YESTERDAY'S PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19953, 24 August 1928, Page 4

YESTERDAY'S PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (Abridged ironi Bre,-;: A-mciainm.) \V EkU NCI 'UN, Augii.-,1. 23. -Mr J. A. Lash C’abiier.sum .North) asked the Minmier ol Public Works it he would oiler a .vnbmaiitial reward lor inloniiatoin which would lead to the conviction of persons interfering with electric power line,-.. lie mentioned several caac.s ol intcrJcrcncc, especially one case in'wliieh a wire had been attached to a power ime and then to a wire I cnee, rendering it “Jive” for the whole of its length and thus fatal to anyone who touched it.—Tho Minister .said that that was the tirsi he had heard of that class of interference, and he would look more fully into tlio matter. Sir Maui Romaic hud on the liable tlio annual report of the Department hi Internal Affairs. On this Air Ail. J. tsivage (Auckland West) invited discussion on a. pamphlet entitled ‘New Zealand, Brighter Britain ol the South.' issued by the Publicity Department, and circulated largely in England in 192(3. Members of the Labour Early. in criticising the pamphlet, dawned that it contained statements “hopelessly and shamelully misleading,’’ tending to induce immigrants to come to the dominion only to find that, the conditions were not as represented, with resultant disappointment.—Sir Maui Potnarc, in reply, said it was (rue New Zealand was the “brighter Britain of the .south.” It was God’s Own Country, and wo could nob say too much about .it. Tho pamphlet was full of good information about New Zealand. The critics bad picked out particular passages and detached them from the context, which was unfair, lie said they should read the whole of it. Ho then proceeded tn read; “In New Zealand income fax scarcely concerns the working man at all.” “Is that, not a fact?” lie asked. “Then why did not the lion, gentleman quote that?”—Air J. A. Eeo (Auckland East): Because.—-Sir Maui Pomare; “‘Because.’ 'That _is a woman’s reason.” He proceeded In quote other extracts from the pamphlet, .punctuating his reading with his question, “Is that not a fact?” and concluded triumphantly: “The hook (ells the truth.”—The report was laid on the table.

Tho following local Bills were read a second time:—Lyttelton Harbour Board Loan Enabling Bill (Mr ,J. M'Combs); Wliakntane Harbour Amendment Bill (Mr F. F. ITocklyl: Onornhi Water Reserve Enabling Bill (Mr W. .Tones); Invercargill Boron .oh Council Special Rate Empowering Bill (Mr A. Hamilton, on behalf of Sir Joseph Ward)The House then went into commitloe on the Property Law Amendment Bill, which was reported with amendments made by the Statute Revision Committee. The Magistral es’ Courts Bill was considered iu committee and reported with, minor amendments. THE RABBIT NUISANCE. The Rabbit Nuisance Bill, as Amended by the Stock Committee, was then taken into consideration, and discussed at considerable length. It was teportecl finally with amendments and passed. •Tho Inspection of Machinery Bill, which is purelyi a consolidating measure, was put through committee without amendment. 'Plio Surveyors’ Registration Bill was likewise reported, and all the Bills .were road a third time and passed.