PARLIAMENT— Rush Of Business: Eight Bills Introduced

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1948, Page 3

PARLIAMENT— Rush Of Business: Eight Bills Introduced

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 14. “I have eight messages from his Excellency the Governor-General.” With these v/ords, Mr Speaker ( Mr R. McKeen) began the proceedings of the House of Representatives today. There were 12 bills on the order paper before the new eight were introduced. '

“Some one has been working -overtime,” said Mr R. G. Gerard (Opposition, Ashburton). The deputy-Leadei- of the Opposition (Mr K. J. Holyoake) later referred to “a minor snowstorm” of bills and asked if it was the beginning of the usual end-of-season ‘‘paper chase.” It was a pity some of this legislation had not been brought down earlier.

The Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash, said he thought the Opposition might have commended the Government for bringing the bills down in good time. y There were still two more working months before the House, if necessary.

The bills were the Finance, the Cook Islands Amendment, Carriers’, Public Holidays Amendment, Veterinary Services Amendment, Nassella Tussock Amendment, Patriotic and Canteen Funds Amendment, and Land Valuers Bills. The Patriotic and Canteen Funds Amendment Bill gives effect to an agreement between the Patriotic Fund Board and the Government under which the board may appoint its own staff.

The Valuers Bill provides for the registration of land valuers and the constitution of the New Zealand Institute of Valuers. The Minister of Lands (Mr C. F. Skinner) said the bill had been drafted by the Institute of Valuers, and was something it had been asking for for a long time. The bill also provided for a Valuers’ Registration Board, which would lay down certain standards. Certain disciplinary powers would be given to the board. The bill was read a second time, pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Cook Islands Amendment Bill provides a penalty of five years’ imprisonment with hard labour for unlawful entry of a dwellinghouse by night with intent to commit a criminal offence or for being found by night in any dwellinghouse without

lawful justification. A similar penalty is prescribed for threats to do bodily harm. The Veterinary Services Amendment Bill amends the constitution of the Veterinary Services Council to provide for two members, one being a farmer' and the other a veterinary surgeon to represent farmers’ veterinary clubs and like associations. They shall replace representatives of the Dominion Federation of Farmers’ Veterinary Services (Inc.). The council is to hold annual metings of delegates of farmers’ veterinary clubs and associations.