PARLIAMENTARY RECESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1937, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY RECESS

CLOSE DOWN TILL MARCH

BILLS RUSHED THROUGH

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, December 9

In the House this afternoon, urgency was accorded the passing of the Petroleum Bill, the Dog Registration Amendment Bill, the Agricultural Workers’ Amendment Bill, and the Slate Advances Corporation Amendment Bill. ~ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Armstrong), in moving the second reading of the Agricultural Workers Amendment Bill, said that it would be remembered that the Agricultui al Workers’ Act applied only to dairy farms, Ibut other branches of the farming industry had been attracted by the success of that measure, and this Bill would bring all such branches of the farming industry under the provisions of the main Act. Otherwise they would come under the provisions of the Arbitration Court. . Mr. Polson said that the dairy farmers were perfectly satisfied with tne provisions for agreements in the Act. Tfie Bill was read the second time. In moving. the second reading of the State Advances 1 Corporation Amendment Bill? the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash) explained the provisions of the Bill, which removed the income disqualification for the granting of special loans for ordinary individuals. Previously, there has been a limit of £6 per week for a man with a wife and three children, but this limit has now been removed. There was, however, a limit of £1,250 to the amount of special loan which could be granted. This was to prevent special loans being granted for the building of houses, say, up to the value of £5000; . but there was’ nothing to prevent ordinary loans of up to 66 2-3 per cent being granted in the latter case. Another section of the Bill gave the Government authority for building shops, halls, libraries, etc., in housing areas for leasing. There was no idea of building shops to compete with existing ones. The State Advances Corporation was described .by the Leader of the Opposition as one of the most important'institutions in New Zealand, it having over £56 millions under its control. He said that the Govern, ment had failed to see any difference between the Corporation functioning 'as a useful State institution and the State entering into a scheme of building houses to let. He did not consider it advisable that the State should build houses to rent to people. It was also debatable whether it was wise „ for the” Government to take the power to build shops, libraries, and public halls. Mr. Hargest asked if it were a fact that people getting over £6 per week were being given Government houses. Mr. Nash: Yes. The question of hardship has to be considered. Mr. Hargest continued that he was glad that this was so, because, other- , wise, there might be too great a percentage of low-salaried people who could not meet their obligations m Government houses. The debate was continued by Messrs Lee, Broadfoot, Dickie, and Kyle, and was interrupted by the ad- . journment at 5.30.

RATES AND SHOPS The House continued the debate on the second reading of the State Advances Corporation Amendment i Bill on the resumption at 7.30. - Mr. Wright raised the question of the payment- of rates. He suggested that in the case of State houses, an allowance should be made, in connection with the rentals for periods when the houses might be empty. Mr. Christie said that the Government was setting out to build what, practically, amounted to subuibs under its housing scheme, and surely it was entitled to provide shops for the convenience of the occupants of the State houses? Mr. Williams said that, from a Socialist point of view, there was no more objection to a person owning his own house than there was to his owning the suit of clothes on his back, -but he would point out that there . were grave disadvantages to an individual in the ownership of house property in • the event of his removal from one part of the Dominion to another. The debate was continued by Messrs Holyoake, Smith, and Polson. The Minister of Finance in his reply, said that the houses being built by the State were far better than those built by others for letting. the State was producing them, they would cost from 35/- to £2 per week if they were let by private individuals. . , Referring to the State Advances Corporation’s intentions with regard to building houses, the Minister said that if a person of good character, with a suitable section, wished to build a house, the Corporation would have it built for him in his own name. The Bill was read the second time at 11.30, and the House then went into committee on this and the other three Bills for which urgency was granted in the afternoon. The four Bills for which urgency was granted were, after midnight, rapidly passed through all stages. The House rose at 12.8 a.m. until the ringing of the bells on Fi iday q*he Prime Minister (Mr. Savage) stated that the House would adjourn to-morrow, until Tuesday, March 1.

TO-DAY’S SITTING.

WELLINGTON, December 10

The House met at 12.15 p.m. The Prime Minister gave notice that when the session resumed after the recess, he would move for the rati - cation of a large number of conventions passed by the League of Nations at Geneva, dating from 1919 onwards. Mr Cullen, on behalf of the Speaker (Mr Barnard) asked an urgent question of the Minister of Health, whether it was proposed during the present session to amend the law affecting the conduct and' administration of public hospitals in the light of additional knowledge gained by him and his officers during this and the previous year. „ . The Minister of Health (Mr Fraser) replied that the amendment to the Hospital Act was not contemplated. Mr Savage then formally moved the adjournment of the House until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1. He indicated that the main business after the recess would be the consideration of the Education Bill, and perhaps one

or two ' Bills concerning national health insurance and superannuation. He thanked the Leader of the Opposition and members of his party for their assistance during the session, and expressed appreciation of the help given by the Speaker (Mr Barnard), the Chairman of Committees (Mr Howard), the officers and messengers of the House, the Press and others, and extended to all the compliments of (the season and heartiest good wishes. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Hamilton) reciprocated the remarks by the Prime Minister and wished all the compliments of the season, after a strenuous session. The Minister of Education (Mr Fraser) also extended good wishes to all, including the Broadcasting Service, etcetera. The usual informal scenes marked the conclusion of the sitting, the House eventually rising at 12.50. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, December 9. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m.

The School of Agriculture Bill, the Agriculture Emergency Regulations Confirmation Bill, the Sovereign’s Birthday Observance Bill, the Local Legislation Bill, and the Cawthron Institute Trust Board Rating Exemption Bill were passed. In the evening the following bills were put through the remaining stages and passed:—The Thames Valley Drainage Board Empowering Bill, the Taupiri Drainage and River District Amendment Bill, the Napier Harbour Board Loan Amendment Bill, the Hamilton Borough Council Empowering Bill, and the Christchurch Domains Amendment Bill.