PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1931, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

CHATTELS & HIRE PURCHASE [FEB PBESB ASSOCIATION’.] WELLINGTON, November 6The House of Reresentatives met at 2.30. The Law Practitioners’ Bill was reported from the Statutes Revision Committee without amendment. Moving the second reading of the Chattels Transfer Amendment Bill, Mr Stewart said the chattels referred to were all kinds, commonly bought on the hire-purchase system. For the purpose of financing the hire-purchase transactions, usage in the trade had developed by which the price of the chattel was paid to a manufacturer or dealer, by a finance corporation established for that purpose, and a hirepurchase agreement was then made between the conditional purchaserand finance corporation. It had recently been decided by the Court of Appeal that such corporations were not dealers within the meaning of the Chattels Transfer Act, and their agreements, although of precisely the same character as the ordinary hire-pur-chase agreements, were not entitled to the benefits conferred by the measure. The chief of such benefit was that the agreement did not require to be registered as bills of sale or other instruments. The purpose of the present Bill was to establish as law what prior to the decision of the Court of Appeal, had been understood to be the legal position.

The Leader of the Opposition asked whether any protection could be afforded to purchasers who might have paid up to the extent of three-quar-ters of the price of a motor car, and who were temporarily unable to continue the payments owing to presentday financial conditions. Mr Hogan drew attention to the widespread growth of the hire-pur-chase system, and said it was time Parliament took up the matter in the interest of weak-minded people who could not see the difficulties into which the system was liable to lead them. He suggested that during the recess, the Minister should go into the question of registration of hirepurchase agreements, if the sum involved exceeded a certain amount.

Replying to Mr Hogan and other members, Mr Stewart said the question of registration was worth investigation, and he would bring it under the notice of the Minister of Industries and Commerce. He could not say off-hand whether it was possible under the Mortgagors Relief Act to protect purchasers who had paid off the greater part of the amount owing. He -would look into the question to see whether the Act could be modified to meet the view expressed by Mr Holland- If this could be done, provision would be inserted in the Mortgagor Relief Amendment Bill which was not yet quite ready. The Bill was read a second time, put through the remaining stages and passed. LAND LAWS AMENDMENT. Moving the second reading of the Land Laws Amendment Bill, Mr Ransom said it was designed to render a greater measure of assistance to Crown tenants, who under the existing circumstances and economic difficulties found themselves in need of such help. The Bill not only made provision for postponements and remissions of rent and interest, but also enabled tenures, which had been entered into during the last few years, to be reconsidered. It was proposed to set up a Special Committee to act in conjunction with Land Boards and inquire into the tenures of Crown holdings and the conditions of the holders. He considered that the most useful men to serve on the proposed committees would be practical farmers, with a knowledge of the district in which they would serve. Mr Savage said the House was always making new laws, but he questioned if they were adequately administered. The Bill would set up committees to investigate the farmers’ difficulties, but could the Government do anything for the farmer after investigating his affairs? The country wanted the Government to put thousands of men on the land, and until that came about it would not get very far.

Mr Polson said he welcomed the Bill as an instalment of what was necessary for the development of the country. Its most important feature was the fact that it would help to keep men who were already on the land, in their homes, instead of allowing them to be driven off by the depression. Several other Members complimented the Minister on having brought down a measure which they said would be of great assistance to many farmers. Mr Smith urged the Minister to endeavour to extend the provisions of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929, so that assistance could be given to bring privately-owned land into a more productive state- He believed that if a fund of £lOO,OOO to £200,000 was set apart for this purpose it would be possible to transfer five to ten thousand unemployed men from the cities to useful work in the country. In the evening the Land Laws Amendment Bill was read a second time. Moving the second reading of the Education Reserves Amendment Bill, Mr. Ransom said the measure granted the same facilities as were afforded under the Land Laws Amendment Bill. The Bill was read a second time. Both measures were then put through the remaining stages and passed. The Imprest Supply Bill, providing for monthly allocations totalling £1,581,000, was introduced by Governor General’s message. A number of topics were discussed. Mr. Parry urged Mr. Coates to indicate what hope there was of improving tho conditions of the unemployed before Christmas. Mr. Barnard said it was apparent from Mr. Coates’s Unemployment Statement that the paramount idea in the Government’s mind was assistance to the farmer. There was a danger of thousands of people becoming nothing more than farm labourers. It was all very well to say we did not want a nation of navvies, but at the same time, we did not want a nation of hewers of wood and drawers of water, working for other people. Mr. Lysnar strongly criticised Mr. Jones and Mr. Hamilton for continuing thoir membership of the Meat Export Control Board, after appointment to Cabinet rank. Mr. Hogan said it was apparent the coalition was going to the country with the object of consolidating its

