PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21819, 7 September 1934, Page 13

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY'S SITTING LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL [Pe* United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 6. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. In committee on the Alsatian Dogs’ Bill Hon. W. Perry said he had made certain inquiries which led him to believe that the dogs were not as ferocious as«they were made out to be. The Bill went too far. He suggested that it might be laid down that no person should own an Alsatian dog unless he was a member of a kennel club and was certified by the secretary as being a fit person to own a dog. At present the dog was being blamed for the faults of the owner. _ Hon. D. Buddo said there were innumerable instances in which dogs had attacked human beings and stock. Hon. C. J. Carrington said those who were endeavouring to protect women and children were up against a stiff proposition, as,the legislation was being opposed by wealthy owners and breeders. Hon. L. M. Isitt said he was not prepared to allow the Bill to go through in its present form. They ought to see what could be done by strict regulation before going to the extreme of destroying the dogs. Hon. W. W. [Snodgrass said that there were ample provisions in the Dog . Registration Act to safeguard the public so long as those provisions were efficiently administered. . Hon. W. Hayward said that the Alsatian dog was definitely dangerous, and served no purpose which could not be better served by collies. Hon. E. E. Davis said he was not disposed to vote for the measure, which was going to interfere with the dog, but he was in favour of keeping him under rigid control. The short title of the Bill was passed by 18 votes to 6, and on the suggestion of Sir James Allen the clauses providing for the extermination _of the dogs after three years and the imposition of a registration fee of £5 on females were dropped. The Bill as amended provided for the muzzling of all Alsatian dogs at large in public places, and the prohibition of importations without consent of the Minister. The Bill was put through its remaining stages and passed. ■ ■ . The Christchurch City Empowering Bill, the Timaru Borough Empowering Bill, the Greymouth United Borough Rating and Empowering Bill, the New Plymouth Borough Land Exchange and Empowering Bill, and the Te Ore Ore River Board Rating Bill were read a second time. The Council went into committee on the Gaming Amendment Bill, but reported progress after the passage of the short title. The Council rose at 5.5 p.m. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr A. D. M'Leod (Wairarapa) asked the Prime Minister whether _ legislation Would be introduced this session amending the Native Land Act, enabling Native land boards to make loans at leSs than 5 per cent, of the Government valuation. Mr Forbes replied that the matter was receiving the consideration of the Government. Mr Tan Henare was granted two days’, leave of absence on account of illness. . A claim for compensation on the ground that she had been wrongfully divorced was ventilated when the Public Petitions Committee referred the woman’s petition to the Government for most favourable consideration. The facts were that the woman had been in a mental hospital, but on several occasions was allowed out on leave, on one occasion for nineteen months. It was stated that a legal opiion had been taken that the periods during which the woman was on leave were counted as time she was in the institution. When she was served with papers she was on leave, but she consulted the mental hospital authorities, and was assured that her interests would bo "watched by the SolicitorGeneral and his department, but no action was taken. The woman had been cured, but the husband had remarried after a decree absolute had been made. The speakers) felt that the woman had suffered a grave injustice, and contended that the court was told she had been continuously in the institution for seven years, and was not informed of the periods of leave. They considered that had the judge been informed of the full facts a divorce would not have been granted. The report was tabled. General suppiort was given to the report of the Public Petitions Committee, which recommended to the Government for favourable consideration the petition of A. J. White, of Christchurch, sedking payment for the furniture of the Chateau Tongaririo. Members considered that the Government was under a moral obligation to meet the debt, and Mr Coates indicated that the petition was submitted to the House at the instance of the Government. _ The amount involved was in the vicinity of £IO.OOO. The report was tabled. FINANCIAL DEBATE. The financial debate was continued by Mr F, W. Schramm (Auckland East), who said the police should be a properly trained body. If they called on reserve police in times of emergency trouble would result. If more police were necessary the regular force should be strengthened. For the sake of peace, order, and tranquility the Government should appoint any extra men desired to the regular force. _ He did not think there was anything sinister in the Minister’s proposal, hut he thought the Minister was wrongly advised. If the additional regular police cost a few thousands it would be money well spent. He stressed the need for an amendment of the Workers’ Compensation Act, especially as it applied to relief workers, and he hoped an amending Bill would be passed during the" present session.

Mr A. D. M‘Leod (Wairarapa) said the consumption of butter per nead today was higher than it had ever been in the-historv of New Zealand, and the highest in the world. If more butter were consumed the troubles of the dairy farmer would be greatly, reduced. The Labour Party had not fulfilled the duty of the Opposition. There had been minor criticisms, but the debate had been more like an Address-in-Reply debate, and he proceeded to criticise Labour’s policy. It had been said that the Meat Board was responsible for stopping the export of certain classes of meat, and that the Home authorities had not asked for it. Ho was in the position, as was the Prime Minister, to deuv that the Home authorities had said New Zealand had exceeded its quota under the Ottawa agreement Mr W. E. Barnard (Napier) said he found in the Budget gome signs of grace

in the midst of much original political sin. The Minister of Finance had shown considerable ability in covering up the bill which the country must face some day resulting from the raising or the exchange rate. The country now realised .that the people themselves would have to bear that burden, Ihe Government had up to a point acted according to the financial policy of the Labour Party. Mr Barnard said the establishment of a mortgage corporation would be opposed by the Labour side of the House, and he hoped by other members also. Referring to the small farms scheme, he doubted if any member would advise a man to take up farming under the present conditions. He contrasted the increased provision made for defence with the provision, or lack of provision, for the unemployed. Labour would definitely oppose an increase in the defence vote until better provision was made for the unemployed, He contended that the House was entitled to fuller information regarding the increase in the defence vote. The Government should have made an effort to increase miners widows' and soldiers’ pensions, and family allowances, as well as increasing the wages of Civil servants. Mr Barnard referred to the earthquake rehabilitation loans, and asked why the Government had reduced the rates of interest on other loans, but not on those loans, A visitor to Napier was faced with a new and prosperous-looking city, but its prosperity was an illusion. The business people were drifting to bankruptcy. He considered that the people ot Hawke’s Bay had had a raw deal regarding earthquake rehabilitation. The consideration given did not rise to rue level of generosity, but fell below tin? level of justice; . Mr S. G. Smith (New Plymouth) said that complaints of the lack of Government sympathy came frequently from Napier, but not from Hastings. Ho doubted if Mr Barnard was not doing his city a disservice in saying that business men there were on the verge ox bankruptcy. Referring to the statements that the country was frothing tor an election, Mr Smith said that over 830 000 people in New Zealand were entitled to vote, yet only 54,000 had signed the petition which was recently presented to the Governor-General. The Leader of the Opposition had saqi the wage cuts were responsible for putting £9O 000 out of circulation, but the fact was’that the £90,000 had never come in. He defended the proposal to establish a reserve police force. It had been said that 20,000 pupils were leaving tho schools each year with nowhere to go, but that was not correct. He quoted figures from the Education Department’s report to show the destination of boys leaving school, and ho contended that the Unemployment Board had come through its terrible ordeal with a great deal of credit to itself. Mr Clyde Carr (Timaru) contended that the money taken from the Unemployment Fund for the encouragement of secondary industries should not have been taken from that fund, but from the Consolidated Fund, as it would take some time for these industries to provide employment. He suggested that the Government should consider replacing the wooden part of Parliament Buildings with a modern structure, and bring it more into keeping with tho other part. The present would be an opportune time to put that work in hand. He criticised the increase in the defence vote by nearly 50 per cent., while the education vote was reduced 33 1-3 per cent. The debate was adjourned when the House rose at midnight.