YESTERDAY’S PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20309, 18 October 1929, Page 3

YESTERDAY’S PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (Abridged from .Press Association.) The Legislative Council met at 2.30 P Tho Local Authorities Empowering (Aviation Encouragement) Bill was reported from the Select Committee "'it-li amendments. ' , , j.,,„ Eighteen local Bills passed by tmHouse of .Representatives were, reeenca, read a first time and referred to select committees. , In moving the committal or the Lana Laws Amendment Bill, the Bonder or tiro Council (the Hon. T. K. &*«?£) jvointed out that it was intended after the Bill had been passed to increase the personnel of the Land .Developmen Board bv Governor-Genera I’s message. The Hon. ii. Scott regarded Mic measure as an honest endear our o settle the unoccupied lands. He expressed the hope that the development work would bo done by contract, as to use the unemployed would be too expensive. A great deal would depend on the class of men on the Advisory Committee. Sir Francis 801 l commended the sense of fairness of the Government in allowing the value of lands compulsorily acquired to be assessed by an inc.cpondent court instead of the owner^nominating his unimproved value. 'The Hon. J. B. Gow suggested that the land should be valued independently of development costs, and offered for kale at such cost. He hoped great discrimination would ho exorcised in the choice of tile men to go to the ballot. The Hon. J. A. Hamm, while approving of the compulsory acquisition of estates, did not think much would bo done under that provision. A graduated land tax would be more clloctivo. Tim Hon. V. 11. Heed expressed regret that more had nob been done to make finance available tor settlers. Ito commended tbo Government for the provision whereby unimproved lands could bo taken for settlement, pointing ouu that there had been no inducement for much of it to bo broken in previously because of the taxes op itThe [lon. J. G. Garland said there were vast areas in the dominion which could not bh brought in. hut that need not deter the Government in its aim. The Hon. E. H. Clark said the success of the measure would depend on the men appointed to the advisory committees. They should be men with a local knowledge of land values. The Mon. W. H. MT.ntyrc said the Government should concentrate more on unoccupied lands than on the subdivision of occupied lands. The Hon. \V. W. Snodgrass suggested that tbo knowledge of Crown lands commissioners and members p( land boards would be of value in giving advice as to suitable land for settlement. The Hon. L. M. Lift described the Bill as a huge experiment, and said his main faith was in the .Minister ot Lands (Mr Forbes). Welcoming the Bill because be thcimht it would do good on broad lines,” the Hon. F. Hawke .said it would helo tHe poor man. He advocated ■■'unip settlement, enabling men to take over the land they had broken in. The Bill was put through its lina! stages and passed unamended. The Council rose at 4.3 d p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House of Representatives met at 2.30. Mr C. E. Macmillan gave notice ol his intention to introduce the Coroner Act Amendment Bill. Mr W. E. Barnard (Napu.-r) gave notice of his intention to introduce the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Bill. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Ministerial replies to questions were presented. The Prime Minister, replying to -Mr H. G. R. Mason (Auckland Suburbs), slated that ho proposed shortly to make a further statement to the House m regard to the assertion that he had been precluded from borrowing on the London market for eighteen months. Replying to Air H. M. Rushworth (Bay of Islands), the Minister of Agriculture (Air I'orbes) stated that, the information at present available regarding overseas markets was not sufficientto” enable an authoritative statement to be made as to the prospects ot the tobacco industry in New Zealand. Hie experience during the past two or three years suggested that really good leal could be grown in dill’erent parts of the country, but only a relatively small quantity had yet been marketed overseas, ami whether such leaf was suitable to the British trade or whether, being suitable, it would, in view ot the 'heavy supplies of leaf imported into Great Britain from various parts of the world, return a payable price to tho producer was not yet known, nor was it likely to bo definitely Known until after reasonably' large quantities of leaf had been made available to that market. Tho Department of Agnonltuvo v.’oulcl, us l;u* us >v:is practicable, furnish export advice and assistance in the raising and curing of tonacco leaf to those settlers who desired to embark in this industry. The Minister in Charge of I lie Police Department (Mr Wiltord), in reply to Mr Mason, said that all wrestling, contests were the subject of a, permit issued by an inspector of police, and were conducted under police supervision to ensure that cruelty was not permitted. Where pain was caused in the course of a wrestling exhibition the contestant had only to give the submission signal, and. if necessary, the police and other officials present would at once inter-

