STATE ADVANCES BILL.

Evening Star, Issue 22351, 29 May 1936, Page 8

STATE ADVANCES BILL.

It would appear that the greatest danger in the State Advances Corporation Bill, now before the House of Representatives, is the unrestricted power that it will place in the hands of the Minister of the day. Certainly, he will have a board of directors to advise him on the methods to he adopted, but his will he the final decision. Wisdom and discretion and firmness to resist political pressure will be necessary if the State is to ho preserved from the risks of much unjustifiable expenditure, the interest on which cannot be recouped. As Mr Nash puts it, the board will manage, the Minister will control, and only at the point at which the Government feels that its policy is not being given effect to will it interfere. The aim of the measure is commendable. In essence it is to give practical help to the man on the land. In the course of the second reading debate on the Bill last night, the Minister made a statement that is meant to he reassuring when he said the principles of administration will be generous; in operation conservative. It will devolve on the officers of the department to make sure that persons applying for loans are worthy of consideration. “ The character of the individual will be one of the large factors ini determining what ho is to receive. If the new legislation is administered according to the spirit implied in these words it is probable that real help will be available for the farming community without the risk of heavy loss to the general taxpayer. This is a vital matter, for thsre is undoubtedly an element of danger in the relation between the State as creditor and the farmer (or worker) as debtor. During the discussion the Prime Minister declared that the State Advances Department had failed because the last Government had reduced the power of the people to pay • rents and • interest, to which the Leader of the Opposition aptly retorted that it had reduced rents and interest, too.

Importance must be attached to the words of Mr Hamilton in his comments on the Bill, for in the present session he has been consistent in voicing in the House the views of the Opposition. If the member for Wallace can advance no cogent reasons against the principles of the Bill it may be taken for granted that there is no radical departure from accepted practice in carrying out the operations that are contemplated. Mr Hamilton expressed the opinion that the Bill, although, it proposed to change the institution so radically, was still orthodox in its conception. It gave no expression to Douglas Credit ideas, but followed the line of accustomed finance, though in some instances the traditional safety measures were relaxed. In the main, however, the customary financial practices were followed. While pointing out what lie considered defects in the measure, and the danger of running undue financial risks, the speaker remarked that he would not say the Opposition was opposed to the Bill. He defended the Mortgage Corporation, saying tfcr.S the prin. _le behind it had been to give the cheapest money and to have the soundest management, and he advanced the viw that that could be obtained by means of a combination of State and private enterprise. A remark by the Trimo Minister that the Government, generally speaking, was legislating for ordinary people may need some qualification in the face of the general impression, which was emphasised by Mr M. Silverstone at a meeting of the Otago Hospital Board last night, that there will be a sharp rise in the internal prices in all commodities in New Zealand consequent on the ■ Labour Government’s legislation. But that is by the way. The State Advances Bill will no doubt go through Parliament without serious alteration. Its success or failure will in the ultimate depend on the methods attending its administration.

How the Ocean Beach Domain Board came into possession of two old bathing sheds at St. Kilda was mentioned at vesterday’s annual meeting by Mr J. L. M'lndoo, when the question of their removal was raised following a report that the police would have taken action to prevent the sale of goods in one of them had they not been situated outside tho city boundary. The sheds had originally been presented to the defunct Pacific Swimming Club by two benefactors, and had been swept out to sea, and subsequently salvaged, related Mr M'lndoe, eventually passing into the board’s possession. They will now pass out of their possession, however, as the meeting decided to remove them when the existing lease expired. When the plans drawn by the engineering staff of the Harbour Board for the new waterside workers’ building were being discussed by tho board last night, Mr J. M‘G. Wilkie said that, as engineers, they were not an fait with the city building by-laws. They had attempted to get a copy of the by-laws, but were unsuccessful. In drawing up the sketch plans, the engineers had had to be guided by a copy published in 1913.

Pneumonic influenza has made its appearance in Southland, though the one case reported to the health authorities does not warrant any fear of an epidemic. No cases are reported in Otago. There was a slight rise in the number of pulmonary tuberculosis cases reported during the last week, there being five in Otago and four in Southland. There were also four cases of scarlet fever in Otago and one in Southland while one rase of erysipelas was also reported in Otago.

An analysis of the specimens of the intestines and stomach of “ Joey,” the sea lion which was brought from Dunedin to Wellington Zoo, where he died recently, has now been completed (says a Press Association telegram), and no trace of poison has been found. Various tests were made to obtain a telltale reaction, but without result, and the town clerk (Mr E. P. Norman) has been advised that the test was completed to a degree considered reasonable.

A carbon lamp set fire to a cushion in the premises occupied'by Mr T. Culbert furniture dealer, 280 King street, yesterday afternoon. The City Brigade was called at 2.55, and quickly extinguished the outbreak. Some furnishings were slightly damaged. The brigade also dealt with a chimney fire in a dwelling in St. David street at 3.46 and was again called out at 8.15, when a lighted cigarette in a bathroom at Wood’s Private Hotel, Rattray street, ignited some inflammable material.

Two calls were answered by the City F'jre Brigade this afternoon. At 12.53 there was a small outbreak in the roof of premises at 25 Crawford street, occupied by Messrs Cook, Lemon, and Cook, solicitors, which was extinguished without any damage being done. Again at 1.22 a justifiable false alarm was given from the corner of Serpentine Avenue and Madaggan street.

Eya strain —for eye comfort, for better vision, consult Stunner and Watson Ltd., Opticians, 2 Octagon, Dunedin.—[Advt.l Treat a cold logically at the points of infection. Use NAZOL, the efficient remedy. Disinfects and protects the points of infection. Is 3d, all chemists and stores. —[Advt.] Although many of the semi-finalists in the Silver Cup competitions at the Regal Skating Rink were not present on Wednesday evening, the judging for the final was run off to schedule, holders of semi-final discs who were absent being ineligible to enter for the final on Saturday night. Iu last night’s issue it was stated they were eligible.