PARLIAMENTARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 21 December 1933, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY

TO-DAY IN THE HOUSE A BUSY MORNING NUMEROUS BILLS PASSED (From "The Mail’s” Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, This Day. ' In the House of Representatives this morning the Sales Tax Amendment Bill, Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill, Small Farms (Relief of Unemployment) Amendment Bill, Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill, Local Legislation Bill, Native Purposes Bill, Mortgagors and Tenants Relief Bill, Law or Libel Amendment Bill, Coalmines Amendment Bill, Dairy Industry Amendment. Bill, New Zealand Branch of British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John Empowering Bill, and Cooperative Pig Marketing Companies Bill were put through the remaining stages and passed. Replying to a question asked by Mr P. Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central), Mr Coates said communications had been exchanged between New Zealand and Australia on the subject of unfair competition in shipping by the Matson line and although he could not reveal the text of the notes he could state that every effort was being made to deal with the problem. Since the Ottawa Conference the subject had been lengthily taken up with the British Government, and through it with Washington. It was a matter of grave concern" to the Government which was anxious to overcome at least some of the difficulties at the earliest possible date.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL In the Legislative Council to-day, speaking on the second reading of the Motor Spirits of Prices) Bill, the Hon. Sir Francis Bell said _ it was the intention of the Farmers’ Union and Associated Motorists to request the Minister of Industries and Commerce to provide different maximum and minimum prices for Soviet oil. The Hon. R-. Masters: “That is not so.”. Sir Francis said he accepted the Ministers contradiction unreservedly. If there were the same maximum and minimum prices for all classes of oil the Bill -Would leave the position the same as it was to-day. He was glad the Government had not departed from the traditions of the past. Replying to the debate Mr Masters said his administration of the legislation would he guided by the necessities and needs of the public interest. The Bill was read a second time, put through the remaining stages, and passed. The Education Law Amendment Bill, Poor Prisoners’ Defence Bill, Land Transfer (Hawkes Bay) Amendment Bill, Card Tournaments Regulation Bill, Valuation of Land Amendment Bill, and Auckland Metropolitan Milk Bill were put through the remaining stages and passed.