POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 19698, 27 October 1927, Page 15

POLITICAL POINTS

lABORITE IH COMEDY ROLE [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 2G. A carefully-staged comedy by Mr Fraser (Wellington Central) amused njombers of the House to-day. Taking advantage of the usual chance to ask urgent questions of tho Ministers, Mr Fraser secured leave to inquire of the Prime Minister if, in view of the fact that a member of tho Reform party, in charge of the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, had talked out tho report of tho committee, and therefore delayed proceedings on the Bill, the Government would permit the discussion to be renewed that afternoon, so that tho Bill would not be unduly delayed. Tho Prime Minister, after the laughter had subsided, replied; “If I had known that there had been such a genera] demand that the _ debate on the report should hq continued, I would have had no objection; but we have two important Bills we desire to get on with. So far as tho report is concerned, I do not think it really makes any difference to the position of the Bill on the Order Paper, and it will be dealt with at the first suitable opportunity. Every member of tbe House knows tbe committee’s recommendation quite well, and it does not make the slightest difference Mr Lysnar: Not half a vote. The Prime Minister repented his assurance that tho Bill would come forward “on a suitable occasion.” Mr Parry; They don’t care whether they never see it, Mr Holland (Leader of the Opposition) : Perhaps tbe member in charge does not wish to sec it. a * * « PETROLEUM PROSPECTING, As tho Petroleum Bill included provisions of great importance to Maori land owners, it was recently referred by the House of Representatives to the Native Affairs Committee. The Bill has been returned with some suggestions for amendment. Tho committee suggests that the clause providing for the opening of land for prospecting should be amended on the lines of the Mining Act, which empowers the Native Land Court-to make a, decision that native land shall bo open for prospecting, or ceded for mining purposes Similarly, the committee considers that, where persons are injuriously affected bv _ mining operations, _ compensation claims in the case of native land should be decided by the Native Land Court. A provision should also be made for tho payment of royalties to such person} or body as tho Native Land Court shall direct; and that, whore right of entry on native land is required, the notices shall be served on the Native Land Board, which shall notify the persons interested. « * * * GOVERNMENT CAUCUS. One of the frequent sessional meetings of the Government Party was held to-day, its object being to discuss legislation in connection with which some difficulties have to be faced, as practically all the controversial measures of tho session have banked up at the end. Further discussion of the position by caucus takes place on Thursday. Greater power to vary tho rate of interest to Post Office Savings Bank depositors is secured to the Minister of Finance in the amendment to the Post and Telegraph Act. It was suggested by Mr Lee (Auckland East) that this power was wanted by tho Government to play into the bands of private banks, but Mr Stewart (Minister of Finance) assured Mr Lee that ho had discovered a mare’s nest. The clause originated as the result of his experience in tho recess, when it was expected tho banks would increase the deposit rate; and ho realised that this might prejudice tho Post Office Savings Bank, by attracting its deposits. He found there no power to raise interest payment beyond fixed limits, so that lie was fighting with ono hand tied, unless Parliament was sitting. The primary object of _tbe_ clause was to give greater flexibility in fixing the interest rate. Private savings banks bad been putting up their interest rates to draw deposits. The Auckland Savings Bank, for instance, was paying 4i and 4jj per cent., and its deposits were rapidly mounting. Tho clause would enable steps to be taken, when necessary, to draw money into the Savings Bank. Mr Jordan (Manukau) remarked that rather than criticising the clause lie must deplore its late introduction. The Post Office Bank was losing its deposits, and tho attempt fo recover was two years overdue. It should lead private banks in tho interest it offered for tho benefit of small investors.