HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 19 October 1922, Page 6

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

P. AND T. CHARGES

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m.

Replying to Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs), the Postmaster. General stated Cabinet was now considering the question of a reduction of postage and telegraph charges. COMPANY LEGISLATION. The Companies Amendment Bill (the Hon. E. P. Lee) was introduced and read a first time. The Minister explained that the object of the Bill was to enable a meeting of creditors of a company (in the event of action brought against a company by a creditor detrimental to the interests of others interested) to decide whether steps should be taken to carry on the company's business so as to conserve the interests of shareholders in general. MAGISTRATE'S COURT BILL. The Magistrate's Court Amendment Bill (the Hon. E. P. Lee) was read a second time. The Bill simplifies procedure and authorises legally-qualified clerks of the court, under a GovernorGeneral's warrant,, to exercise the functions of a magistrate. It also authorises the appointment of actingmagistrates by the Governor-General. The Bill was passed. DIVIDING FENCE LAAV. The Hon. W. D. Stewart moved the second reading of the Fencing Amendment Bill. This includes a provision relating to .native land subject to the operation of the principal Fencing Act, so that an owner who has failed to obtain payment of half the cost of a fence from s the adjoining native landowner may; when the latter's land is allocated to a European, collect his share of the cost from the new owner.

The Bill repeals the present exemption of South Island lands from the provisions relating to-the construction of rabbit-proof fencing, enabling an owner to secure payment of half the cost of such fencing from the adjoining owner. The Statutes Revision Committee deleted clause 4, intended to empower an owner, in the case of default by an adjoining owner, to enter the latter's land and clear noxious weeds for a distance of half a chain along the length, of the boundary-line, which were likely to be a source of danger from fire. Mr. F. F. Hockly (Rotorua) approved the 8i11,,, but hoped the Minister would see that a man who bought a pie£§ o. unoccupied native land was not called upon to pay twice for his fence, as he would already have had to i pay something included in the purchase ! price in consideration of the fact that i-he land was fenced or partially fenced. The Bill was'passed. THE CRIMES ACT. The Hon. E; P. Lee moved the second reading of tlie Crimes Amendment Bill, the provisions of which dealt with offences against women, which, the Minister explained, had been asked for by women's societies all over New Zealand. Mr. Wilford, with 30 years' experience of criminal* courts, supported the Bill, with the exception of a little section which .extended the period in which a prosecution could be laid from six months to nine. As the law stood at six months, it was a prolific cause of blackmail, and would become more so if the period was extended. The Bill was read a second time. The House rose at 11.58 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.