PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 30 November 1933, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (From “The Mail’s” Parliamentary Reporter). WELLINGTON, 29th November. ’1 lie Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Tiie. Auckland Transport Board Empowering Bill, the Greymouth Borough (Relief of Unemployment Loans) Validation Bill, the Bluff Harbour Board Empowering Bill, and the Bay of Plenty Licensing Committee Enabling Bill were received from the House of Representatives, read a- first time, and referred to the Local Bills Committee. Owing to the adverse report of the Statutory Revision Committee, tire Hon. It. McCallum withdrew the Land Agents Amendment Bill. During tlie second debate on the New Plymouth Airport Bill the Hon. C. J. Carrington asked whether it would not be possible for less valuable land to be utilised for an airport. The Hon. R. McCallum replied that the Local Bills Committee had considered this aspect of the question and had found the land would be used for grazing purposes. The Bill was read a second time. Tlie Licensing Amendment Bill, Auckland Harbopr Board Empowering Bill, and New Plymouth Borough Council and New Plymouth Harbour Board Empowering Bill were put through the committee stage, read a third time, and passed. The Council rose at 3.15 p.m. until to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EXTENSION OF SUMMERTIME The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to day. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. J. A. Young) moved for leave to introduce the Summer Time Amendment Bill (No. 2), which provides fot the extension of Summer Time until the end of April. Mr R. McKeen (Labour, Wellington South) said it was obvious that the Government did not intend to allow a private member to get such a Bill through the House so that he would not receive credit for it. He was not seeking any credit and he could not see why the Government could not have accepted his measure. That would have been a much move courteous course to have taken. However, he had no feeling on the matter and he congratulated the Government on the action it was taking. The Minister, in reply, said Mr McKeen was entitled to any credit that was due to him. He had found that his predecessor in office Had had a Bill prepared over twelve months ago. The Bill was introduced and read a first time. ALLOWANCES FOR WAR DISABILITY Reporting on a petition asking for a compassionate allowance in respect of war diability, tlie Dependence Committee expressed the opinion that the time had arrived when increasing unemployability and sickness of returned soldiers necessitated an inquiry with a view to further liberalisation of tie War Pensions Act. Reporting on Mr J. A. Lee’s War pensions Bill, the Defence Committee recommended that as the Bill in its present form could not, under standing orders, proceed, the subject matter, to gether with the evidence taken on it, should he referred to the Government with a request for sympathetic investigation and action. The Bill sought to provide that physical. nervous or mental incapacity which could have arisen from active servici* should he attributed to such service, the onus being on tlie Department to prove otherwise.

Presenting the committee’s report Mr H. G. Dickie (Government, Paten) said New Zealand was facing a problem which had to bo faced by every country which had participated in the war. “I think all Ihe returned soldiers and the public generally in New Zealand are seized with the fact that we have a great number of men who are outside tin l scope of our present legislation, but who generally require assistance” said Mr Dickie. Ho went on to point out that the present economic trouble bad bad the cllcct of aggravating the returned mens’ worries, and as they lelt the combined effects of those troubles and their war experiences, there was an ever-increasing number of petitions coming before the House. Mr M. J. Savage, Leader of the Opposition, s'aid be thought the promoter of the Dill, and the committee, should be congratulated on the report. It was most difficult to prove, attributability. lie trusted the Minister of Pensions would take particular notice of the Did and would leave no stone unturned to see .that justice was done to ail those who bad sacrified everything they had, and who now found themselves in a difficult position . Mr \V. E. Barnard (Labour, Napier) said the committee in coming o the decision, bad been animated by the desire to do what soldiers would call the “fair thing.” Mr Lee said if the Government took steps in the direction advocated by the committee, it would have the entire support of the House. It was felt the time had arrived when a new attitude should be adopted towards the returned men. Mr J. Hargesfc (Government, Invercargill) said it was obvious that members of the committee bad been seized with the importance of the returned soldier question. There was another important aspect of the case, and that related to the returned mart who had waited a- while after the war and then, believing that he had not suffered from the effects of his service, had married only to find his health breaking down later. The widows of such men had no redress whatever. He hoped the Government would waive the two years limitation clause.

The Hon. J. G. Cobbe gave an assurance that the whole subject would be very fully investigated. The committee’s report was adopted ami the Bill was renioved from the order paper. - . The Auckland and Suburban Drainage Amendment Dill was reported from tiio Local Bills Committee with amendments. SCRNER Y PR RESERVATION AMENDMENT Moving the second reading of the Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill the Hon. E. A. Ransom said under the main Act the Minister might authorise the taking and killing of any specified kind of animals or birds within a scenic reserve, but power so granted did not cover tile case of opossums. It was considered very desirable to be. able to deal with opossums within scenic reserves, and the Bill gave the necessary power in that respect. The Bill also strengthened the provisions ot the main Act relating to damage to reserves from fires, and trom other causes. A clause which enabled application to be made by an owner for bis land to be declared a private reserve represented a new departure in scenery preservation administration in the Dominion. It was considered it should prove helpful in giving owners extra protected against van-

dalism without unduly affecting their own lights as property owners, and should assist generally in furthering the cause of scenery preservation. Mr M. J. Savage suggested that the New Zealand Institute and Native Bird Protection Society should he represented on the Scenery Preservation Board.

