PARLIAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 September 1924, Page 9

PARLIAMENT

RAILWAY SERVICE

LAND AND INCOME TAX

SOLDIER SETTLERS

(BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) TT M ELLINGTON, Sent. 16. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Tlie Government Railways Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor’s message.

Hie Hon. J. G. Coates said that mu ucir the existing law the railway service "us the only one in which the classi.icatiO'iL was by Act. This Bill proposed to put the classification on me same footing as in other branches of ■ the public service, viz., that it should be done by Order-m-Council. This would enable the classification to l be carried quicker, and would make the whole matter easier of administration. The Education Reserves Act Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor’s message.

lhe Hon. C. J. Parr explained that these , reserves were by arrangement managed for tlie Education Department by the Lands Department, and the Bill as destined, to improve the machinery by which this could be done Replying to Ivlr T. K. Sidev, Mr Massey said he doubted whether he could delay consideration cf the Land and Income Tax Bill, which was net coming down till members could read through the evidence taken by the taxation Commission, as the document was rather bulky, while the Bill was necessary to the Department. Replying to the Hon. D. Buddo (Ka.iapoi), Mr Massey said he would in future endeavour to indicate to borrowers from the State Advances Department the date on which their application would be dealt with. This was done in many cases now. Mr P. A. de, la. Pencils referred to published statements in regard to the revaluation of soldiers’ land, and asked .vlietbeF it was the policy of the Revaluation Board tc< entirely disregard the improvements effected "by soldiers during their term of occupancy. The Minister for Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod) stated the Dominion Revaluation Beard was acting strictly within the provisions of the Act, which aimed at placing all soldiers in a. position to carry on at fair overhead charges. It must be remembered that these prooerties were freehold, where the Crown was first mortgagee, and as such the Crown had a right to expect that if security would be respected all Crown charges, such'as the original advance and subsequent advances on current account for -improvements, were brought to a charge as liabilities, and where these exceeded the valuation by a district revaluation committee, then a reduction was made. The total reductions made on Crown mortgages to dateamounted to £375,471, though, it would -j-.pear that the men were not being prejudiced. The Hon, G. J. Anderson brought down the annual report of the Mines Deoartment. ' 1 '

Mr H. E. Holland said lie noticed chat since 1918. the cost of bringing a. ..on of coal to the surface had not been given. In 1918 the cost was 15s 4d per con, ol which 7s Id was represented by labour, but no figures hati been given since that year. He also complained chat lor every four tons of coal produced in the Dominion one ton was imported. In reply, the Hen. G. J. Anderson promised that figures regarding the cost of the production c-f a ton of coal would be given in next year’s lepcrt. As to the importation or coal, everyone regretted this had to be done. There never would have been any importations had it been possible to arrange for forward deliveries of the • urge quantities of coal acquired, not only by the Railways Department, .viiich was the largest user, but by gasworks and various industrial organisations.- These supplies could not, however, be counted oil to-day. Referring to the co-operative mines at Seddonville. the Minister sard the miners had at times experienced diffiuilsy in selling their coa-l,'principally, he thought, because they lacked business experience. The Government had endeavoured to assist them, but this had net always been a fortunate thing for the State. Mr Massey laid on the table the report of the Public Trust Office.

Mr P. Fraser moved for leave to introduce the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, Avhieh proposed to. bring uridqr the Arbitrar-

■ioii Court those workers exempted by ckuse 71 of the original Act. After a brief discussion lea A-e Avas granted, and the Bill was introduced and read a first- time.

Mr Fraser moved.fo.r leave to introduce the Housing Amendment Bill. The Bill proposed that a committee of the House or a Royal Commission be set up to go. into the whole question of the housing shortage Avith a view to ascertaining what was required to oA r ertake the shortage. He proposed that either the Premier or the Minister for Labour he chairman of the committee or commission, and that such information be gathered as Avould enible them to deal intelligently with the problem. The discussion Avas proceeding Avhen the House- adjourned for dinner and the matter therefore lapsed. The House went- into committee on the Prevention of Crime and Borstal Institutions Establishment Bill. Tlie Bill avus reported with minor amendments moved by the Minister. The House rose at 12.25 a.m. till 2.30 p.m.