PARLIAMENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 30 September 1927, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VARIOUS REPORTS PRESENTED. FIVE BILLS PUT THROUGH ALL STAGES. Wellington, Sept. 29. The House of Representatives met at 2-30 p.m. to-day. Replying to Mr. J. G. Elliott (Orouu), the Minister of Agriculture said it was certain that the Fertjlisei Amendment Bill would again come before the House as soon as it had been reconsidered by the Stock and Agriculture Committee, to which it would go next week. Replying to Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland East), the Hon. F. J. Rolleston said he was not aware that the Defence Department was going to oppose the application of A. M. Richards, of Auckland, for exemption from military service on conscientious grounds, nor was it necessary for the department to consult him. The Minister of Public Works read a den»rtmental report on the suggested railway routes to Tawa Flat The route via the Koro Koro stream suggested- by Mr James Fulton, C-E. had been fully considered at the time the present proposed route was adopted, but was rejected because it was two miles longer and more expensive to work.

The Apiaries Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor-General’s message. Mr E. J. Howard (Christ .church South), asked if there was any sting in it. The Minister of Agriculture explained that the bill made the registration of apiaries continu ous, instead of triennial. It also tightened up the provisions designed to exterminate foul brood in bees. The annual report of the technica colleges was laid on the table of the House by the Minister of Education (The Minister’s reply to criticism ap pears elsewhere). HARBOUR SCHEMES. i On the laying on the table of the Marine Department’s report, Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) returned to his suggestion that the Government should employ a thoroughly expert harbour engineer, whose advice wouh. be available to all centres proposing to form harbours, and whose assent must be given before the Government provided any subsidv or loans Such an expert would save his salary over, and over again, because this country had lost hundreds of thous ands of pounds through faulty harbour schemes-

Mr B. I’. Hudson (Motueka) urge, provision by the State of a dredge which could be hired to work in small harbours, the boards of which could not afford to own a dredge of their own.

Mr E. J. Howa;d (Christchurch South) urged that, with a view to expediting and cheapening' transport, u Traneport Department should be sei up to review the whole subject o. shipping, etc., from New Zealam. haroours to Home markets.

Sir John Luke (Wellington North, thought there were as good harboui engineers in the Dominion as couii. be obtained outside.

The Minister, in reply, said he did not think a special engineer would de much good. The loans board wou't. prove a check on unwise loan proposals. The question of a small dredge was one into which the En gineer-in-Chief inquired when receni ly at Home, but he had not so fai submitted a report on the subject Personally, he doubted if they coulu get a dredge that would be alike suitable for all small harbours. Transport was a large subject, and he feared there would be considerable conflict between existing harboui posed by Mr Howardboards and a transport board as pro-

file Christchurch Hospital Amendment Bill was, on the recommendation of the Local Bills Committee withdrawn, because the parties in terested were unable to agree. The House at this stage adjournec at 5.30 p.m. FIVE BILLS IN COMMITTEE. On resuming at 7.30, the House immediately went into committee on mo Ollis, the nrst ot which was the Land of Settlement Amendment, which passed unamended. The Counties Amendment Bill next came up for consideration, when Mi G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) asked the Minister to increase the amouni which might be paid by a countycouncil to a county councillor for the use of his teams. It often happened that county work had to be done in out of the way places, where it was either inconvenient or impossible to send one or more of the county teams, and they asked one of then councillors living in the neighbourhood to do work, such as repairing a wash-out or other damage done by floods As it was, councillors often had done such work free, because they could not be paid for it. ano that was not fair. Mr D- G. Sullivan (Avon) urge, the Minister to be very careful how he increased tne power to pay coun cillors.

Mr. Forbes replied that it might be necessary to protect city councils against “graft,” but that did nd prevail in the counties, where the present restricted payments caused great inconvenience. The Minister, in reply, said he di> not think it wise to alter the bill as drafted. On Clause 7, excluding the powei of county councils to make by-laws, Mr Forbes asked that county coun cils should be given the same powei as municipal councils enjoyed to con trol places of entertainment, such as picture houses, which were springing up in country districts. The Minister said he thought tin bill conferred ample power as n stood.

An amendment moved by the Min ister, extending the power of councils to control hoardings and adver rising signs in country districts, was. agreed to. Two other formal amendments moved by the Minister were agreec to. A new clause granting counties power to make special rating areas lor fire protection purposes moved hi Mr H. G. Dickie (Patea) was in eluded as amended. The Peel Forest Amendment Bi I was reported with a formal amend ment moved by the Minister. The New Zealand Institute o! Horticulture Bill was also reported with minor amendment, moved by the Minister, and the Fungicides and Insecticides Bill was reported with out amendmentAll hills reported from committee were read a third time and passed.

DANGEROUS DRUGS. The House then resumed in committee on the Dangerous Drugs Bill. Mr M. J. Savage (Auckland West) took exception to clause 23, which placed on an accused person the onus of proving that he is innocent. He wanted to know where was the necessity for the bill at all, and what justification was there for clause 23. The Hon. J. A. Young said our poison law was very weak indeed. 11 international gangs know how weak it was they would have taken advantage of it to traffic in dangerous drugs. It was, however, to the credit of our people that dangerous drugs were not largely used. There was, however, no reason why we should not strengthen our law in conformity tvith the wish of the League of Nations. Clause 23 was identical with a clause in the Opium Act, which was not to be repealed. There was no new law in this bill at all; it was simply an amending measure and was necessary, because otherwise convictions would be extremely ditjcult to obtain.

Mr H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East) said he agreed with the Minis ter that convictions might be difficult to obtain, but clause 23 was wrong, nevertheless. Clause 3, authorising the GovernGeneral to makt regulations to declare certain drugs to be dangerous, and to exempt others, was challenged, but on a division was retained m the bill by 43 to I’3. Clause 23 was also challenged, but retained by 4b to 9,

The bill was then reported without amendment.

The Inspection of MachineryAmendment Bill was next considered, a lengthy discussion ensuing on Clause 24A, defining the qualifications of an engine driver in charge of winding machinery, the Labour party contending that only qualified men should be employed in all cases, and not merely in mines and coal mines.

Mr R. McKeen (Wellington South) moved to strike out the words “mine or coal mine.” making a driver’s certificate applicable to all classes ot winding machinery where men are drawn u por lowered down. The amendment was rejected by 40 to 13 The bill was reported without amendment, but the third reading was deferred till to-morrow. The Dangerous Drugs Bill was read a third time and passed. The House rose at 0.25 a.m. till 2.30 to-morrow. • LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m., to-day. The Imprest Supply Bill No. 4 was received Irom the House and put iiirough all stages and passed. Speaking on the third reading, the Hon. E H. Clark raised the question of civil service superannuitants being permitted to assign one half ol their superannuation to their wives to ensure that the latter may have something to live on in the event ol the death of the husband.

In reply, Sir R. H. Rhodes said that the Cabinet had the matter under serious consideration. A clause was prepared and inserted in a bill last session, but was withdrawn. The Legislature Amendment Bill was read the second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Council adojourned at 3.30 p.m. until to-morrow.