PARLIAMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 November 1924, Page 9

PARLIAMENT.

SINGAPORE BASE. <. STATEMENT BY MR MASSEY. ] (by TELEGRAPH —-PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Nov. 5. The House met at 11 o’clock this morning. Mr Massey, replying to Mi- Isitt, said that though the circumstances were scarcely favourable, at the moment, no opportunity would be lost of impressing on. the new Imperial Government New Zealand’s view as to the necessity of the Singapore naval base. Replying to Mr Holland, Sir Maui Pom are said he had been advised that no; women prisoners at Niue Island were 1 employed at road-making. No woman 1 prisoner had to work harder than if she 1 were free. Mr Massey then formally moved the 1 second reading of the Finance Bill. ! Mr Wilford complained that under * the Bijl certain moneys provided under the Hiley scheme were being diverted, and the. rate of interest was being raised from to per cent, which, ■ together with the sinking fund,-would ' constitute a heavy impost on people, if spread over a long peridd of years/ Mr Wilford pointed out that power was given to issue an Order-in-Councii to impose on gas companies a levy of 14s per million feet* sold during the previous year, and wanted to know what effect this impost was going to have on householders using gas. ° Continuing his criticism of the Finance Bill, Mr Wilford regretted the absence of any provision to give relief to country racing clubs. If the Premier desired to kill many racing clubs who had to pay taxation on losses he could adopt no better course than let the Bill pass. He also commented on the proposal to increase the State’s shareholding in the Bank of New Zealand. This might he advantageous to the State, but it would be bad for,the country, for it was not gogd that the banks should pay big dividends and charge high rates on overdraft. He also thought the Minister of Justice had not gone far enough in the matter of providing superannuation for stipendiary magistrates. Mr Holland thought military camps for youths should be abolished because they did ho good, but if boys were compelled to go into these camps provision should be made to assure them payment of their wages while there. He referred to several other matters, but did not propose to criticise the Bill in detail, as the session had been barren enough, and he had no wish to prolong it. Mr Lysnar returned to his charge ■ that the Government was in league with trusts arid combines in connection with the freezing industry. They l had been wasting time for four and • a half months while the fight had been i on to prevent improper legislation to - go on the Statute Book to protect the - weak against’the strong. Hon. A. D. McLeod said the only way to settle this matter was to set up a commission to go into the whole question. The Government had done nothing of which they had any reason to he ashamed, and were prepared to 5 put all their cards on the table. 1 Mr Sidey said the chief feature of 3 the Bill was that it was another horf rowing Bill. On the Public Works - Estimates they (had voted £8,000,000, t and now thev 'Were asked to increase - this amount by £2.000,000, which -was pretty good going for a non-borrowing Government. The House adjourned for lunch at 1 r o’clock.