PARLIAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 September 1924, Page 9

PARLIAMENT

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

THE LAND BILL

(BY TELEGRAPH- —PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 17. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. Ministers gave the following answers to, questions::

That it is not likely legislation will be introduced this session for the granting of loans to co-operative syndicates or companies of farmers formed with the object of crushing or burning lime for agricultural purposes. That there is power under the Municipal. Corporations Act and under the Fire Brigades Act prohibiting the use of a, theatre and of other buildings unless sufficient safeguards' against fire have been, provided, which may include the presence of duly qualified firemen or otherwise; for the safety of persons assembled in the building. As the matter of providing an attendant at theatres is one which primarily concerns municipalities the question, is, in the first place, being referred for the consideration of the executive of the Municipal Association.

lhat six travelling dental engines had been purchased by the Government for the dental, hygiene division and that on arrival in New Zealand it was found that these engines were of German make owing to an error on the park ol the firm supplying them \ further - supply of English-made engines had been ordered.

. f ol i the agricultural college for the North Island had not yet been, decided upon. Should it be decided to establish the college elsewhere than in Hawke’s Bay the funds of the Howard estate will not be diverted to such establishment.

That the question of the remuneration and superannuation of magistrates is now under consideration. That the system of appointing secretanes of education boards as returning officers for education board elections has always worked well and there does not appear to be any urgent- necessity tor a change. , : J Thak it is not proposed to introduce legislation th& session repealing clause \?, f the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which excludes certain workers from the right to obtain + rom the Arbitration Court. Ihat numerous independent author5-*®®- v cou »tries, including New Zealand, have during the past <?M rs endeav °hred to investigate the Abrams” .system. The reports ofa, large number of these investigators have been received by the Health Department and the consensus of opinion is that t-he claims made’are exfcrava®a??t. an d unwarranted on the evidence medical.’officers' of the Health Department support this omnion. 1

That the provision of accommodation tor maternity cases is ais much the duty ot hospital boards as the provisions of accommodation for general treatment, and capital expenditure thereon would cafry the usual. £1 for £1 subsidy. The question of the extension of a maternity bonus tor the purpose of providing treatment in ai properlv equips ped and administered public Maternity hospital is one which is-at present under consideration

That realising the impossibility of entirely preventing poaching the department has under consideration a. proposal for the leasing of the rock oyster oeds. lhe outstanding advantages of leasing, assuming that the lessees lived in the vicinity of the beds which they leased, would be that every lessee would f 7 C °^? ed in the prevention of poaching. The question, however, is beset with many difficulties, and belore any decision, is arrived at the mat.er will be exhaustively considered, as uil also the question of leading suitable sections of the foreshore where oysters do not at present exist, but planted. y C °"' d be That the position with regard to dairy companies’ advances is that the banks made advances to these companies upon securities of the factories ; .and several guarantee of suppliers. Such special securities cannot be regarded, by any means as fir.rtclajs cover. The banks consider a fair •ate foi such advances at present is 7 per cent., but if companies put their London exchange business through the banks they get ai concession of a half per cent, m the rate of interest chargupon overdraft This position h® oeen made quite plain to all daily companies and to a representative departunn which waited on the chairmln of the ais-sociatecl banks some time ago Ihe Mortgages Final Extension Bill andpSfed. " rd ‘ iMe witlwut <M*»*

, The Prevention of Crime Bill was 3 The Chattels’ Transfer Bill was read a Second time pro forma and referred ,0 the Statutes Revision Committee Un the motmn of the Hon. O. J. 1 ah the House then went into comniittee on the Land Bill, which was in charge of the Hon. A. D. McLeod. During the committee stage the Minister promised to reconsider a few Clauses with a view to making their intention clearer and mitigatin'* , the apparent harshness, of their' terms’’ Several members protested against the freehold clauses of the Bill, but no division was called for.

The Minister promised to go carefully into the question of the revaluahon of land in the hinterland of the North Island which was alleged to be going back. ’ The remainder of the 389 clauses were passed without, amendment, but as the Munster has some amendments to be brought clown at a later stage pro"res* was reported on the Bill. & The House then went into committee on the Police Force Amendment Bill winch was passed without amendment’ • 'be committee then proceeded to cm/ sidei th e Acts Interpretation Bill which was reported without amenr.l-

P°lioe Force Amendment Bill and the Acts Interpretation Bill wore thep read a third time and passed. 2 dry n roso at n ’ 3o P-™. till A.du p.m. to-morrow.