position. He expresed anxiety concerning the policy it would adopt if returned to the Treasury Benches. LAWYERS V. PUBLIC TRUST. The Leader of the Opposition asked whether the Government had entered into any undertaking with the legal profession in connection with advertising the Public Trustees business. He asked if it was a fact that the Government had undertaken that the Public Trust would do no advertising in regard to its business. He did not pro pose to discuss the matter until he had had the Minister’s reply, but his information was that such an agreement had been entered into. He understood that from November 1, the newspapers had agreed not to publish the names of lawyers in newspapers.

Mr. Stewart £pid the Leader of the Labour Party had raised a curious question. It was the first the Minister had heard of it, although he was not prepared to say there was nothing in the story. He had, after hearing Mr. Holland’s remarks, requested a search to be made of a number of recent daily newspapers, and it was a fact that no names of lawyers had been mentioned. It also be true that some arrangement might have been made in regard to advertising, but the Government had no knowledge of it. Mr. Holland: You could make inquiries before the Appropriation Bill before the House? Mr. Stewart: Yes.

Continuing, the Minister said he wanted to make it clear that no arrangement of the kind mentioned by Mr. Holland had been made at the instruction or dictation of the Government.

Mr. McDonald said that as the result of the reorganisation of the Defence Department, seventy-tw r o members of the Department’s clerical division had been demilitarised, and placed on the civil list, under the Public Service Commissioner. As the result of this transfer, they had suffered a reduction in salaries, varying from 8 per cent, to 34 per cent., and in one case, the loss had been £155 per annum. Under the Finance Act, 1931,there had been a further reduction of 10 per cent, in their salaries, but there was also a provision that officers of the Public Service could elect to contribute to the Superannuation Fund at their former higher rate, with object of receiving superannuation on the scale to which they would normally have been entitled. These men had been denied the privilege, although several highly paid officials of the Defence Department. who had received 10 per cent, on a certain date, had been given increases in salary immediately afterwards, and also been allowed to have their superannuation based on the previous scale of salaries. Mr. Stew-art said there were many problems in connection with the Superannuation Fund. He had not been aware of this point before, but would have it investigated, and make a statement should the matter be brought up again. The Bill was put through all its stages and passed. The House rose at 12 till 10.30 tomorrow morning. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, November 6. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. Mr McCallum moved a motion urging a system of re-education of workers, now out of employment, so that by thrift, enterprise and their own ingenuity, the present depression might be more speedily overcome. He said machinery had made such strides that the average worker was unable to earn a living for himself, and there should be an endeavour to make him self-reliant. Mr Isitt seconded the motion, which he described as glorious. Sir J. Parr said that one appreciated the spirit of the motion, even if one doubted its practicability. The motion was carried.

The Transport Licensing Bill was received from the House, and referred to the Staututes Revision Committee. Moving the second reading of the Broadcasting Bill, Sir J- Parr said he felt the’ Bill would prove a great benefit to listeners.

Sir J. Allen asked if the Broadcasting Company had proved a financial success. The Bill did not make clear what the Board would do with its revenue. He asked whether it would extend its services.

Mr Mclntyre said the Bill would be received with immense satisfaction by listeners from one end of New Zealand to the other. There need be no doubt about the financial soundness of the company. A great deal would depend on the personnel of the Board. Mr Carrington said that the 8.8. C. system was much preferable to the American system of private ownership. Mr Garland said the service at present was imperfect and the company had allowed its equipment to deteriorate. The hope was expressed by Mr Isitt that one of the members of the Board would be a musician. Sir F. Bell spoke in defence of the company which, in his opinion, had done remarkably well in face of tremendous difficulties. Replying, Sir J. Parr said the Board would be entirely independent of the Government. The Bill was read a second time, put through the remaining stages and passed with minor amendments, one of which prevents civil servants from being members of the Advisory Council. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m. until 11.15 a.m. to-morrow.