BUSINESS COMPLETED

Evening Star, Issue 20778, 28 April 1931, Page 6

BUSINESS COMPLETED

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [l’eii Uxitkd I’hess Association - .] WELLINGTON, April 27. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr T. D. Burnett (Temuka) asked the .Minister of Lands (Mr Ransom) if, in view of the fact that the dominion could expect a period of definitely Jewel' prices for all primary products, he would introduce legislation providing for an all-round adjustment of Crown tenants’ rentals. Mr Ransom said it was not proposed to introduce legislation bn the lines indicated. The present prices for primary products could not be regarded as a basis for rentals for perhaps the next twenty-five years. There was at present ample power to deal with oases of hardship either by revising the rentals or postponing payment. The department would, treat all cases of hardship generously. Air W. Leo Martin (Raglan) asked the Government if it would cause an investigation to be made into the position of Crown tenants, particularly returned soldiers, who found it extremely difficult to carry on their holdings in view of the .enormous drop in the pried of primary products. Air Ransom replied that the Government did not regard the depression as permanent, and to make permanent provision to .meet: it would not bo in the best interests of the returned soldiers and the conntry generally.- So far as the department was concerned particularly generous treatment was being meted out to Crown tenants.

On behalf of Air AI. J. Savage (Auckland West), Air E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) asked tho Prime Minister (Air Forbes) if ho had read a circular dated April 17 issued by the New Zealand Employers’ Federation calling upon its members to express an opinion as to whether they were in favour (a) of the proposed National Government, and (b) the postponement of tho general election; if lie had read the circular dated April 21 issued by the Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association to its members in accordance with the request of its head office asking for tho individual opinions of such members, and whether ho would make a statement for the guidance of the electors as to his attitude in the event of such representations being made to Cabinet. The Prime Minister replied that he bad not seen the circulars referred to. “As to the third part of tho question,” ho said, “my. only answer to the honourable gentleman is that ho had better wait and see.” (Laughter.) Pointing out that inconvenience was being caused in country districts, Mr G - C. Black (Alotueka) asked the Minister of Justice (Air Cobbe) if ho would indicate when further appointments of justices of the peace would be made, Mr Cobbe said that the last list was issued on February 20 last, and in tbo ordinary course of events there would not be another list until tbo end of next session. There were 600 justices in tho dominion at tho present time, and ho had not heard of any inconvenience.

Mr F. Langstone (Waimarino) asked tlio Minister of Health (Mr Stallworthy) whether in view of the following resolution passed by the Wanganui Hospital Board on April 22—“ That it bo an -'instruction to the officers distributing charitable aid entirely to limit this aid to, sick and suffering widows and their children, and in no case must charitable aid be paid where unemployed able-bodied men or their dependents are concerned as from_ May 1, 1931 ” —would the Minister issue instructions immediately to hospital boards throughout the. dominion that in any case of hardship and destitution caused through unemployment social welfare sustenance must bo provided, and, if he would not issue such instruction to hospital boards, would the Government take steps to deal with the matter through the Unemployment Board ? Mr Stallworthy said that tlio day after the passing of the resolution by tlio Wanganui Board ho had got in touch with the board and it had agreed to deal with all necessitous cases. The Government had decided that-no restriction should bo placed on charitable aid in the meantime, and every effort was being made to meet necessitous cases.

Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central), on bclialf of the Wellington Labour members, asked tlio. Prime Minister if bo would consider the advisability of amending tho law with a view to abolishing tbo power to distrain for rent and compelling landlords who desired to eject tenants to apply to tho court, where both sides would have an opportunity to bo heard. This, ho said, would give a chance of fair treatment to hundreds of families which were threatened with eviction without tho right of being heard. Mr Forbes said ho regretted to learn there were landlords who were exercising the power they had under the law to eject tenants for arrears of rent, and ho added that in tho present unemployment position ho hoped it was not being done. When men wore out of employment every consideration should ho extended to tenants. An alteration of tho law would require careful investigation to see whether tho remedy would not possibly bring about greater hardship than if the law wore allowed to remain as it was now. If it were found in tho parliamentary recess that an alteration of the law was necessary ho would bo only too pleased to look into tho question. The Larthquako Bill (amended by withdrawal of tho insurance tax section) was put through all stages and passed.