QUIET DAY IN HOUSE

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 November 1933, Page 12

QUIET DAY IN HOUSE

o> — ( RELIEF WORKERS’ CHRISTMAS J

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, November 7. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Richards asked whether in view of the example of several commercial houses of repute and also of some local bodies and other employers, in recently restoring the ten per cent salary and wages cuts, the Prime Minister would state whether he would take steps to restore the cuts of all civil servants by at least ten per cent, before Christmas 1933. Mr Forbes said that the state ot public finances would not permit increases on the lines. suggested by Mr Richards. Replying to Mr Holyoake, Mr Hamilton said it had been decided that practically the same arrangements as had been made for the last Christmas and New Year period would operate this year, so. far as relief workers were concerned. Details had not yet been finalised, but it was anticipated a circular outlining the whole of the arrangements would be issued this week to the certifying officers throughout the Dominion. So far as railway travel was concerned, relief workers on other than standard public works, camps, and also gold prospectors, who were working away from hom6, would’be granted quarter rates for the railway journey when proceeding to and from their homes. Where railway facilities were not available, the Unemployment Board would adopt the procedure in operation last year, and meet half the return fare. The Public Petitions Committee reported it had no recommendation to make on a large number of petitions asking for an amendment of the Gaming Act. The Committee pointed out a matter of policy was involved, and the subject matter of petitions was dealt with in the Gaming Amendment Bill at present before the •House.

The Egmont National Park Amendment Bill and Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill were reported from the Lands Committee. . The Goldfields and Mines Committee, reporting on a number of petitions from the Hauraki miners, asking for an inquiry into the method of assistance to unemployed miners by the Unemployment Board, recommended the petitions to the Government for consideration, with a- further recommendation that the deputy chairman of the Unemployment Board, the Under Secretary for Mines, and the Member for the District, should confer with the parties, with a view to a settlement. Mr Samuel said the committee’s recommendation would be well received by the petitioners. He said the stipulation that assisted gold miners should have to submit to a deduction of ten per cent, of all their earnings towards the repayment of subsidy did not seem fair when compared with the Number 10 building subsidy scheme. Mi* Savage supported Mr Samuel’s remarks, and said the feeling throughout the Dominion was that the miners should not be called upon to repay the subsidy. COMPANIES BILL. Moving the second reading of the Companies Bill, Mr Coates said there had been a demand for legislation of the kind for many years past, not only so far as the Dominion’s own internal requirements were concerned, but also that the companies law in. New Zealand should be such that those who were investing money from outside, could be sure that the methods applied were reliable. Dealing with the question of share hawking, the Minister said it was not right that a certain type of person who was an adept at persuasive languages, should be permitted to entice people to withdraw their earnings from the Post Office or from some other form of investment and place it in companies in the belief they would secure a return of twenty-per cent, or some other fabulous sum. Mr Coates indicated there were one or two amendments which the Government would move during the committee stages, which, he did not intend to take for at least a fortnight. That would give full opportunity for the amendments to be considered, and if necessary, submitted to the special advisory committee for its opinion. The Minister added that it wbuld be necessary when the Bill.was passed, to adopt winding up rules, and in order to assist in this work, it was proposed to make further use of the services of the advisory committee. Mr Schramm said it was a matter for satisfaction that the company law was being brought up to date. He thought the Bill was a fine piece of drafting, and it reflected credit on the Government and on members of the Advisory Committee. He regarded the clause relating to the names of companies as a very important feature of the Bill. Many people were liable to be misled by the names of companies and restriction on the use of such words as “royal,” “imperial,” “national,” “banking,” and “trustee,” commended itself to all those who had considered the matter carefully. Mr Schramm said he, in common with other members, had been inundated with communications on the subject of the Bill’s provisions, relating to auditors. Some thought the provisions should stand while others declared they should be cut out. Certainly they were quite new. He did not think there was anything like them in other parts of the Empire. He believed that the clause might well be held up for further consideration. It might be possible to prepare some clause which would be satisfactory to all bodies of professional people concerned. lie would like to .see this clause referred to a special committee.

Mr Polson said he agreed that share-hawking should be stopped, but the provision contained in the Rill would have a serious effect on cooperative companies doing business in the country. I-Ie suggested as an alternative that canvassers be licensed under a suitable bond. Mr Holland said it would not be possible to support the clause relating to auditing without inflicting hardship on somebody. It appeared to him there was a desire to establish a close corporation. Replying to the debate, Mr Coates said he had taken careful note not only of the points raised during the debate, but also of matters . which members had discussed with him personally. He would submit them to the Advisory Committee, and the amendments considered necessary would be introduced during the committee stage. The Bill was read a second time. N.Z. COINAGE. Moving the second reading of the

Coinage Bill, Mr Coates said it was j on the lines of the Imperial Coinage Act The Bill covered a technical point not included in the Finance Act of last year, and its passage at the present time was rendered necessary by the forthcoming arrival of New Zealand, half-crowns. The Minister mentioned that the committee considering the designs of the remaining New Zealand coins, had practically completed its work. There were only two more designs to be approved, and he. expected to be able to make an announcement on the subject shoitly. Referring to. arguments as to whether or not it would be more profitable to mint coins in New Zealand, the Minister said the. experts who had investigated this question had been thoroughly competent to express an opinion, and they had decided it was not possible for the local manufacturers to come anywhere, near cornpeting with the Royal Mint. The Minister stated there were £200,000 worth of half-crowns in the shipment which had now nearly reached New Zealand, and the profit to the Government on this contract would be £lBO,OOO. ~ , „ Mr Lee said the Bill provided foi the minting of gold coin and he asked whether it was the intention to put this provision into practice. He expressed the opinion that if coins had been minted in New Zealand, the profit would have been larger. He considered that five shilling notes were necessary in New Zealand. There would be more profit in printing five shilling and half-crown notes, than in 'minting coins for these denominations. Mr Wilkinson congratulated the Government on having at last adopted New Zealand coinage. He said thefe was no reason why the coins should not have been manufactured in the Dominion. He understood that a Wellington firm had offered to mint a million pounds worth of silver coins at a cost of £287,000. That, would have meant an enormous profit to the State. Mr Wilkinson added he had received twenty-five cent, notes in Canada, and in his opinion there was no reason why New Zealand should not issue notes from the value of a shilling upwards. The Government could back such notes and there would be a large profit from their issue. The Bill was read a second time. The House agreed to the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Nurses and Midwives Registration Amendment Bill, and Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Amendment Bill.

The House rose at 10.20, till 2.30 tomorrow afternoon.