PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 291, 7 November 1929, Page 11

PARLIAMENT.

SESSION COMING TO END. SEVERAL MEASURES PASSED. Indications that the session is approaching the end were given in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon when the remaining classes of the main Estimates were passed and several bills were put through their final stages.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. , ; RAILWAY BILL" DISCUSSED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 6. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 to-day. The Sumner Borough Land Vesting Bill, the Gisborne Harbour Board Amendment Bill and the Roman Catholio Bishop of Auckland Em- • powering Bill were put through their final stages and passed without amendment. Speaking on the second reading of the Railways Authorisation Bill, Hon. V. H. Reed said that it should be reasonably shown that the proposed lines would justify their construction. A large part of the South Island Main Trunk, line would go through dead country and would not justify the enormous expenditure proposed. He advocated full inquiry into the financial justification for the proposal. Hon. E. Newman said that, while the section which remained to be finished might not pay, it would help the whole line to do so. Hon. T. S. Weston declared that there was not the slightest chance of the Murchison line paying expenses, much less interest on the construction cost. It was very difficult railway country. On the other hand, it was ideal country for motors. Sir William Hall Jones supported the South Island line and the West Coast line. Hon. W. H. Mclntyre and Hon. W. W. Snodgrass supported the proposal in oonnection with the Midland line. The bill was put through its final stages without further discussion and passed. The Council adjourned at 4.33 until 10.80 to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. estimatesTdiscussed. The House of Representatives re sumed at 2.30 to-day and went int< Committee of Supply to deal witl general estimates. The vote of £39,914 for the Treasury Department was passed. The estimate of £13,990 for th< Prime Minister’s Department wai taken next. Replying to Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates Hon. G. W. Forbes stated that nc definite decision had yet been reachec on the subject of the appointment of a representative of the Dominion to aci in consultation with the High Conv missioner and to keep in touch with Imperial and Dominion affairs. _ The matter was still under consideration. Replying to a further question by Mr Coates, the Minister stated that (i definite promise had been given by the Prime Minister that a delegation would be sent from New Zealand to the International Labour Conference. It had been too late when the Government assumed office for arrangements to be made for representation at the last conference, but an understanding had been reached that a delegation would be sent to the next meeting. The estimate was passed. The sum of £63,981 was granted for the Land and Income Tax Department. Replying to Mr D. Jones, Mr Forbes said that the Government would make I a statement very shortly in regard to the appointment of a commission under the hardship clause of the Land and Income Tax Amendment Act. The estimates of £8304 for the Public Service superannuation fund account and £41.318 for the Department of External Affairs were passed without debate. RURAL CREDIT BILL. In moving the second reading of the Rural Intermediate Credit Amendment Bill, Mr Forbes stated that the only important clause was one permitting an increase in the maximum amount of advance to any one applicant from £IOOO to £2OOO. . Mr Coates asked whether the Minister could give any indication of the extent to which the rural credits scheme was operating. Mr A. Hamilton appreciated the value of the State’s assistance in this direction. He considered the £2OOO was quite enough to lend on stock security. Mr W. L. Martin said that the original Act had been largely experimental. He regarded the bill as a forward step. Mr Forbes, in reply, declared that the increase to £2OOO was due to a request from the board, backed up by the Farmers’ Union. The total sum that had been advanced under the scheme amounted to £215,142. j

The bill was read a second time.

UNIVERSITY BILL. Hon. H. Atmore, in moving the second reading of the New Zealand University Amendment Bill, stated that it was proposed to change the name of the governing body from “Council” to “Senate.” Another important clause proposed to restore the statuory grant, which had been cancelled last year. Mr R. A. Wright said that the New Zealand University was a comparatively rich institution and he considered that there should be provision for the needs of the primary and secondary schools before £3846 should be paid to the University out of the Consolidated Fund. Mr J. A. Young expressed the opinion that it was wrong in principle to make largo sums available to the University. Without the need for an annual appropriation, the House would have no opportunity of discussing the gnants. Mr E. J. Howard said he did not consider University finance should be subject to political controversy. The Minister, replying, said that it was important that the University should have assured finance. There had been an increase in expenses last year, but no corresponding increase in revenue. . The bill was then read a second time. i REST HOMES BILL. Hon. A. J. Stallworthy. Minister of Health, moved the second reading of the Destitute Persons Rest Homes Bilh The Minister of Justice (Hon. T. M. Wilford) expressed the opinion, as the result of thirty years’ experience, that the bill was really needed. It would help many people who could not at present be reached in the ordinary way. It was one of the greatest pieces of humanitarian legislation that had ever been conceived.

j Welcoming the bill, Mr J. A. Nash [ said he objected to the words “desti- ■ tute persons” in tho title and urged i the Minister to allow the measure to be known as the “Rest Homes Bill.” Mr W. E. Parry said he toe abliored the term “destitute.” “1 will undertake to alter that, and call the measure _ the ‘Rest Homes Bill.’ ” said the Minister of Health. The bill was accorded support 6y other members, including the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr H. E. Holland), who expressed the hope that the terminology “rogue and vagabond” would be eliminated from court procedure, as it belonged not to the present but to the Middle Ages. Mr R. A. Wright said the problem before the Minister would be the determination as to who was a destitute person. Ho advised the Minister to safeguard himself if any proposal were contemplated for the subsidising of private rest-homes. He agreed I that the bill was a real, genuine attempt to deal with a problem of magnitude. ! After several others hod spoken, Mr Stallworthy replying, said that a magistrate would be able to send people to | homes without convicting them and j even without hearing the charges laid against them. One thing that it had been particularly desired to avoid was that the homes should not in any way resemble gaols or asylums. The bill had arisen out of the necessity for providing some better place for poor old people, who were very harshly treated to-day. The bill was read a second time. RIVER PROTECTION. The Land Drainage and River Protection Bill was introduced by Gover-nor-)General’s message. Hon. P, A. de la Perrelle stated that the measure aimed at the consolidation of the legislation relating to river protection and drainage boards. It was not intended to put it through this session, but to have it circulated, so that those interested could consider it during the recess. The bill was read a first time. THIRD READINGS. The House then went into committee on the bills read a second time during the day. The Rural Intermediate Credit Amendment Bill and the Taupiri Drainage and River District Bill went through committee unamended, were read a third time and passed. The Counties Amendment Bill, Shipnand Seamen Amendment Bill, ucts Export Amendment Bill and Cinematograph Films Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. The House rose at 11.8 p.m. till 11 a.m. to-morrow.