FAMILY ALLOWANCES

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 3 November 1933, Page 7

FAMILY ALLOWANCES

DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS MAORI ELECTION: METHODS BETTER SYSTEM ADVOCATED (By Telegraph—Presa -issoc'.iltion.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 3. The House of Representatives met at 10.30 this morning. . Mr W. E, Barnard (Lab., Napier), in introducing the Family Allowances Amendment Bill, .said that under the present legislation a father alone was permitted to apply for the allowance, although it was generally payable to the mother. The Bill provided that either the father or mother might make application for the allowance. He urged the Government to take up this matter and remedy what he considered Was a serious injustice. Mrs McCombs (Lab., Lyttelton) said the Bill was proposed merely to do justice to a number of children in the .community. Mr F. W. Schramm (Lab., Auckland East) urged that provision should he made for a magistrate to order that the allowance be paid in such a way that it would be certain the children would benefit. A magistrate would be able to determine whether it should be paid to the mother or the father or an agent. The Bill was read ui first time. Introducing the Electoral Amendment Bill, Mr Tirikatene explained that voting in Maori elections was not by secret ballot, but by declaration to the returning officer and his associate. Scrutineers were not allowed an the booth until the votes were being counted. Mr J. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn; : After the damage has been done? Mr Tirikatene said the Bill sought to allow scrutineers to be in the booths while the i>oll was being taken. The Hon. Sir A. Ngata. said the Prime Minister had gone into the question of Maori elections with the electoral office. Had he known the Bill I was to be introduced to-day he would have 'sought the Prime Minister’s permission to make an official statement on the subject. As it was lie felt inclined to think the remedy suggested by Mr Tirikatene would probably make the position worse if secrecy was the object at which he was aiming. Secrecy wo.uld not be insured by having more publicity. .. Mr Barnard : Would it not supply a check oil the returning officer? Sir A. Ngata: Yes; I don’t think anv Maori member of the House would g eject to the presence of scrutineers during the poll. The Minister said the whole problem of arranging a more satisfactory system for Maori elections was full of difficulties. There had been an intention during Mr Massey’s administration to prepare Maori electoral rolls, but this had not been found altogether, practicable. There was a difficulty as the result of the eligibility of Maoris to vote in pakcha elections, and the question of the desirability of abolishing separate Maori representation might eventually be involved. He did not think sentiment at the present time favoured such a course, and he thought that the .sentiment did credit to the palieha. The Bill was read a first time. The Waikato Water Supply Company I.td. Empowering Bill, 1933 (a private Bill) was introduced and read a first time. Introducing the Juries’. Amendment Bill, Mr Schramm said it was proposed to make certain alterations in the rules relating to juries in civil cases. It provided that where the amount claimed did not exceed £SOO either party might obtain a. jury of four by giving due notice to that effect. _lf the amount in dispute exceeded £SOO the action would be tried before a judge and jury of twelve, unless both parties agreed to a jury of four or to having no jury at all. ’ The Bill also provided for selecting .special juries drawn from persons engaged in the occupation or trade in connection with which plaintiff was injured to hear actions for personal injuries founded upon a breach of contract. The Bill was read a first time. The following Bills were also introduced and read a first time; Napier Harbour Board and Roman Catholic Archbishop Empowering Bill; Greymouth Borough Relief of Unemployment Loain Validation Bill; Bluff -Harbour Board Empowering Bill; Napier Harbour Board Loan Bill. The House adjourned at 1 p.m. RESERVE BANK BILL THIRD READING PASSED The Reserve Bank Bill was read a third time last night and was passed by 37. votes to 21. The House rose at 3.10 a.m.