PARLIAMENT’S LAST ROUND-UP

Northern Advocate, 31 October 1936, Page 8

PARLIAMENT’S LAST ROUND-UP

I s HOUSE IN SESSION AGAIN TO-DAY .. .. EFer Press Association. — Copyright. 3 t- WELLINGTON, This Day. V, rpO enable Parliament to rise to-day, the closure axe was again ,y brought into use as a large miscellany of Bills were finally dealt I? |. with. V The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. yesterday and urgency was accorded the passing of the Native Purposes Bill, the Statutes Amendment Bill, the Chatham Islands County Council Empowering Bill, the Dentists’ Bill. The Native Purposes Bill and Chatham Islands County Council Empowering Bill were read a second time, and the House went into committee, both , being put through without amendment.

Right To Vote.

Mr Kyle sought to have a member of the Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral Association appointed a member of the Massey College instead of a member of the Palmerston North City Council. The closure was carried by 37 votes to 19, and the amendment defeated by 39 to 20. The clause empowering Borough Councils to install, purchase or sell electric fittings and equipment was questioned by Mr A. Hamilton, who said the clause gave councils power to compete against their own ratepayers. The clause was passed. The Native Purposes Bill and the Chatham Islands Bill were read a third time and passed. The Statutes Amendment Bill was briefly discussed on the third reading and was then passed. Labour Member Seeks Delay.

H jThe Statutes Amendment Bill was considered. Objection was taken by W the Opposition to the deletion of the provision giving persons right to vote . on behalf of companies and organisations. p f; The Hon. R. Semple said that the

Ifcw did not apply to Parliament and it should not apply to municipal government. He instanced the S' case of one man voting twenty times at the , last Wellington municipal elections.

closure was moved at 3.45 p.m., when the clause had been under dis-

0: ftussion little more than half an hour. ■. It was carried by 48 to 18, and the short title Was passed by 46 votes to

The Hon. P. Fraser moved the committal of the Dentists’ Bill which, he said, was prepared by the last Minister of Health, Sir J. A. Young. Rev. Nordmeyer (Oamaru) said that if the Bill v/as not urgent it should be held over till next year. He did not like the clause abolishing company dentists, who, he said, had done considerable ser- \ vice by reducing charges. He also disliked the provision that advertising should be controlled by the Govenrnr-Geheral-in-Council. He said advertising would he prohibited, and he saw no reason why dentists should not advertise. „ Dr. D. G. McMillan (Dunedin West) said the dental companies had not brought down the costs of dentistry. Costs were reduced by dentists who Were not companies. Dr. McMillan; referring to advertising by dentists, said some of it was misleading. The motion was carried and the Bill was put through the committee stages and passed. The Ashburton Rivers’ Bill was passed. Milk Bill Opposed. The Auckland Metropolitan Milk Amendment Bill was further consider ed. The Bill was read a second time, and the committee stage was commenced. Each clause was met with considerable opposition, and eventually progress was reported when clause three was under discussion. The House rose “at 5.20 a.m. till 10.30 a.m. today. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Native Land Amendment Bill and the Local Legislation Bill were passed by the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon. The council adjourned till this morning.

| ISfc The clauses dealing with the authi ortty of a licensee to require production of books if a bankrupt was not limited by a lien on them, and that - eiAjpowering power boards to contribdte to a superannuation scheme were withdrawn at the request of the Minis-, ter.-

Thirty clauses were disposed of by the tea adjournment.

EVENING SESSION

■When the House resumed at 7.30 p.nd., a clause enabling the Minister of Railways .to execute works and sup-

ply goods and services was discussed lor some time, Mr Sullivan explaining that the Government workshops had lor some time performed work which other works could not do. The clos-

ure was eventually applied at 7.50 pin. and was carried by 42 votes to 17, and ihe clause was\adopted by 40 to '■ ■: ■ 'ffr The clause eliminating voting by corporate bodies' caused considerable discussion. Mr S. G. Holland (Christchurch North) asked why renters’ qualification to vote had i hot been removed. Mr H. S. Kyle (Riocarton) Said this clause was a glaring case of sectional legislation. The closure was applied at. 9.30 and the clause , was carried by 37 votes to 19.