PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21582, 30 November 1933, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL [Ter United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 29. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Auckland Transport Board Empowering Bill, the Greymouth Borough Relief of Unemployment Loan Validating Bill, the Bluff Harbour Board Empowering Bill, and the Bay of Plenty Licensing Committee Enabling Bill were received from the House, read a first time, and referred to the Local Bills Committee. Owing to the adverse report of the Statutes Revision Committee on the Land Agents Amendment Bill, Hon. R. M'Callum withdrew the measure. Tho New Plymouth Airport Bill was read a second time. The Licensing Amendment Bill, the Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill, the New Plymouth Borough Council and New Plymouth Harbour Board Empowering Bill were put through the remaining stages and passed.

The Council rose at 3.15 until tomorrow.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr W. E. Barnard (Napier) gave notice of his intention to introduce the Napier Harbour Board and Napier Borough Harbour Board and Napier Borough Enabling Bill. The Bluff Harbour Board and Bluff Borough Council Empowering Bill (Mr P. A. De La Porrelle) and the Summer Time Amendment Bill (No. 2) were introduced and read a first time. SUMMER TIME BILL. Speaking on the introduction of the Summer Time Amendment Bill, Mr R. M’Keen (Wellington South) congratulated the Minister and the Government on having brought the Bill down. He said it was pretty obvious that the Government had taken advantage of the opportunity' afforded by the discussion of his ow nßill to sound public opinion on the subject, and that it apparently did not wish a private member to obtain the credit for putting through the House a Bill that met the desires of the public generally. He could assure the Government that he personally was not seeking any honour, but he thought it would have been more courteous if the Minister had submitted a simple amendment to his (Mr MTveen’s) Bill to make provision for an extension of the period now proposed. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Young) said he quite appreciated Mr M'Kecn’s desire to take the credit, and Mr M’Kcen was entitled to take the credit for what he had endeavoured to do. Mr M'Keen: 1 do not desire any credit. The Minister said his predecessor in office, as Minister of Internal Affairs twelve months ago, had had a Bill prepared on the subject, but had had no opportunity to introduce it. He assured Mr M’Keen that the introduction of the Bill was not an after-thought in consequence of the reception accorded the latter’s own measure. SCENERY PRESERVATION. Moving the second reading of the Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill, the Minister in Charge of the Scenery Preservation Department (Mr Ransom) said that under the main Act the Minister might authorise the taking and killing of any specified kind of animals or birds within a scenic reserve, but the power so granted did not cover the case of opossums. It was considered very desirable to be able to deal with opossums within scenic reserves, and the Bill gave the necessary power in that respect. The Bill also strengthened the provisions of the main Act relating to damage to reserves from fires and from other causes. The clause which had enabled application to be made by an owner for his land to be declared a private reserve represented a new departure in scenery preservation administration in the dominion. It was considered that it should prove helpful in giving owners extra protection against vandalism without unduly affecting their own rights as property owners, and should assist generally in furthering the cause of scenery preservation. Mr Savage suggested that the New Zealand Institute and the Native Bird Protection Society should be represented on the Scenery Preservation Board. This view was endorsed by Mrs M’Combs (Lyttelton), who also pointed out that areas of bush were disappearing from the vicinity of pities, especially in the South Island. She urged that steps should be taken to retain for all time those areas which still existed. Mi Ransom said he would give consideration to the question of representation of the New Zealand institute and the Native Bird Protection Society on the board. Possibly amendments on those lines could be made when further legislation, perhaps of a consolidating nature, was introduced. Tin’s, however, could not be done in the present session. The Bill was read a second time, and later put through further stages, and passed. MONEYLENDERS’ BILL. Moving the second reading of the Moneylenders’ Amendment Bill, the Minister of Justice (Air Cobbe) said the Government had received communications from a number of reputable firms of moneylenders expressing gratification that the Bill had been introduced, and stating that in their opinion it would have the effect of eliminating certain individuals whose practices had brought disgrace on the others engaged in the business. The Minister said it was considered only right in the interests of those under the necessity of borrowing money that tho lenders should be reputable persons. He mentioned that in Auckland there were 103 moneylenders at the present time, and he thought it desirable that one or two of them should retire from the business. Continuing. Mr Cobbe said that many people borrowed money without knowing what it was going to cost them, and it was desirable there should be a regular contract. It was admitted that under the existing law a moneylender could charge anything up to 300 or dOO per cent. The Bill provided for a maximum rate of 48 per cent. That might seem to be high, but it should bo remembered that the money was lent in cases of emergency for short terms, and in such circumstances the people were prepared to pay a high rate for it. Mr F. W. Schramm (Auckland East) expressed approval of the Bill, which, he said, was very necessary. Mr H. G. R. Mason (Auckland Suburbs) also expressed approval. He said that under the system of table mortgages some bidding societies charged high rates of interest, and, while lie did not think they should he brought under the majority of the provisions of (hr Bill, he did think they should he subject In tne clause which enabled the court to reopen the tran-

sa’ctions. . He considered that such action should be taken when a building society charged over 8 per cent. Mr A. J. Stallworthy (Eden) also supported the Bill. Mr Cobbe, replying to Mr Mason, said that building societies lent money only to their own members, who participated in the profits. The Bill was read a second time. BILLS PASSED. The following Bills were put through the remaining stages and passed:— Scenery Preservation Amendment, Egmont National Park Amendment, Orchard Tax Amendment, Local Authorities Interest deduction and Loans Conversion Amendment (which is reported elsewhere), Royal Society of New Zealand, and Weights and Measures Amendment. Tho committee stage of the Poultry Runs Registration Bill was commenced, but after a lengthy dsicussion on the short title progress was reported. The House rose at 11.45 p.m.