This view was endorsed by Mrs McCombs (Labour, Lyttelton) who also pointed out that areas of bush were disappearing from the vicinity of the cities, especially in tlie South Island. She urged that stops be taken to retain for .ill time those areas which still existed. Tlie Hon. E. A. Ransom said he would give consideration to the question of representation of hie New Zealand Institute and Native Bird Protection Society on the board. Possibly amendment.-, on those lines could be made when further legislation, perhaps of a consolidating nature, was introduced This, however, could not be done in tbs present session. Tlie Bill was read a second time. 'Hie Egmont National Park Amendment Bill and Orchard Tax Amendment Bill were read a second time. LOCAL BODIES INTEREST REDUCTION Moving the second reading of the Local Authorities Interest Reduction and Loans Conversion Amendment Bill, the Minister of Finance, the Rt. Hon. J. G. ; Coates said its primary object was not to safeguard the New Zealand seller of local body securities, but to enable New Zealand local authorities to keep faith overseas, and thus preserve their credit on the London market. He thought members would recognise that it was necessary that local bodies should have the right to finance maturing loans in London and it would be difficult if not impossible for tiie local authorities to get satisfactory terms for renewal of loans if the Principal Act passed last session, weep not amended in the direction.'of exemption from tho 20 per cent,, reduction in securities sold in London prior to the Act becoming effective. It was the local bodies which had asked for the legislation and the matter had been iinal’sed in London when the delegates to the World Conference had been there. The Bill also provided for the consolidation of loans by local bodies in respect of separate areas. Tho present position was that a number of loans had been raised in respect of different ridings within the county and tho Bill enabled the local authorities to consolidate the whole or any nart of those loans. Provision was permissive. .The object of the Bill was to enable local bodies to get their finances on to a proper basis and to stabilise interest at per cent. It was interesting to note that local bodies were realising the benefits that were to be obtained under the Bill, and schemes involving seven millions had already received approval by the Local Government Loans Board. The Local Authorities Interest Reduction and Loans Conversion Amendment Bill was read a second time. MONEY LENDERS’ AMENDMENT BILL Moving the second reading of the Money Lenders’ Amendment Bill, the Hon. 'J. G. Cobbe said the Government had received communications from a number of reputable firms of money lenders expressing gratification that the Bill had been introduced, and stating in their opinion it would have the effect of eliminating certain individuals whose practices had brought disgrace on others engaged in the business. The 'Minister said it was considered only right in tho interests of those under necessity of borrowing money that lenders should be reputable persons. He mentioned that in Auckland there were 103 money lenders at the present time and lie thought it desirable that one or two of them should retire from business Mr Cobbe said many people borrowed money without knowing what it was going to cost them and it was desirable that there should bo a regular contract. It was admitted that under the existing law, a money lender could charge anything up to three to four hundred per cent. The Bill provided a maximum rate of 48 per cent. That might seem to be high, but it should be remembered that money was lent in cases of emergency for short terms, and under such circumstances people were prepared to pay a high rate for it. . , Mr F. Schramm (Labour, Auckland East) expressed approval of the Bill which he sui 1 was very necessary. Mr 11. G. R Mason (Labour, Auckland Suburbs) also expressed approval. He said under the system ot table mortgages some building societies charged fiiMi rates of interest and while lie did not think limy should be brought under the majority'of the provisions ot tho Bill he did think they should be subiect to the clause which enabled the court to reopen transactions. He considered such an action should be taken when a building society charged over 8 PC Mr* A. J. Stallworthy (Independent. Eden) also supported the Bill. . Mr Cobbe, replying to Mr Mason said the budding societies (cut money only to their own members who participated in the profits. Tlie BilL was read a second time. The Co-operative Pigmarketing Companies Bill was read a second tune and referred to the Agricultural and 1 astorn 1 Committee. Tho Royal Society Bill was read a second time. BILLS PASSED The following Bills were put through the remaining stageos and passed ; ~.cenery Preservation Amendment, Egmont National Park Amendment. Orchard lax Amendment, Local Authorities Interest Reduct'on and Loans Conversion Amendment, Royal Society of New Zealand, and Weights and Measures amendmThe committee stages of the Poultry Runs Registration Bill was commenced but after a lengthy discussion oil tlie short title, progress was reported and the House rose at 11.45 p.m.