POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 21220, 29 September 1932, Page 14

POLITICAL POINTS

THE DAY'S WORK [Fjom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 28. Normal progress was made witli the Address-in-Rcply debate in the House of Representatives to-day, which was the first real working day of this session. The Leader of the Opposition moved bis comprehensive motion of noconlidcncc this afternoon, addressing the House for one hour and thirty-five minutes. His address chiefly dealt with currency problems, and ho explained Labours policy on this question. Following the usual custom, a Minister followed, Mr Ransom making a general defence of the Government policy. In the evening seven members placed on record their views on a variety of subjects, speakers alternating between the two parties in the House. The House adjourned at 11.30 p.m. In the afternoon, Mr Mason’s Currency Bill was read a first time, and Mr. Wilkinson gave notice to introduce the Silver and Copper Coinage Bill. « « ♦ ♦ THIRD PARTY INSURANCE. For the first two years of the operation of the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) Act, the claims paid and estimated absorbed 88.5 per cent, of the premiums, leaving an exceptionally narrow margin for working expenses and profit. Commenting on these facts in the course of his annual report, Mr J. H. .Terrain, General Manager of the State Insurance Office states that the margin mentioned would be far too low, were it not for the special system of administration which was initiated with the active cooperation of his office. “Considering the novel aspects of the. legislation, and the lack of any previous experience here or elsewhere,” adds Mr Terrain, “ the rates fixed in the first instance proved to ho singularly accurate, and only small adjustments, which do not increase the premiums in the aggregate, have since been found necessary.” « * * « PRISON INDUSTRY SLUMP. Every prison industry in New Zealand has been affected by the depression, and, according to the figures in the department’s annual report, the average decline in revenue from all sources during the last two years has been £30,000. Much of the shrinkage which has taken place has been with other departments and local bodies, and this applies especially to revenue from the sales of metal and road construction work, which last year dropped by £20,000. The results from the sale of farm produce, however, have been fairly well maintained. RIVER FLOODGATES. A request to the Government to introduce legislation to prevent indiscriminate construction of river floodgates which might endanger life and property, was made in the House today by Mr M‘Lood. Replying, Mr Forbes said the River Boards Act, 1908, and other Acts gave river boards wide powers of control over rivers, streams, and watercourses within their districts. With a view to preventing damage from Hoods and otherwise, a board might make such protective works as were necessary for that purpose, and this would include the erection of stopbanks. He did not think it necessary to deal with the question of the powers of private individuals, as a problem of that nature is more one for the local authority to handle. Property owners, no doubt, bad certain rights respecting their own properties, but, of course, they must act very carefully where the rights of others might become involved. It did not appear necessary to bring down legislation on the point, which seemed to he quite adequately provided for already.

Duo to the economic conditions and the application of reduced rates because of improved (i re-fighting conditions, there was a drop of £5,092 in tlie premium income of the State Fire Insurance Office for the year which ended on December 21 last. The surplus shown of £39,187 was derived from income from investments. There was a joss of £7,695 in the underwriting account, duo entirely to ex gratia payments made to policy-holders whose properties were destroyed by fire resulting from the Hawke’s Bay earthquake. According to the annual report, presented to Parliament, the disclosure of a surplus in these extraordinary circumstances justified the policy of building up reserves out of profits. The rebate granted for the year was 12V per cent., and the cost of the office £26,217. There was a slight fall on the premium revenue on the accident side of the business, and the ratio of claims to premium income increased from 58.17 per cent, to 80.89 per cent. The permanent amalgamation of the Reform and the United Parties for the purpose of forming a strong central Government was urged in the Legislative Council to-day by Colonel J. Smith. He said the Coalition had been working amicably for a year, and had faced its difficult task with courage and determination. He noticed that the two parties had a joint caucus, but at thp same time the organisations of both parties were being kept alive. Surely it was time permanent fusion was brought about for the good of the dominion. Fusion of the-two parties would result in a strong party and Government. .♦ « « * CHARITY STAMPS. The work of producing the next issue of charity stamps in well in hand, and it is hoped that the stamps will be available in ample time for use in connection with the Christmas oversea mails. This information was given to-day by Mr Hamilton, who added that the non-appearance of the stamps for a few weeks would not prevent the various organisations cooperation in the sale of the stamps from planning thtir campaigns for children’s health camps, and intensifying interest in the project. COST OF PRISON RATIONS. A reduction of £2,000 was effected in the cost of purchasing rations for prisoners in Xew Zealand during the last financial year. The annual report of the department states that the economy was made possible by progressively developing the system of obtaining supplies from prison farms and gardens, by extending the supply of meat to city institution's from prison farms, by advantageous purchases of frozen meat, and by baking in the institutions the whole of the department’s bread requirements. The cost last year per prisoner for purchased rations was £8 IDs a head, which was much lower than in 1914. when the figure was £ll 16s. Including the value of produce from the department's farms and gardens, the cost per head of the purchased foodstuffs now amounts to Did a day. .“ This result,”

said the report. “ is distinctly a satisfactory achievement, particularly in view of the fact that there has boon no reduction whatever in the quantity or quality of the rations supplied; though, on the other hand, they have been made more varied and hotter balanced. and have been in some respects increased.