Yesterday in the House

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 192, 14 August 1941, Page 6

Yesterday in the House

Empty Lorries Waste Petrol WANGANUI HARBOUR BILL Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. The protection of the health of watcisiders when unloading such cargoes as loose guano, was mentioned when tho House met at 2.30 to-day by Mr. J. A. Lee in a notice of question to the Acting-Prime Minister on behalf of the Speaker, Hon. W. E. Barnard. The question was whether tho Minister would take steps to ensure that the watersiders ’ health should be adequately protected in such cases and it contended that proper respirators should be supplied for such a purpose. »slr. W. J. Broadfoot, in a notico of question to the Minister of Transport, Hon. R. Semple, asked that with a view to a saving in the consumption of benzine, the Minister should investigate the number of lorries which wero carrying timber or stock one way and making (lie Journey unladen the other way. Mr. Broadfoot stated there were hundreds of heavy lorries being utilised in this way. Cause of Mine Disaster. The Minister of Mines, Horn P. Webb / tabled the report of the Royal Commission which was appointed to investigate the Kayes mine disaster which occurred on November 6 when a fire or explosion in a coal mine at Ten Milo Creek, near Greymouth, was responsible for tho death of five persons, namely John Kaye, John Leighton Ivaye, Undo Colpo, Alexander Mclntosh and Frederick Llewellyn Williams. The commission reached the conclusion that the explosion in the mine was a gas explo-

sion which was originated by someone, most probably Williams, bringing a naked light in contact with an inflammable gas mixture and that it spread. The Commission also came to the conclusion that examination of the mine bad been perfunctory; that the total volume of air produced by the fan, was sufficient but was not properly distributed tc the working faces; that the use of safety lamps was in accordance with the regulations; and that the shots were not properly iirepared in accordance with the requirements of the regulations.

Commenting on tho report, Hon. P. Webb emphasised that the disaster was not due to any weakness in the existing law but there was little doubt that failure to comply with the law was the cause of the tragic event. The practicability of more effective policing of the law would be examined but it would be obvious there was a limit beyond which it would not be possible to go. Mr. Webb also expressed appreciation of the excellent work of the Commission. Wanganui Harbour.

A lengthy dicussion took place on the Wanganui Harbour District and Empowering Amendment Bill. it arose when the chairman of the Local Bills Committee, Mr. J. W. Munro, reported that the Committee recommended that the Bill be allowed to proceed.

Mr. W. J. Poison said that when tho Bill was before the Committee the chairman had laid it down as Ilia opinion that the Committee was only concerned “with the rights and prerogatives of the Crown aud not with the rights or wrongs of the Bill itself. That he claimed was Parliament’s responsibility. The evidence which had been given before the Committee, he said, was sufficient to -show that the Bill

should not bo allowed to proceed. It was prepared to tea up the contract and oven the evidence of the representatives of the Wanganui Harbour Board was sufficient to condemn it. The Bill proposed to destroy the contract which provided for rating on Hie city and country districts so that tho burden would be increased on tho country district.? although the country had deteriorated while city values hud increased. The House should see Hint justice was done. It should not allow hardships to be imposed on people who had no say. He moved that the Bill be referred back to the Committee for further considera-

The amendment was seconded by Mr. J. N. Massey who said the whole of the evidence tendered to the Committee was strongly opposed to the Bill being allowed to proceed in its present form. Mr. C. L. Carr said that if the value oC property in Wanganui was increasing then proportionately tho people in tho town would pay a higher rate and if the value of property in tho counties was depreciating, then the people in the counties would pay lower rates. Mr. J. F. B. Cotterill said the Bill would correct an injustice imposed in 1913 —an injustice that stood out more to-day than when Wanganui had an adequate secondary port. The work done on tho harbour had been largely successful and was of equal benefit to farming and city areas.

Hon. .T. G. Cobbe continued the debate until 5.30 and a motion by the

Committee that the-Bill be allowed to proceed was talked out. Payment of Rates on Crown Land's. Air. W. -T. Broadfoot, speaking of a clause in the measuro under which the Crown assume liability for the payment of rates on certain properties, said the position was becoming more serious tverv day for local bodies. Tho Gov-

eminent vras developing a total of 100,000 acres under tho Small Farms

scheme and half a million acres under the Native Development scheme, and the Government’s non-payment of rates had proved a grave matter to the local authorities. The Government, he contended, should undertake the same liablities with regard to rates as private individuals and local bodies should be treated fairly. He instanced one case "here the Government had paid only £2OO in rates on a property that was

assessed for £I2OO. The 'whole thing should be put on a proper basis, he said, and equity extended to the settlers of tho community.