vcmc. in replies to questions submitted by Mr W. J. Poison (Stratford) and Mr D. Jones (Mid-Canterbury), in reference to the suggested increases in the duty on bacon, ham, and pork, and on onions imported lo the Commonwealth, the Minister of Customs (Mr Taverner) stated it was not considered that the present was an opportune time for making representations to the Australian Tariff Board. Ho added: "In tiio event of the duty being increased six months’ notice must bo given before the amended rates can affect New Zealand products, and the question can then bo considered whether any, and, if so, what, action should bo taken ’’ The Minister of (Mr Taverner), replying to Air J, S. i'leteher Crcv Lynn), stated that the preliminary trials of the Garralt locomotives had been completed, and the engines had been placed in traffic. The trials indicated that the engines were mechanically capable of doing their work. Their economic value could only be tried out in traffic, and this would necessarily take a period of time. Air E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) asked the Minister of Mamie (Air Cobbc) how long was it since a ship has visited our islands to the south of New Zealand, and whether, in view of the loss of the Kobenhavn. it was not our duty to have those islands searched. Mr Cobbe replied: “ I he southern islands of New 7 Zealand were last visited as follows: —Bounty ana the Antipodes, in April, 192", ana the Auckland and the Snares in January

:md February, 1929, by the Government lighthouse tender. Tho Campbell Islands wore visited in August by s.s. Awarua. As to the Danish ship Kobenhavn, an extensive search was made lor her by a special vessel irght across the Southern Ocean from Buenos Aires to the western coast of Tasmania at the instigation of tho Danish Government, and was then abandoned. Other vessels m tbo waters where she might likely be were also instructed to keep a sharp look-out. Her wireless was not heard later than a week out from Buenos Aires. Replying to Air W. K. Barnard (Napier), tho Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Cobbe) said that tho Government was taking full advantage of the assistance to bo obtained from the Empire Marketing Board, both in tho held of research and in tho general development of interempirc trade. In regard to research, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in Now Zealand was kept in close touch with the activities of the board through its liaison officer attached to the High Commissioner's Office in London, and in connection with trade and commerce full co-operation had been established between the board and tbo High Commissioner's Office. At exhibitions of Empire products made by the Empire .Marketing Board throughout the United Kingdom full opportunity had been afforded the High Commissioner to display New Zealand’s leading products, and the practical results achieved had been most satisfactory. In his reply to a question asked by Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton), the Minister of Education (Mr Atmorc) stated that it was not intended at present to raise the compulsory school age to fifteen. Replying to Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Waitomo). Mr Cobbe said it was not possible for New Zealand to obtain an international agreement to ensure the proper control or regulation ol whaling in the Antarctic, but representations bad already been made to the Imperial Government urging 1 hat stops should be taken to that end. It was understood that the matter was engaging (he .Imperial Government s attention. In answer io Mr C. it. Chapman (Wellington North), the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) staled that the Government had sent a message to Mr Hamsay MacDonald conveying best wishes for tho success of his mission to the United States.

Afr Broadfoot asked the Aiiuistor of Internal Affairs (Air de la Perrelle) whether he would take steps to eliminate two floating racing permits by allocating them to the one-day clubs most entitled to them. Air do la Perrelle replied that the suggestion that two floating one-day totalisator licenses should be permanently allocated was at present under consideration. Mr, W. J. Poison (Stratford) asked the AJinister of Internal Affairs whether during the recess he would have the legislation governing the election of hospital, harbour, and electric power boards carefully scrutinised, and provide for amending legislation giving rural voters a more equitable basis of voting, Air do la Perrelle replied that the matter had been the subject ol conlcrences between the Internal Affairs, Public Works, Alarine, and Health Departments. It was proposed to go more fully into the question during the recess. PATENT DESIGNS AND TRADE MARKS. In moving the second reading of the Patents Designs and Trades Alarks Amendment Bill, the Minister of Jus tice (Mr Wilford) said that the object of the amendment was to make the Now Zealand law conform with that of the Empire, and be in accord with the decision of a conference at The Hague. Air H. G. R. Ala son (Auckland Suburbs) suggested that additional revenue might bo obtained by increasing the registration fees for trade marks.

Mr A. Harris (Waitcmata) said ho thought revenue might also be obtained by charging a fee for hall marks on gold articles, such as jewellery, which would, in addition, provide a safeguard for purchasers. Mr Wilford, in reply, said that the registration fees on a population basis were the same as those charged at Home. Ho pointed out that the question raised by Mr Harris was foreign to the Bill. The Amendment Bill went through committee unamended, was read a third time, and passed. CABLE SALE. The Postmaster-General (Mr Donald) moved tho second reading of the Pacific Cable Sale Authorisation Bill. Ho said it simply ratified the action taken by the late Government in connection with the cable merger. Tho Bill was read a second time. THE SCAFFOLDING BILL. When tho Scaffolding and Excavation Amendment Bill was under consideration ’in committee. Labour members protested against.- the proposal to exempt local bodies from the necessity for excavations being conducted under the supervision of an inspector so long as the work was under the direction of a registered civil engineer. The Chairman of Committees reported progress, and the House rose at 10.30 p.m.