PARLIAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 September 1928, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SOLDIERS’ SETTLEMENT. GOVERNMENT NOTHING TO HIDE. fßy Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 18, When the House of Representatives met to-day, Mr AY. D. Lysnar gave notice of a number of amendments he. intended to move in the Licensing Bill. Replying to the Leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister said he. would go into the question as to why the State coal mine was working only (half-time. He did not think the State mine was in any different position to any other mine, tli© Ixtelc of oicl©is> and ‘shipping facilities were affecting the efficient working of the mines. He .would make inquiries and let the questioner know the result. Replying to Mr H.' Atmore, the Prime Minister said he could! not promise an immediate reduction in heavy traffic fees, because it was a question which was complicated hy the tacit that the finance of many ffical bodies, was dependent thereon. AVh-fitever reduction of these fees might be made would have to be made good in some other wav. The Government, however, would <>o ' into the question of reviewing the fees He believed it could be done without legislation, but it would have to be done most carefully because it would so materially affect local body finance. MENTAL DEFECTIVES BILL. Air AV. J. Girling, chairman of the Public Health Committal, brought down the report of the committee on the Alental Defectives Bill. The committee recommended that the Bill bt allowed to proceed with . amendments made by the oommittee. He moved that the report lie on the table, and tins wag agreed to. The Leader of the Opposition sand he was not aware, what amendments had been made, but unless they were very considerable in some portions of the Bill lie would urge the Government to hold the Bill over till next session, be-, cause tlie matter was too complex to bp. dealt with thoroughly this Session if tlie Government would not acceptthis advice he hoped the House itself would deal with it in no uncertain way. There was such a wide division ofcfi'nion on tilt© subject outsid© th© Holism that more time was required for- consideration before the Government’s proposals were given legislative (effect Mr Girlinig said the BiU had been considerably altered-. Almost every clause from clause 7 onwards liad been altered. He therefore suggested that the report .should lie on the table in order that members might have an opportunity of considering itThe report was ordered to lie on the table. LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT. In reply to Sir Joseph AVard, the ’Minister of Lands, in laying on the table the report of 'the. Lands for Settlement Department, isaid the area purchased under the Act last year was 2233 acres, valued at £22,552. This Minister of Lands laid on the table the report of Soldier Settlements} whereupon Mr J. A. Lee asked the Aliuister to disclose to the House the fullest information regarding these (settlements, otherwise tlie charge which had been made that large areas of land had been bought at excessive prices from friends of the Government must .stand. „ . . ~ tt Replying to the discussion the Hon. A D. AleLeod said the debate; had been raised entirely for political purposes. His recent visit to Australia had convinced him that ten times morp infor-j mation was given tb the people of New Zealand about soldier settlements than to the people of Australia. He had no particular objection to placing, the fullest information before the House because there was nothing to hide. On the other hand he was convinced that the people as a whole were satisfied and that the information was not demanded by tlie Opposition sincerely, but only to use as propaganda against the Government, hoping, 'that in that way they wdiild at last get on to the Treasury benches. Mistakes were made, no. doubt, and the Minister had admitted them, but tlie Government of that day was .to •some extent forced into land buying for soldiers bv public opinion and by the attitude of Parliament. Tlie 'Minister explained the system' of writing down which had taken place in connection with soldier settlement and leug-. nested that the .arguments of til© Opposition that soldiers wOhe paying too much was a direct invitation to soldiers hot to pav what they owed the State. Since 1925-26 ‘the revenue of isoldier (settlements had 1 gone up from £1,629 - (XX) to £1.792,000 in 1927-28, so that it was steadily marching on, and before long the Opposition would be deprived oF one of the bogies they had been in •the habit of raising to alarm the pubThe report was laid on the table. The Hon. R. A. AVright tabled the teachers’ superannuation fund report.