PARLIAMENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 214, 24 August 1927, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FINANCE BILL PASSES SECOND READING. Wellington, Aug. 23. The Finance Bill was introduced in the House this afternoon bv Governor General’s message. The Minister of Finance said the bill was purely departmental and he would like to get it through alj stages that dav in order that he might be in a nosition to furnish the Forestry and >thsr departments with more money to g.ve relief to unemployed. The bill was read the first time. Urgency was granted for the bill. When the House resumed r.t 7.30 p.m.. the Hon. W. D Stewart, in moving the second reading of ..he bill, said it did not contain any general policy, but each clause was a separate provision standing by itself. The Leader of the Opposition urged that power should be given to local bodies to spend money on scientific research, as. for instance, assisting with funds such an institution as the Oawthron Institute. Referring to the clause dealing with Samoan finance he opened up the whole question of the Samoan administration. He «nid the Government had set up a Parliamentary committee to inquire into the Samoan troubles. They had employed the most experienced counsel in the Dominion to take part in the investigation,. yet before that ommittce had an opportunity to .sport the Government announced that they were selling up a Royal Commission to go over the work which the committee was doing. . This was done at the request of General Richardson, who. up to now. had been most strongly opposed to the appointment of a Commission. He wondered wl.v the change of front on the part of General Richardson, and he would like to know the date of General Richardson's radiogram to the Government. He believed it was a fortnight old. Mr Coates: It is quite recent. Mr, Holland said a fortnight ago would be recent. He objected to the Government carrying out deportations and other punishments while the Commission was holding its inquiry The House was entitled to a full explanation of its changed attitude on the Samoan situation. Mr. R P. Hudson (Motueka) advocated legislation to enable local bodies to subsidise scientific research Infor the waste lands on the West Coast of the South Island, as the reclaiming of those lands was a matter of great importance. Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West) asked whv if was made possible for a minors to hold inscribed stock in the same manner as if he were 21 years of age. Mr. T M.'Wilford (Hutt): To enable the holder to escape paying income tax on the stock. Mr Savage said that seemed to be the answer to his question, but he would like the Minister to give him his official explanation, and also to sav how much of the £14,000.000 of ■erted stock was paying incometax. AFFORESTATION. The Hon O J. Hawken said the Forestry Department had this year planted 30,000 acres, apd on this work it could do a great deal in absorbing unemployment. Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne, objected to Public trust Office funds going to local bodies, which were going ahead of the country’s requirements.

Mr. W, A. Veitch (Wanganui) urged the utilisation of afforestation as a means of absorbing the unemployed. Mr. P. Eraser (Wellington Central) commented on the impediments which formerly were placed in the way of Public Trust Office finance, and hoped the bill would ease the wov for that office. If it did the Government was to be commended. The Hon. W, D, Stewart, in reply, said the reason for urgency was that they were anxious to make a start with the Post Office new certificates on the first of the month. He was not opposed to local bodies subsidising scientific research, but each case should be dealt with on its merits and a general rule should not be laid down. He did not know whv minors had been given the privilege of buy ing inscribed stock. It was done ir. 1924 and the circumstances had not been brought under his notice, but he would inquire into it. He could not say what proportion of the £14,000.000 converted stock was now paving income tax, and he doubted if the payments could be traced. After the supper adjournment, the bill was read the second time, the Minister agreeing not to take the committee stage at this sitting. The Fungicides and Insecticides Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Governor-Gen-eral’s message and read the first time.

The Hon. K. S. Williams, on behalf of the Minister of Lands, meved the . second reading of the Egmont National Park Amendment Bill, which alters the constitution of the local committee and authorises the New Plymouth Borough Council, on behalf of the board, to borrow money

