PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 18 November 1932, Page 9

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

THIS MORNING’S SITTING INTEREST REDUCTION QUERY SCHOOL CARD SOCIALS. BILL TO PROVIDE PERMITS. (By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, Nov. IS. The House of Representatives met at 10.30 a.m. T .. , Mr. J. Connolly (Co., Mid-Canter-bury) asked whether the Government would take action at the .earliest possible moment to reduce the rate oi interest on future issues of Government bonds and debentures to a lowei rate than five per cent, and also give instructions to the Local Government Loans Board not to approve any loans which did not provide for a similar reduction in the rate of interest. It effect could not he given to this without a further reduction in deposit rates generally would the Government take the necessary steps to obtain the desired result, asked Mr. Connolly. He said that while the Government was .payin'* - five per cent interest on new stock”it could not be expected that the banks and other lending instituions would lower* tire rates to. The oxtent required at tlie present tune. It appeared that Australia and 0 ”ioi countries were doing better than heu Zealand in this respect. The Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said the matter was receiving the 'consideration pf the Government and the banks. . Mr H T. Armstrong (Lab., Chrrschurch East) moved for leave to introduce the School Committees laeii'^Mr B R McKeen (Lab., Wellington South) said the measure sought- to legalise prize euchre parties ancl other card tournaments held with the object ,of raising funds for school purposes. It would make it lawful'Tor any school committee, home and school association or parents’ association upon receiving a permit from the Minister ot Justice to conduct such games as euchre, five hundred, whist, crib page, or bridge for tlie purpose of raising money. The provisions of the Gamin'*- Act under which prize euchre parties were now illegal would not then apply to any game played under the permit issued by the Minister. Mr. McKeen said that although these piovi sion.s were adopted in 1908 it was •onlv in recent years that exoeptym had been taken to euchre tournaments and he was of the opinion that such exception was not designed, to operate against school committees, but against private individuals and companies who were conducting tournaments for personal gain. The Bill was read and introduced a first time.

STATUTES REVISION

The Statutes Revision Committee, reporting on Mr. P. Eraser’s Judicial Proceedings (regulation of reports) Bill, recommended that as tlie Government had introduced legislation on similar lines the Bill should not he allowed to proceed. Reporting on the British Nationality and Status of Aliens (m New Zealand; Bill the Statutes Revision Committee recommended the measure should not be allowed to proceed pending inquiries from the United Kingdom by the Minister of Internal Affairs. _ The same committee recommended that the National Expenditure Adjustment Amendment Bill should he allowed to proceed and that the clause relating to ground rents should stand as part of the Bin.

NATIVE LAND LAWS. The Native Land Laws Amendment Bill was introduced by GovexnorGeneral message and read a first time.The. Hon. Sir. Apirana- Ngata, native Minister, said the measure, gave effect to some of the recommendations of the National Expenditure Commission relating to the administration oi native affairs. It proposed to transfer back to the Native Land Court the .powers exercised by the Maon Land Board concerning the sales of leases or mortgages of native land. The native land settlement account would be liquidated an<l an amalgamation would be carried out by making the Undersecretary for Native Affaus, the Native Trustee and the J - ast Coast Commission and by setting up a. Native Land Settlement Board to exercise general control over the lunc turns now performed .by the. Native Trust Office, thet Native Land Board and the Native Minister in regard to native land settlement. It as proposed the board would consist of the Native Minister, the Undea-secretary for Native Affairs, the TJndersecretaiy for Lands, the Vainer General, a re prsentative of the. Treasury and two others to be appointed by tlie Goa ernment. 'This board would assume the functions of the Native Land Pu chase Board in regard to th e purchase elf native lands with the condition that where lands were required for creneral settlement the recommendation If the Dominion Land Purchase Board would be necessary.

passing OF ESTIMATES. Urgency ay as accorded the passage of the rcmainiiio- clauses of the. cstimsls a.S the followma had been pasted when tlie House adjourned at! mn. • Native Department, £sp,slfc>, Native Land Settlement Account, £219 896; Native Trustees Account, £13,277.