Mr. Broadfoot also criticised the Government’s policy in connection with the supply of military clothing and equipment to India, stating that Now Zealand as well as Australia should have a share in tho orders which were being placed in the Antipodes. Speaking of the responsibilities of married men to be called up for service in comparison with those of single men medically unfit for service, he said there was no equality of service between these two classes of individuals. The single unfit man left in New Zealand should have to bear some of the burden to make the sacrifice equal in some way. This was a problem calling for solution by the Government.

The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) expressed the hope that some day when peace was reestablished between nations we would see social security established throughout the world on an international basis, or at least throughout the British Commonwealth, and there would be reciprocal treatment of pensioners between nations.

Mr. J. A. Lee said ho had no doubt that the social security legislation on the New Zealand Statute Book was the most comprehensive of any country in the world. Speaking of the war debt, ho said if we put the world in pawn to debt and set about calling up tho debts, as was done after the last war, then the people would turn again to a miracle man and oiuc again the Hitlers would march. Tho war could not be .won only on the basis of beating Hitler. War Expenses An interesting review of the War Expenses Account was given by Hon. A. Hamilton, who stated that members of the War Cabinet received a. monthly statement of this account. The latest figures available, namely, as at July 31 last, showed that the receipts were almost evenly divided between loan money aud taxation, amounting to about £24,000,000 from each. Mr. Hamilton compared the spirit shown in New Zealand with that in tho Old Country. The British Prime Minister had stated that he bad nothing to offer except toil, sweat, blood and tears. In New Zealand we were determined we were going to conduct the war without domestic sacrifices. Mr. Hamilton udded that we were a wonderful people aud lie hoped it would be possible to carry on our social benefits and still not go short as far as war needs were concerned.

Analysing the War Expenses Account he first dealt with tho main items for the financial year ended March 31, 1940, embracing the first seven months of the war. The receipts from loans, taxation,

miscellaneous, the temporary transfer of £200,000 and payments from the Consolidated Fund totalled £8,059,515. ! Payment for the Navy, Army and Air Force for civil purposes totalled £7,106,133, leaving a cash balance of £953,380. For tho year ending March 31, 1941. Receipts totalled £35,995,753 and pay- “ ments £31,567,205, leaving a balance of 1 £4,425,543. Payments made last year in addition to defence and civil require- ’ meats were £94,305 for tho aeroplane ■ fund, £700,000 for repayment of ternL porary transfers aud £3,647,992 for amortisation of debt. Giving the figures ! available up to July 31 of this year } Mr. Hamilton said the total receipts " from the commencement of the account 1 in .September, 1939, from loans were " £24,612,237. Of this amount £8,176,988 > was borrowed overseas and £16,435,249 ' borrowed in New Zealand. The amount received from taxation from the begin--1 ning of tho war was £24,517,550 with other* receipts totalling £3,400,000. Tho ' total expenditure to date was just on \ £47,000,000, but over £5,000,000 was amortisation of debt. 1 Referring to the statement by the ’ Auditor-General that tho cash balance ( of £4,428,548 at the end of the financial year was not sufficient to meet commit- [ ments, Mr. Hamilton said the statement , may be correct but was it fair criticism. . He greatly doubted it. lie pointed out ' that much of tho expenditure had bee* made on equipment in New Zealand and this was a valuable and realisable asset--1 if realisation were necessary. Of the . war debt incurred to tho cud of the last > financial year, namely £21,238,537, tho ’ sinking fund amounted to 17 per cent. Although the war expenses figures were published monthly, said Mr. Hami iifon, he had not seen any very severe criticism. If ho expressed his own opinion, however, it would be that the method of financing the war would indeed bear critical examination. He emphasised that wealth could not be distributed or spent until it had first been produced and that was one of the things that had to be remembered and, ho added, the production of wealth required cuergv. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment at 10.30.