N.Z. PARLIAMENT

Grey River Argus, 25 November 1944, Page 7

N.Z. PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY’S SITTINGS

Several Bills Debated

WELLINGTON, Nov. 24. An indication that an amendment would be moved in the committee stage, to an important provision in the Earthquake and War Damage Bill was given in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, by the Leader of the Council, Hon. A. McLagan. At present the Bid provides that payment be made in the case of earthquake damage not later than one year after the determination of the amount of damage. The amendment is, by way of addition, providing that determination of the amount of damage shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable in the circumstances of each case. The Bill was read a second time. There are 71 clauses in the Statutes Amendment Bill introduced in the House to-day.

The definition of ordinary pay in the Annual Holidays’ Act is amended to exclude all board and lodging provided by an employer under conditions similar to >those prescribed by the country work clauses of the industrial awards and agreements. The definition still includes those cases where workers such as hotel workers, domestic workers and certain rural workers receive board and lodging as part of their ordinary remuneration.

The Minister of Mines is empowered to require transport for workmen to be provided between the surface and any underground place in any coal mine.

County Councils are empowered to recover the cost of the control and eradication of nassella tussock from owners of land. The owners, in turn, may recover from the tenant, and the tenant from the sub-tenant in certain cases.

The procedure of the union of electric power districts is altered and the Governor-General-in-iCouncil "is /authorised to issue a proclamation uniting two or more electric power districts if the board of each district has made a special order recommending the union.

The minimum age for employment in a factory is increased by one year in view of the raising of the school age from 14 to 15 years. The liability of the Railways Department for goods lost or damaged in cases where no special value has been declared is increased from £lO to £2O. It is made an offence to disclose information relating to thei condition or treatment of a patient in hospital without the consent of the patient or his representative, except in special cases. The clause does not .affect the right to call witnesses in Court proceedings to give evidence as to the condition or treatment of anv patient.

University lecturers are to be given representation on the Academic Board, to which they will be entitled to elect two members.

Right of seniority held by them on the date of their retirement are restored to Police Force officers who retire from the Force to serve in the Armed Forces and subsequently rejoin the Police Force. In the House, Hon. H. G. R. Mason explained that the Statutes Amendment Bill, which was introduced by Governor-General’s Message, was merely a washing-up Bill. Mr Holland interjected: Oh! I thought it might be a Bill abolishing the Legislative Council. Mr Fraser: An amendment could always be moved. Mr Holland: This Bill was .a surprise to us, not having been included in the Prime Minister’s list of remaining business, and so we thought it might be a worthwhile surprise. Mr Mason explained that the Bill involved amendments to 35 Acts, but there was no reference to the matter mentioned by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Holland: That is bad luck.

The Bill was .also read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Local Legislative Bill was passed. Moving the second reading of the Native Purposes ;Bill, Mr Mason explained it was a washing-up measure containing amendments to laws related to native affairs. All provisions were of a minor character. The Bill was put through committee and passed. REHABILITATION. In the House Hon. C. F. Skinner introduced the Rehabilitation Act Amendment Bill. He said members knew it had been necessary in the past 12 months to go beyond the Rehabilitation Act in setting up organisations to handle rehabilitation. This had not been necessary in many important respects, but had been found desirable in a number of cases. The Bill simplv regularised what had been done, in fact, already. It broadened the definition of servicemen and gave the Rehabilitation (Board more accurately defined powers than it had hitherto. Apart from that, there was nothing new in the Bill. The definition of “servicemen” is widened. Personnel who have served in the Allied armed forces, or served ou f side New Zealand with any of those forces as war correspondents or as a member of any voluntary aid or other voluntary organisation, are brought within the scone of the definition. It is also to apnly to merchant seamen who have served on Allied ships. Definition of ex-service-men’s dependants is also extended. One clause states that the rehabilitation board is to give effect to the policy of the Government and that it shall have regard to any representations made to if by the Minister of Rehabilitation. Power to grant financial assistance to discharged servicemen or their widows is not to include power to grant assistance to companies and other bodies in which any discharged serviceman or serviceman’s widow, has any share or interest, or to any other person where a discharged serviceman or widow will benefit. Nothing in any award or industrial agreement or any other governing apprenticeship is to present the carrying out of any scheme established by the Board for training discharged servicemen for any industry, but the board shall have prior consultation with the workers and employers’ organisations in the industry concerned. QUESTIONS Mr C. M. Bowden (Nat., Wellington West) in the House, gave notice to ask the Minister of Railways whether, in view of the congestion, delay and inconvenience at present existing at the reservation counters of the main railway stations, and the probability of this being accentuated prior to the Christmas holidays, the Minister would restore the booking and reservation period that existed prior to the introduction of the present seven-day restriction, and whether he would enlarge the booking reservation facilities where necessary.

Mr Bowden also asked when the Minister would make an announcement regarding the provision of additional trains on the main express routes.

Mr W. J. Polson (Nat., Stratford) gave notice to ask the Acting-Minister of Industries and Commerce to state under what authority the Price Tribunal acted when it demanded surveys of businesses, including intimate details, and whether the Minister considered such a demand for

ofevery detail of the trader’s business, without any pledge or assurance of its being confidential, woe fair or reasonable, particularly w a member of the Cabinet stated at the recent Labour conference that! «the Government should now tip the middleman out and do the job iself,” 1