PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 7 December 1932, Page 6

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

THREE BILLS PASSED TIRE BRIGADES MEASURE ISLANDS AOT) NATIVE LAND. LOCAL BODY BILL DELAYED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 6. The Auckland City Empowering Bill and -the Auckland Transport Board -Conversion of Loans Empowering Bill were reported from the Local Bills Committee with amendments in the House of Representatives to-day, The Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill was reported from the Lands without amendment. ' The New Zealand Loans Bill, the Waitangi National Trust Board Bill, the Reformatory Institutions Amendment Bill and the Property Law Amendment Bill were introduced by Governor-General’s message and read a first time.

Replying to questions Mr Stewart said the New Zealand Loans Bill was substantially a consolidating measure designed to bring up to date the law relating to loans. It -would effect considerable economies in respect to loan expenditure. The Bill also contained a number of amendments, none of which was a policy matter. •Replying to Mr P. Fraser, Mr Stewart said no New Zealand loans wrnre actually due for conversion at the present time. One was due in London in 3034. This was the £5,000,000 which New Zealand had the option of eon•verting and which he had discussed in London. It had to be remembered there were other applicants whose cases had been given precedence because they -were more urgent. The question of converting the New Zealand loan was now under consideration. Tfic Minister said there was an internal loan due in January next, and the question of converting this was being considered. 7

Explaining the Reformatory Institutions Amendment Bill, the lion. J. G. Cobbe said it would enable the Justice Department to collect fees from such people at Botoroa and Pakatoa as were in a position to pay. He pointed out that the department had to pay the Salvation Army £1 a week for the upkeep of each inmate. There was at present an annual loss of £I7OO on the institutions.

Explaining the Property Law Amendment Bill, Mr Stewart said its purpose was to enable a mortgagee who was entitled to exercise power of sale to become the purchaser at a reasonable price and to lease the property. The Bill was based on the provisions of the English Act, which had been in force for 50 years. Objections raised by the Law Society to a former measure of the kind introduced in the New Zealand Parliament in 1927 had been met.

MEASURES GIVEN URGENCY. The Prime Minister, moved for urgency for the passing of the Eire Brigades Amendment Bill, the Cook Islands Amendment Bill, the Native Land Amendment Bill and the Municipal Corporations Bill.

Mr D. G. 'Sullivan (Lab., Avon) protested against the endeavour to pass the last-named measure before the local bodies had been given a further opportunity to make representations. Mt Porbes said the measure comprised mainly recommendations by the Municipal Association’s conference. If it was not passed now it would have to be dropped because the House “would not bo able to deal with this class of measure when it resumed next year; it would have more important business to do. Tie added that the 'Government would be prepared to hold over any particularly contentious clauses. Labour members divided the House on the motion for urgency, which was adopted by 42 votes to 20. RAPID - DISPATCH CHEEKED. The Fire Brigades Amendment Bill, the Cook Islands Amendment Bill and the Native Land Amendment Bill were put through committee promptly, but the rapid dispatch of business was held up when the short title of the Municipal Corporations Bill was reached. A number of members objected to the provision for the amalgamation of boroughs, taking particular exception to the section which enabled the proposed commission to decide the question in the event of difference of opinion occurring between the districts concerned.

Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Co., Bicearton) said the method proposed was not democratic.

Mr Hamilton said the clause had been inserted at the request of the Municipal Association. Mr Kyle: It must have been a minority request.

Mr F. W. Schramm (Lab., Auckland East) pointed out that it would be possible under the terms of the clause for Auckland city, for instance, to force the borough of Onehunga to amalgamate. Mr A. J. Stallworthy (Co., Eden) said power should not be given for a city arbitrarily to absorb thousands of ratepayers. The clause was inimical to the best principles of local government.

Discussion of the short title continued when the House resumed at 7.30. There was no change in the proceedings until after .0 o’clock, when Mr If. A. Wright (Co., Wellington .'Suburbs) moved an amendment stipulating that the Bill should not come into operation until April 1,193 d, instead of April 1, 1933. He said the amendment, if adopted, would give the local bodies time to make their protests to the Government with respect to the contentious clauses before those clauses would come into operation. SUPPORT FOR AMENDMENT. Mr Savage, supporting the amendment, said there were some clauses the operation of which he would like to put off for half a century. Mr Kyle said lie could see no reason why the amendment should not lie adopted. There was ample local body legislation on the Statute Book to enable them to carry on in the near future. The Leader of the Opposition asked the Prime Minister to indicate whether he “would treat the question as one of confidence in the Government or whether he “would allow a free the amendment. Mr Porbes said the amendment relating to a Bill of the description of that j before the House should not be regard- | ed as a matter of confidence.

