PARLIAMENT’S DAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 October 1942, Page 2

PARLIAMENT’S DAY

QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS |,IH —— j RETURNED SOLDIERS WELLINGTON, October 21. | The Hduse met at 2.0 p.m.. 1 Replying to a question by Ml Denham (Govt., Invercargill), M* Nordmeyer said that doctors unde; the capitation scheme on the friendly societies’ list or those working in l special area were entitled to a re* fund of 7/6 when they called in i specialist’s services. Mrs Grigg (Nat., Mid-Canterburyi asked if the Minister of National Service was aware that a number pt girls had been taken from farms ia the Canaterbury area to work ia woollen mills, and would the Minister reverse this, to enable production to be maintained. J Mr Fraser, on behalf of the Minister, said that it was contrary to tte Government’s policy to have women and girls transferred-,.from primary production to secondary industries. The Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, said that it was incorrect to say thst soldiers returning from active service were turned adrift, when replying t> a question put by Mr Doidge (Nat, Tauranga). Every care .was taken to see that pensions or social security benefits were settled. If particular cases of hardship existed, he would be pleased to investigate them. Mr Fraser said it was not possible to avoid exchange charges on remittances sent to men overseas, in reply to a question by Mr J. Sullivan (Nat, Bay of Plenty). The Government had decided to allow an additional £7 10/- to be remitted overseas fcr Christmas.

Mr Fraser said that a comprehensive report from Mr A. D. Wilson, the Fire Fighting Expert from Britain, was in the hands of the Government, but it was impossible to state when a final decision would be given on it. He made this statement, in reply to an inquiry made by Mr J. Lee, on behalf of Mr W. Barnard. Mr Fraser added that a final decision on the report depended largely on what questions arose in the discussions that must take place between the interested bodies. In reply to a question by Mr Frost (Govt., New Plymouth) regarding payments on State Advance loans where building was held up, Mr Parry on behalf of Mr Armstrong, said that arrangements had been made for interest to be paid on progress payments only. Arrangements had also been made for the taking up of a loan to be postponed for six months where the services of a builder could not be secured.

A reference to the statement made by the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North on Tuesday, at a re-trial of Charles Gough, Union Secretary, was contained in the notice of a question placed on the order paper by Mr Endean (Nat., Remuera). He asked Mr Mason to explain the reason for the delay in giving his consent to the trial of Gough, who is a branch secretary of the Dairy Factory Workers’ Union, on a charge of making a subversive statement on February 24. The Makerua Drainage Board Empowering Bill, Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Lighting Empowering and Amendment Bill, and Wanganui City Council Vesting and Empowering Bill were put though the remaining stages and passed. The House then considered Ministerial replies to questions. The Minister of Health, in reply to Mr Barnard, who had stated in h:s question that V.A.D. pay was low in comparison with the earnings of other girl workers, said that Hospital Boards had been recommended to pay not less than 30/- a week in the first year, 35/- in the second, and an additional 35/- if the Aid lived out. Mr Fraser, replying to Mr Lee, said that the National Health Committee was responsible for seeing that sufficient doctors were retained in New Zealand to meet the civilian needs, and the question of increasing the number of medical students was receiving consideration. Replying to a question by Mr Denham, Mr Nordmeyer said that, in view of the large amount of administrative work involved in the present system of recovering medical fees under the social security scheme, it had become necessary to discuss the question of the direct collection of fees by doctors. The number of doctors already claiming directly from the fund was growing, and, because of that, the question of compulsion was not receiving consideration. The question of the amount of the charge made by the doctors over and above 7/6 was being investigated in the light of the past year’s experience. FAIR RENTS BILL When the House resumed at 7.30 this evening, the Fair Rents Amendment Bill was taken in committee. Mr. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, reiterated his objection to all of the measure being passed. He asked the Government to consider postponing the new matter in the Bill until the December session.

Mr. Mason referred to the point raised by Mr. Acland (Nat., Temuka), that men in the Services should on their return, have the right to recover possession of their homes, which they had let during their absence. Mr. Mason said that the Government had decided to exempt any soldier-owner of property from the provisions of the Fair Rents Act. The actual ownership of a home by a man returning from service was a point which would give him the right to regain possession on his return from service, provided that he had been in possession of the home at the time that he was called up. If a soldier-owner, or his wife, let his house, and on his return, he decided to regain ownership, then this Act would place no obstacles in his way. Mr. Broadfoot (Nat., Waitomo), said that the Member for Temuka had thus brought up an important point the previous night. Mr. Mason, however, said the President of the Returned Services’ Association, Hon. W. Perry, had made similar representations to him the previous day. Mr. Perry had also made representations regarding the possible eviction of soldiers’ wives. But that point was covered by the widening of the Act to bring in all dwellings. The right of the returned soldier-owner was made absolute, and this Act would not affect him in any way whatever. Mr. Mason referred to Mr. Holland’s request that part of the measure should be allowed to stand over until December. Mr. Mason said that this was not possible. There were one or two important changes in the Bill, and one of the most important was the clause which brought in all dwelling houses. That could not be held over. Other clauses were not so important, but some of them were consequential, and it would make a poor sort of job to cut them out.

Mr. Fraser said that he agreed Mr. Acland deserved credit for his suggestion, but they were not seeking kudos for individual members —they were trying to pass legislation for the benefit of the people. Regardless of difficulties, they should re-es-tablish the returned soldiers in their homes. This Bill was not going to solve all of the rental problems. It was clear that office rentals and rentals of all kinds would have to be dealt with, but he did think that it could be dealt with in a Bill dealing

with fair rents. “It must be part of a general stabilisation programme that will deal with all goods, costs, prices, rentals, wages and all other matters that can a*nd ought to be controlled for the rest of the war,” he said.

After further debate on similar lines, the short title of the Fair Rents Bill was passed by the House and the clauses were approved up to Clause Nine. On this clause, Mr. Mason moved to strike out the subclause prohibiting a landlord from asking if a prospective tenant had children. Mr. Holland moved as an amendment to the clause, that Sub-clause Two—which puts the burden of proving that a refusal to let was not due to the fact that the prospective tenant had children upon the landlord—should be struck out. The clause was bad law, he said, and should not be in the Bill. Mr. Mason said that this clause was not unduly burdensome. If this clause was not in the Bill, it would have to be shown that the landlord had expressly mentioned his objection to children in order to prove the case. If a landlord refused a tenant because he was a bad payer, he could say so. Mr. Fraser asked the legal members of the House to say how children could be protected without the provision in the sub-clause. Even with it, it would be difficult to prove a case. The landlord would have to go into Court and give a reason for his refusal. If the amendment was carried, the landlord could sit back and smile cynically. The amendment was defeated by 31 votes to 17. A clause protecting the rights of servicemen is to be added to the Bill. The Bill was passed, and the House I rose at 11.10 until 2.30 to-morrow. | The Prime Minister told members! of the House of Representatives tonight that a secret session, which would include a discussion on manpower, would be commenced tomorrow. A report on manpower; would be available to members in' the morning. '