for the purpose of the park and to be reimbursed by the board out of its funds. He explained that the local authorities concerned were agreed about the provisions of the bill, and it was not a contentious measure. The bill was rpad a second time. / BANKRUPTCY BILL. The Hon. F. J. Rolleston, Attor-ney-General, moved the second reading of the Bankruptcy Bill, which, he said, made no alteration in the fundamental principles of the existing law. There had been a demand to allow creditors in estates to select their own trustee to wind up estates, in preference to the Official Assignee appointed by the Government. This bad not been agreed to for various reasons, which, in the opinion of the Government were good and sound Dealing with the clauses, the Minister said that, in addition to a large number of clauses providing for improvements in procedure, there was a definite alteration in the order of preference on the distribution of assets. The landlord’s preferential claim for rent was reduced from six to three months prior to bankuptcy, while placed ahead of rent in order of preference now are costs, assignees’ charges and wages. A bankrupt was permitted to select furniture up to the value of £5O. There was a lengthy clause providing for the protection of persons accepting the assignments of moneys payable to dairy farmers in respect of sales of milk. Such contract in respect of which moneys have been advanced to bank rapt was to be valid in law and cannot bo set aside by preference, except to the extent ot advances which may have been made before the execution of the contract. Another important clause prohibits the publication of any report of the examination of a bankrupt before an official assignee or magistrate in respect t« bankrupt’s property, save by special consent of the court or the assignee. The penalty for a breach of this section is £lOO on summary conviction. The Minister explained that this only applied to examinations held under clause 92 of the Act and did not apply to an ordinary public meeting of creditors. The Minister of Justice is to gazette annually a. list of undischarged bankrupts. ” Other clauses include provisional protection of leases against forfeiture on the commission by the tenant of an act of bankruptcy, strengthening of the section enabling an assignee to disclaim onerous property and of bankrupt giving fraudulent preference. It also provides that where a debtor is absent from New Zealand a petition in bankruptcy can be filed in the district in which the petitioning credit or resides. If the bill is passed the alterations will operate as from January 1 next. The Minister announced that if the second reading was agreed to the bill would be referred to the Statutes "Revision Committee. Mr. M. J. Savage (Aucklast West) said the bill was highly technical and was one for the legal rather than for the lay mind, and he would be satisfied if the bill went to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Hon. 1). Buddo (Kaiapoi) generally commended the bill. The bid was briefly criticised by Messrs. J. A. Lee (Auckland East), D. G. Sullivan (Avon), and C. E. MacMillan (Tauranga), after which the second reading was agreed to and the bill was referred to Statutes Revision Committee. WAR FUNDS AMENDMENT. The Hon. W. D. Stewart moved the second reading of the War Funds Amendment Bill, which, he said, extends the definition of ‘‘war fund’’ to include investments, etc., that had been transferred by trustees and are held by other persons in trust. Under the bill the Minister of Finance is authorised to pay to the National War Funds Council the unexpended balances of war funds remaining m the public account, and a further clause provides for the transfer of the premises of Returned Soldiers’ Club at Christchurch to the National Funds Council, who will hold it as a war fund within the meaning of the principal Act. Mr W. J. Jordan (Manakau) wanted to know what was to. become of these war funds. The veterans’ home at Auckland was now’ being kept out of these patriotic funds and he did not think the Dominion should he relieved of its responsilities in that way. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) and Mr. H. Holland (Christchurch North) made explanations as to the disposition of war funds, after which the bill was read the second time. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central), the Hon. K. S. Williams said that if it was a fact that about 100 men were to be dismissed from the Mangahao hydroelectric works because their work was finished, he would make every endeavour to fit these men in on other public works. Replying to Mr. A. M. Samuel (Ohinemuri), the Hon. G. J. Anderson said an expert report was being made as ‘to the causes for the decrease of fish in Hauraki Gulf. His officers were also giving attention to the question of the use of power driven nets in those waters. He would make a statement on the subject at a later date.

Replying to Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West), the Hon- K. S. Williams, Minister of Public Works, said there was no justification for alarmist reports which had been published in the press regarding the Arapuni hydro-electric works, nor was> there any reason to believe disaster was likely to attend the scheme if the present plans were insisted upon Negotiations were proceeding between the contractors and the Government at the present time ano ii an amicable settlement would be reached at an early date. Meanwhii* the Government, having recognised that there might be delay, has ordered an additional 4500 k.w. generating plant. Diesel engine driven, from England to ensure that there will be no shortage of power in the winter of 1928. and pending the completion of A rapuni. Replying to Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton), the Prime Minister said : “It is a n exaggeration to state that the Addington workshops staff is seething with discontent. Every possible consideration will be extended by the Government to get over the difficulties that are sure to arise. Meantime workshops committees, composed of employees and depart; ment representatives, have dealt with the merits of the staff and have nominated those that will be subjected to the least hardship by transfer. Some 224 men will he transferred from Addington, of which number 119 are single men. The complete reorganisation scheme was the results of reports compiled by the very best experts available, and was fully confirmed bv Sir Vivian Raven, who visited New Zealand with the FayRaven Railway Commission into the Xew Zealand Railways. Mr. E. P. Lee (Oamaru) drew the attention of the Speaker to the fact that the joint committee set up to consider the petition setting forth the Samoan grievance had sat on Saturday last, which was a day on which the House was not sitting. Ho asked whether the proceeding was in order.

The Speaker said that, after consulting British authorities, he was of the opinion that if the Legislative Council, which was joined with the House of Representatives on the committee. had given leave to its members to sit on a day on which the House was not sitting, then the members from the House would be guided in the matter by the rules of the Upper House. Replying to the debate on the Post and Telegraph Department’s report. the Hon. W. Nos worthy said they were at present losing about £lOO,OOO per year on the telegraph department, and therefore it was not possible to make concessions to any great extent, but be would do the liest he could in this direction. In making p. further explanation of the loan of £15,000 to the Broadcasting Company, he said the Government held securities to fho value of £22.000 of C 23.000 to cover the loan.

The report was laid on the table. Several other departmental reports were also laid on the table. The Primo Minister announced that at the request of the Administrator, a Royal Commission would he set up to inquire into the alleged grievances in Samoa.

. In reply to the Leader of the Opposition, the Speaker said the fact that a Royal Commission had been set up would not limit the right of the House to discuss the report of the committee set up to consider the Samoan petition.

In further reply to the Leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister said be could not at that moment give any undertaking that, in view of the Royal Commission being set up, deportations, banishments and other forms of punishments would cease. Replying to Mr W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei), the Prime Minster said ho did not credit a statement, attributed in the press to the chairman of the National Bank, that hundreds of New Zealand farmers were bankrupt and were walking off their farms. When that gentleman was in New Zealand he expressed the opinion that New Zealand had come wonderfully well through her difficult times, and that about 80 per cent, of our farmers were solvent. He deprecated the making of general statement the truth or otherwise of which it was sometimes difficult to check.

Replying to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Hutt), the Ron. R A. Wright said neither he nor any -other member of the Government had ever made a statement to the effect that education hoards were to be abolished. He had heard rumours that education boards were to he abolished, but he was not called upon to deny the.se rumours. If he undertpok to deny all these rumours he would have nothing else to do