Labour members: Hear! Hear. j IVIr Forbes said he could not see any reason why the adoption of an amend - ment such, as that moved by Air Wright should be regarded as an adverse vote in relation to the Governin cut. Mr Hamilton intimated after the supper adjournment that he had conferred with the Prime Minister and it had been decided to report progress after the passage of the short title. He said it was his desire that the Bil should be.as useful as possible, and ho did not wish to hurry it through. After the passing of the short title consideration of the remainder of the Bill would be postponed. Mr Wright thereupon withdrew his -amendment and after some further discussion the -short -title was passed and progress was reported. The Fire Brigades Amendment Hill, the Cook Islands Amendment Bill and the Native Land Amednment Bill were read a third time and passed. Mr Forbes moved the adjournment of the House. Replying to the Leader of the Opposition, he said the Finance Bill would be introduced to!-morrow and the business to be taken would be the Bills introduced to-day -and the Supplementary Estimates. He suggested the House should sit at 10.30 on Thursday morning and pass local Bills by 1 p.in., completing the other business he had outlined on Friday last during the afternoon and evening sittings. The House rose at 10.40 p.m.

WAITANGI NATIONAL TRUST ESTABLISHMENT OF BOARD POWERS OF MANAGEMENT WELLINGTON. Dec. 6. . Arising out of the gift of the W ni-tan-o-i estate to the nation by Lord and” Lady Bledisloe, the Waitangi' National Trust Board Bill was introduced in the House- of Represent atrv es to-day. The Bill incorporates the board, of which their will he life members. Ex officio- members will be the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Fores), the Minister charged with the administration of the Scenery Preservation Act (the Hon. El. A. Ransom) and the •.Native Minister .(Sir Apirana Ngata). After the expiration of Lord Biedis-loe’-s term as Governor-General (his successor,s- in that office on ‘Signifying their willingness to act shall also be ex officio members. On ceasing to hole! the office by whieli ihe is described every e.x officio- member of the board shall cease to be a member and 'his successor in the office shall become a member of the board. The following are deemed representative members, of the board in the capacities in which they are described : Mr K. S.’ Williams, M.P., as s. member of the family of the late Archdeacon Henry Williams; Mr Riri Maihi Ivawiti, as a- member chosen from the Hone Heke, the Maihi Ka-witl, the Tamati AVaka Nene and the Pom.are families j Mr Tan Henare, M.P., as representative of the Maori people living in the'North Auckland peninsula ; Mr J. Te Rata Mahuta, as representative of the Maori people living in the North Island south of the city of Auckland; Mr Vernon H. Reed, a,s representative of the pakeha. residents of the Bay of Islands district; Sir Robert Heaton Rhodes, as representative of the people, pakeha and Maori, living in the South Island; Sir Francis Dillon Bell, as representative of the family of the late Edward Gibbon Wakefield; and the Hon. J. G. Goate-s, as a, person prominent in the life of the country as a .statesman. The board is given wide powers for managing ancl controlling the area, and penalties are provided for those causing any damage 011 it, while the board also is given power to make bylaws for controlling the land under its jurisdiction. It is further empowered to- carry out improvements.

SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES BELOW £IOO.OOO TOTAL PUBLIC WORKS REDUCED WELLINGTON, Dec. 0. It. is anticipated that the supplementary estimates to be presented tothe House this week will not reach £IOO,OOO. The most notable decline will be Public Works grants.

REFORMATORY INSTITUTIONS MAINTENANCE FOR INMATES POWER TO MAKE ORDERS WELLINGTON, Dee. 6. Additional powers for the recovery of fees for the maintenance of inmates in inebriates’ homes and reformatory institutions are conferred by the Reformatory Institutions Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House to-day. On a complaint being made that an inmate or bis relatives have failed or intend to fail to make adequate provision for the cost of maintenance a justice >cf the peace may issue a summons to the inmate or 'his relatives requiring cause to be shown why an order for the cost of maintenance should not be made. Upon the complaint being heard before a. magistrate he may make an order against the defendant requiring him to pay toward the cost of future maintenance v. reasonable sum not exceeding 22s 6d a week.

