PARLIAMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 27 July 1928, Page 9

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE'S.

AUCTITONELBS BILE discussed

(By Telegraph —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 26

Tli© Hon. F. J. Rolleston, act in gMinister in charge' of the Tourist Department, .laid, on the table in the Douse of Representatives, to-day the annual report of that department. A discussion ensued during which members took the opportunity to draw attention to the scenic beauties of their respective districts. Tlhe Hon. F. J. Rolleston moved tire second reading of the Auctioneers Bill. He said tilre existing law was somewhat out of date, as this was only the third time the subject had been legislated upon in 86 years. They had to go back to Provincial Council legislation for the fixing of the .licensing fee at £4O, and that was the fee to-day. The reason for the Bill was that the conditions ware changed, and lit was necessary to change the. law. Instead of the local authority licensing auctioneers it was now proposed that they would go before a magistrate and provide a fidelity bond in exactly the same way as land agents did. The fees would .remain the same and the money would . .still go to the local authority in the town or district where the auctioneer's business was established. This, lie thought, was an equitable basis. As a protection to. the public it was provided that all monies received by auctioneers on .behalf of clients must be paid into a, trust account. He was prepared to 1 refer the Bill to the Statute Revision Committee, before which the auctioneers could come, to give evidence. Mr A. Harris, urged that auctioneers at church .bazaars should be exempt from the provisions of the Bill. Mir W. A,. Veitch considered that it there was to be a tightening up of the law in eases of auctioneers in the matter of trust funds the same provision should he made in respect of solicitors. Mr D. Jones (Ellesmere) urged that auctioneers should be compelled to disclose. the name of the vendor and purchaser of .stock. Failure to insist on this, had led to a most unsatisfactory condition in the stock market. He thought insistence, upon the establishment of trust accounts by auctioneers would result in a heavy increase in the cost to the public. He. hoped there would be no undue ha.ste in passing the Bilil M r D. G. Sullivan feared that if the Government took over the licensing of auctioneers it might be tempted to interfere with other licenses that were usually left to the local bodies. He pre-, ferred strengthening the hands of the local bodies, rather than weakening them in this respect. ■Mr J. R. Hamilton favoured the license fee going to. the. country local body in the district where, the auctioneer actually did his business rather than to the town ini which, his office was situated. , . , Mr A. Hamilton (Wallace) feared that the establishment of trust accounts by auctioneers would -result m h’eavv 'charges being put upon clients. The Minister, in reply, said he. would be prepared to consider the point raised regarding trust funds, but in a general way he believed the principle was perfectly sound and workable. The Bill was read a second- time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee, and the House rose- at 12.7 a.m. till 2.30 p.m.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

BATES PAYABLE ON CHURCH LAND.

WELLINGTON, July 26. The Legislative Cbuncil met at 3.15 to-day. , „ , Sir Robert Stout moved for a return showing the values of land occupied for churches and Chapels; the amount ox .rates that would be payable to local bodies by owners of such properties, but for exemption; the value of land exempt from land tax on the ground that it is held in trust for religious purposes • and the amount of land tax that would be payable but for that exemptl<Tlio Leader of the Council pointed out that it would be impossible to furnish an exact return of the amount of rates that would be payable bv such .properties were it not for exemption, ■and suggested that Sir Robert Stout accept an approximate return. Sir Robert Stout declined to alter his motion. which was thereupon defeated Oouiio.il adjourned at 3.42 until 2.3 D p.in. next Wednesday.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

Answering questions, Ministers stated :

It is the present intention to carry the Rotorua-Taupo railway far enough to tap the forests, both planted and indigenous, which implies approximately 28 miles already authorised. The number of New Zealand residents who departed permanently during the calendar year 1927 was higher than the corresponding figure for any year since the statistics of permanent arrivals and departures were instituted in 1921, but the suggestion that the gain was only 1754 is incorrect. While the number of assisted .immigrants who arrived in 1927 was 5899 as stated, the total number of immigrants intending permanent residence was 11,327, the gain for the year being thus 7182. The Government will consider the advisability of extending the lent restriction and tenants’ protection legislation at present in force for a. longer period and in a more effective form. The rate of interest on advances charged to borrowers under the State. Advances Act is in no way contingent on the rate charged by the banks, and having regard' to the rate of interest at wliich” loans for advances by the State have been raised at is not possible without loss to reduce the interest rate on loans made by the State Advances Department. ,