles and complains. Air Massey said Air Sidey had given them the old story ever since he could remember. Air Sidey: I never raised such a point before. Mr Massey: Good gracious! When I was ill the other day a member listened to you, and came and repeated to mo word for word what you said this afternoon. Afr Fraser: Did it cure you? (Laughter.)