A magistrate may also order a sum not exceeding £SO to. be paid on account of past maintenance. An order may be made 'whether the inmate or the relative is resident in New Zealand or elsewhere.

I AUSTRALIAN FRUIT DUMPING PREVENTIVE! ACTION URGED WELLINGTON. Dec. 6. Mr A. SIX McLeod (Co.. Wairarapa) pointing out m the House of Representatives to-day that New Zealand growers of small limits were, sniftering hardship, asked whether t!m“‘ Government would take steps to prevent the clumping of Australian small fruits into the Dominion. The Hon. W. D. Stewart said he appreciated the importance and urgency of the question and lie was anxious to have the matter settled at the earliest possible moment. It would he discussed by the Cabineti at the first opportunity. . , Mr W. P. Elndean : Give Australia six months’ notice of cancellation ol £ho agreement.

PROPERTY LAW AMENDMENT LEASE OF' MORTGAGED LANDS. PROVISIONS OF THE BILL. WELLINGTON, Dec. 6. The purpose of the Property Law Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House to-day, is to confe)

powers of leasing on mortgagees who are entitled to exercise their powers of sale but are unable to find a purchaser for the mortgaged property at a reasonable price. The Bill comprises only one clause besides the short title. It empowers a mortgagee in possession, unless expressly prohibited by the terms of the mortgage, to do the following: (a) Jo grant leases of mortgaged lands for not more than seven years at the best rent obtainable, not to- be binding on prior encumbrances unless they consent in writing; (b) to surrender any lease granted by him under the Bill ; (c) to sue any tenants of land transfer land for rent or for performance of the covenants of any lease whenever granted, and to exercise all lessors’ powers thereunder. Similar power already exists in respect of land under the deeds system. “ The Bill applies to all mortgages, including those already in existence. _ A sub-clause has been added to the 1927 draft enabling the first mortgagee to exercise the Powers conferred by the Bill if he is entitled to possession of land bv reason of the mortgagor’s default without having actually entered into possession.

PAY IN PUBLIC SERVICE NO FURTHER. REDUCTION SUBJECT NOT CONSIDERED WELLINGTON, Dec. G. Tll reply to- a o uesti-011 the Rt. Hon. G. AY. Forbes- stated this afternoon that the Government had not _ given any consideration to the question of making further reductions in the salaries of State employees. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HOSPITAL CONTROL: BILLURBAN FARM LANDS RATING MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION AYEiLLINGTON, Dec. 6. In moving the second reading of the Hospitals and ' Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill in the Legislative Council to-day Sir James Pan* sa-icl the measure provided for the amalgamation of 'hospital districts by Order-in-Go-uncil on the ’recommendation of tlie commission. At present amalgamation could be brought about only voluntarily. The Bill was approved by the Hospital Boards’ Association, and the idea was to co-ordinate the- services in order to- eliminate waste and promote efficiency. Sir Thomas Sidey said the Bill was a confession on the part of all Governments that they were unable to resist political pressure. In spite of expert opinion the number of hospital districts had been increased and the efficiency of the -service had -suffered. The Hon. AV. H. Mclntyre said the proposals of the National Expenditure Adjustment Commission in regard to hospital control had been bureaucratic, b-ut there were -safeguards in the present Bill against possible injustices, and he congratulated the Government 011 bringing it down. The HOll. M. Fagan said lie hoped the Government would .see its way to provide under the Bill a limitation of the hours of duty o.f probationer nurses 111 private hospitals. The Bill was read a second time.

In moving the second reading of the Urban Farm Lands Rating Bill Sir James Parr -said the question of rates paid bv small farmers within boroughs had been the subject of a commission, and the proposals in the Bill were on the lines of the recommendations of the commission. It hadi the approval •of the Municipal Association. The Hon. D. Buddo said the Bill did not -go- any further than previous legislation and did not deal adequately with the claims of small urban farmers for relief from rates.

The Bill was read a, second time, put through the remaining stages without discussion and passed. The Municipal Association Bill was passed through all stages in a few minutes and the Council rose at 4.50 p.m. until to-morrow.