PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21077, 14 April 1932, Page 13

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 13. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. COMMITTEE OE PRIVILEGES. Sir Francis Bell moved to set up a Committee of Privileges to which might be referred all matters affecting the privileges of the Council. He said he took this action because of the conglomerate nature of the legislation likelv to come before them, and the possibility of questions of privilege arising. The time had come when the Council should take steps to maintain the privileges cnjoj'ed by the House ot Lords. Hon. J. A. Hanan seconded the motion. He said that in abnormal times there was likely to be a lack of cool and considered judgment, and the Council might well prove to bo the bulwark of the people’s just rights. The Leader of the Council (Sir James Parr) took no exception to the motion. He said the committee was likely to prove of great assistance. It was well that the Council should be jealous of its privileges. The motion was carried. The Speaker then expressed ins satisfaction at the action of the Council. He said ho had often been in difficulty as to whether Bills were money Bills or not, and he would welcome the assistance of the committee. UNEMPLOYMENT BILL. Moving the second reading of the Unemployment Amendment Bill, Sir James Parr, after explaining the provisions governing the placing of men on rural sections, said a very caretul selection of the men available would have to bo made, as much would depend on the stamp of men chosen. It was the duty of the Government and the people ro feed, clothe, and house the unemployed, and he thought the public would accept the shilling wage tax as cheerfully as possible. It wus expected tout i ,JUu men would be placed on the land under the scheme. Hon. W. H. MMutyre said he was not satisfied with the Bill, but would veto for it, as he had no desire to provent money being available to the workless. He thought that women should be included in any relief granted. Hon. D. Buddo favoured the setting up of district committees to ensure that the money available would bo spent in the most economical manner. The debate was adjourned on the motion of the Hon. C. J. Carrington, and the Council rose at 4.30 p.m. until tomorrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. UNIVERSITY FEES. Mr A. J. Stallworthy (Eden) asked whether, in view of the reduced income of students, the Government would use its influence to secure a reduction in the university fees, examination fees, and registration lees. The Prime Minister (Mr G. »V. Forbes) replied that university colleges relied on fees to meet current expenses, but some reduction might be possible. Ho would arrange lor communication with the university colleges on the subject. BASIS OF RELIEF WORK. Replying to Mr W. E. Barnard (Napier), the Minister jn Charge of Unemployment (Mr J. G. Coates) said that, anticipating an increase in the Unemployment Fund, he had communicated with the hoard with a view to having the basis of relief work altered. It was his intention to have tho basis improved, if posriric. NATION A 1 i'INDITURE ADJL, NT BILL. The debate on the second reading of the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill was continued. Mr P. A. do la Perrelle (Awarua) said there was reason for gratification that a genuine attempt was being made to meet tho present critical economic situation. Tho proposals m the Bill were unpalatable to everyone, out they were necessary for the restoration ol tho country’s position. Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) said it had been stated that the Labour Party had no monopoly of sympathy for the worker, but sympathy ivas not much good unless it was translated into legislation. There was not a member of tho Government with a message of hope for the people. Mr H. M. Campbell (Hawke’s Bay) said tho State had been going in for enterprises in competition with private individuals far too much, and the harmful effects of this policy were now being felt. The State had piled up the expenditure on its departments, and the taxpayers had to bear the burden of increasing costs to enable cheap services to be given. . Mr F. Langstonc (Waimarmo) said tho people had received the full benefit from tho expenditure on the State departments. The institution of the State Fire Office had resulted m insurance premiums on dwellings being reduced by one-third. Private enterprise, on the other hand, had broken down. The numbers of unemployed today constituted a standing indictment of this system. Mr C. H. Glmkard (Rotorua) justified the cuts in tho Civil Service, and stated that tho Government Statistician’s figures showed that a reduction of 19 per cent, had been effected in the cost of living. Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) challenged this statement, declaring that Air Clinkard had confused tho index figures with tho percentages. Mr Fraser declared that from 1930 to 1931 there had been a reduction of only 7 per cent, in the cost of living. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SESSION The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Continuing tho debate, Air A. D. AFLeod (Wairarapa) said the reduction which was being made in pensions was not greater than the reduction which had taken place in the cost of living, Air J, O’Brien (Westland) strongly attacked the proposal to reduce pensions, asserting that had tho Government’s intention in this respect been made known at tho time of the elections no Government member would have been returned. Air R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) said that if the Labour Party could produce an alternative scheme which would solve the country’s difficulties and at the same time involve less sacrifice by all sections of the community, he had no doubt it would be supported by a majority of the members of the House. There did not scorn, however, to ho a sound alternative scheme advanced from the Opposition honchos.

Mr R. Semple (Wellington East) said the Bill represented another milestone

on the road to chaos and destruction which was being followed by the present Government. He condemned the reduction in pensions, declaring that this was being done to pay interest to the oversea bondholders. The interests of the bondholders were being placed before those of our own people, many of whom were facing starvation, Mr D. M'Dougall (Mataura) said they should reduce the proposed Civil Service cuts by half and make cuts of 2|, 5, and 6-' t per cent. They should withdraw the pensions cut altogether. This would mean a loss on the Civil Service savings of £400,000 and on the pension reductions of £300,000. He suggested that to offset this there should bo an additional wages tax of threepence, which would realise £BOO,000, leaving a surplus of £IOO,OOO over the proposed saving under the Bill, Mr W. J. Jordan (Manukau) submitted that if a living wage could not bo paid to workers in New Zealand the country could not afford to pay more than £I,OOO a year to anybody in salary or £3OO a year in superannuation. Mr Hamilton denied the statement that the Government had not told the country what its plans would be. He questioned the wisdom of atempting to maintain a high standard of living, and he said it was not surprising that Britain, which was on a lower standard, was unwilling to lend money to the dominion. The debate was adjourned when the House rose at 11.30 p.m.