PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21565, 10 November 1933, Page 1

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY’S SITTING LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL [Per United Press Association'.] WELLINGTON. November 9. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Hon. W. AV. Snodgrass was granted seven days’ leave of absence on account of illness. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bill and the Coinage Bill were received from the House of Representatives and read a first time. Hon. 11. Masters intimated that the second reading of the Reserve Bank Bill would he taken on Wednesday next. The Council rose at 2.40 p.m. until Wednesday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EARTHQUAKE CLAIMS. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr AV. E. Barnard (Napier) asked whether the Alinister of Labour (Mr Hamilton) had noticed a recent statement by Sir George Elliot at Auckland deploring the burden cast upon insurance companies as a consequence of a recent Privy Council decision in Hawke’s Bay by workers’ compensation claims arising out of the earthquake, aud whether he would give an assurance thai.nothing would bo done by the Government to limit the present rights of workers to compensation for accidents arising out of and in the course of employment where due to earthquake results as decided by the Privy Council in the cases to which reference was made. Mr Hamilton said he had seen the statement to which Air Barnard had referred. “ This is a matter to which some consideration has already been given by the Government,” tho Minister said, “ but nothing definite has yet been decided. I am sorry, therefore, that I am unable to give the assurance desired or to say whether or not legislative action will he taken to amend the law in accordance with the Appeal Court’s decision in New Zealand.” BRITISH AIOTOR CARS PREPONDERATE. Air E. F. Hcaly (Wairau) asked the Prime Alinister (Air Forbes) whether in view of tho large proportion of British motor ears imported into New Zealand, as shown by the Customs returns, he would take steps to correct the false impression created by Mr Banter that New Zealanders used chiefly American cars. Air Forbes said he wojild be glad to see what could be done to correct tho false impression to which Air Hcaly had referred. It was quite clear that Air Baxter had made a general statement which was not borne out by facts. He was probably not aware that one of the reasons why American ears had been used so largely in the past in New Zealand had been that the British manufacturer at that time had not been making a car suitable to the conditions existing here. Of late years British manufacture had met the special requirements of dominion usage, and the Customs returns showed that since then British-made cars had been purchased in increasing numbers and now formed a large percentage of the total number of ears imported. The Prime Alinister added that in 1930 ears imported from the United Kingdom had totalled 2,807. compared with 2,901 from foreign sources. Since then the figures had been:—l93l, United Kingdom, 1.702; foreign sources, 409; 1932, United Kingdom, 2,147; foreign sources, 144 ; first nine months of 1933. United Kingdom. 1.404 ; foreign sources. 36. BILLS PASSED. The Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill (Air W. E. Parry), the New Plymouth Airport Bill (Air S. G. Smith), aud the New Plymouth Borough Council aud New Plymouth Harbour Board Empowering Bill (Mr S. G. Smith) were put through their remaining stages and passed. NEW ZEA LAND-AUSTRA LI A TRADE : PACT. Moving the second reading of the Trade Agreement (New Zealand and Australia) Ratification Bill, the Minister of Customs (Mr Coates) said it was fitting that wherever possible an endeavour should be made to straighten out the difficulties and reach agreements that would encourage a general stimulation of trade. The Alinister said that the lour main points for which the Government had sought had been, first, to obtain as favourable a trade treaty as possible; secondly, to safeguard the primary and secondary industries; thirdly, to encourage trade within the Empire; and fourthly, to prevent a diversion of trade from the United Kingdom. It was desirable to encourage trade within the Empire us far as possible, although at the same time the consumer had to be considered. The Australian delegation had been very helpful aud had tried to meet the doffiinion more ban halfway. “ The last trade agreement which was made by Air Dowuie Stewart resulted in a better understanding between the two countries,” said Air Coates, “ and 1 believe the present agreement will continue that relationship.” Tho Leader of the Opposition (Air Al. J. Savage) said the Government’s first consideration should be the development of the dominion. Anything that could be produced economically m New Zealand should be made within the country. Such a policy would divert a large number ol people into useful occupations. As New Zealand was on tho wrong side ol the lodger in connection with Australian trade it was not fair to give Australia an increased advantage by still greater preferences while there were opportunities of developing trade with other countries. Mr Coates, in reply, sale! the requirements of the dominion s own industries had been thoroughly appi eclated by tho New Zealand delegation, i and had not been overlooked. In tact | he had received sl , lcLiev lrow . n lnaml ‘ facturers’ association extending congratulations to the Government on the agreement that had been reached. "The Rill was read a second time.

PRESENTATION OF BUDGET. Apparently influenced by the Prime Minister’s indication that the Budget would contain no surprises the general public displayed far from the customary degree of interest in the' reading of "tho Financial Statement in the House of Representatives to-night. The galleries, which are usually crowded to their utmost capacity on such occasions, contained a large number of vacant seats, and 'many benches iu the’chamber itself were unoccupied for lengthy intervals. The Public Works and General Estimates were introduced by GovernorGeneral’s Message w.hen the House resumed at 7.30 p.m., and the Minister of Finance (Air Coates) thereupon commenced reading the Budget, which occupied one hour and thirty-seven minutes. There were practically no interjections, and, on resuming his scat, the Alinister was applauded from all sections of the House. The House rose at 9.15 till to-mor-row morning.