YESTERDAY’S PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20591, 17 September 1930, Page 11

YESTERDAY’S PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [Peb United Press Association.] The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. The Presbyterian Church Property Amendment (Private) Bill was read a third time and passed. Moving the second reading of the London and New Zealand Bank, Ltd.. Amendment Bill, Mr A. M. Samuel (Thames) said this private measure was intended to extend ■ the- time during which the £1,000,000 capital for the venture had to be raised. Owing to abnormal conditions the money had not been raised within the time specified in the original Act, but it was hoped the economic depression in Great Britain would bo' sufficiently relieved to enable the amount to be provided in the near future. He thought the House would agree that the underwriters had been wise to keep off the London market at a time when conditions were difficult, and they were now asking for an extension of time by two years. They were confident that as soon as the financial conditions at Home approached anything like normal the success of the bank would be assured. —The Bill was read a second time.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Murdoch), in reply to Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Waitorno), said the High Commissioner in London was in touch with the work that was being .'undertaken by the Swiss expert M. Spahlinger relating to the elimination of tuberculosis in milk. If there were, any developments of material interest they would immediately be notified. Experiments were being conducted locally bearing on a system of immunisation, but so far, no results were available. THE ESTIMATES. ’ The House wont into Committee f Supply to deal with the Estimates. The vote of £9,992 for the Electoral Department was passed. The vote of £3,188,18(3 for the Education Department was next considered. Several members congratulated the Minister on the improvements and the erection of new buildings throughout the dominion. The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr H. E. Holland) remarked that the vote this year was £23,(100 [ess' than last year. He asked the Minister to give the House an assurance that the expenditure on education was not to be cut down. He considered that this department. in common with the Department of Health and one or two others, was too important to be subjected to economies.—The Estimate was passed. The vote of £180,092 for the Marine Department was submitted. A complaint against the action of unauthorised persons in removing sliinfrle from beaches was made by Mr R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs), who said that in the Wellington dis,triot damage had been caused r a result of marine erosion following the removal of large quantities of shingle. He urged that the department should exercise some control in the matter. Mr J. S. Fletcher (Grey Lynn) asked whether New Zealand was being represented at the Geneva Conference. Dealing with the whaling industry.' Mr H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch Fast) protested against what he described as a breach of faith by the department in failing to amend the legis-

latum as promised to the harbours associations. lie asserted that this legislation was urgently required; Replying to Mr \Vright, the Minister said he agreed that the removal of shingle, was-in some cases becoming a serious matter and .would have to be investigated. Referring to Mi I’[etcher’s question about the whaling industry, ho said an agreement had been drawn up at Geneva and would bo submitted for signing by all the countries interested. Whaling in future would be governed, by this agreement Replying to Mr Armstrong, Mr Donald said that as it had been proposed that the present session should not be a long one ft had not been decided to bring down new harbour legislation this year, but he promised that it would ha brought down early next session. ill’ T; Makitanara (Southern Maori) read a section from the Treaty of n aitangi which, he said, gave the Maoris the right to enjoy their»own fish. Ho said that two Maoris had recently m fined at-- Wanganui for taking ut, and lie' declared' that a gigantic 'lition signed by 34,000 Maoris would be presented to the. House next year ith reference to the subject.

The vote was passed. 1 . 'l/ The Estimate or £43,346 for the West* port Harbbnr account, was approved. The sum of-£8;435 for the' Public Service Superannuation. Fund account was submitted. .

Mr .G. H. .Chapman (Wellington North) requested that the employees formerly engaged as casuals who had been granted permanent appointments should be permitted to make back payments and thereby become entitled to the benefits of the fund.

Mr J. O’Brien (Westland) asked that ■a number of nurses and attendants at mental hospitals who had not in tho past contributed ..to-the. fund,. but were willing to make all the necessary payments*, should be admitted to the fund Mr Donald {said this would require legislation. He would be to recommend that these people should bo admitted if the necessary legislation were passed by the House. Replying to Mr Chapman, he said the board would consider, on their merits such cases as had been mentioned..

The vote was passed. The Estimate of £220*000 for the ( Printing and Stationery Department was considered next. The veto was passed. When the Estimate of £56,871 for tho Department of Labour was under consideration Mr R. M‘Keen (Wellington South)-moved that the sum be reduced £lO as a protest against the action of the Government in bringing down -.ho Estimate before the report of the department had been discussed, . He nd that members were apparently quickly losing their privileges, as several Estimates had been passed before departmental reports had been discussed. Progress was reported and the House rose at midnight.