PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18224, 18 October 1922, Page 10

PARLIAMENT.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

APPEARANCE IN HOUSE.

DISCUSSION ON FRIDAY.

THE " WASHING-UP" BILL.

(BI TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER.}

WELLINGTON. Tuesday.

When the House of Representatives met this aiternoon the " Washing-up" Bill . was introduced by* Governor-General's message. The Bill was read a first time and sent on to the Lands Committee. The Fencing Amendment Bill was returned from the Statutes Revision Committee with the clause requiring that land shah be kept clear of all vegetation for a width of half a chain along a boundary line struck out. Tho committee recommended that the Bill, with this amendment, bo allowed to proceed. The se-x>nd reamng of the Tonganro National Pork Bill was then taken and occupied the remainder of the afternoon. The Public Works Statement and Estimates were presented by *e **»*£ ister in the absence of the Minister ior Works, at half-past seven. Mr. said he would tike the debate on he SU ement at next Friday's sitUng and if members had no objecUon would take tho debate on the Public Works Loan Bill at the same time. ThD debate on the Tonganro Rational ™ Somnment SS reached. The 3d iiiug of the Rating Amendment Bill was then taken, and was agreed to Star a"debate. The Tonganro^Natmnal ; Virk Bill was then passed. The war Jot, Amendment Bill was read a second time, and the House rose at 11.50 p.m.

TRANSPORT MAGAZINES.

PRESERVATION WANTED.

VALUABLE WAR RECORD. [BY TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The Minister for Defence, Sir B.Heaton Rhodes. was asked by Mr. Qu«» Mackenzie (Auckland East) m the How- to-, day whether he could do anything .to ass'ist libraries throughout the. Dominion to obtain copies of the magazines which were published on the New Zealand trans-; ports during the war. The member mentioned that from time to time ho received requests from all Farts of New Zealand for assistance in securing copies ot tnese , publications. . Six B. Heaton Rhodes said he was at a, loss to know where to put his hands on j copies of the magazines. He knew; that Brigadier-General Richardson, while j In England, made an effort to collect all tho papers dealing with New Zealand's part in the war; with a view to handing them over to ; one museum, possibly to a war museum in the Dominion, but he was unable to say whether General Richar&on had duplicate j copies. The Minister said he agreed that; a xecord such as was represented in the tiaasport magazines would be a very valuable one to" have and he would have influixies made in an endeavour to obtain copies.

"WITHOUT NOTICE."

QUESTION BY MEMBER.

UNRESPONSIVE MINISTER. [BI XXLXOEAFH. —SPECIAL feBPOBTSII-] WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

"I won't do it," said Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) firmly when ho was asked by the Minister for "Education to put a question on the Order Paper. Mr. Witty wanted to ask his question without notice, and the Minister was not prepared to answer. The question was scarcely one of urgency. The member wished to know if the Minister would give more responsibility to the trustees of country libraries, and would arrange for the resignation of trustees who left the districts in which they had been appointed. The member for Riccarton rose once more with his question a few minutes later. He declared that he had asked the same question on other occasions, and did not see why he should have to wait now for an answer.

The Minister suggested th« Order Paper again. Mr. Witty repeated his refusal, and there the matter ended.

EATING AMENDMENT.

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE. £SY. XEXEU&ATH-— FBXSS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. In moving the second reading of the Rating Amendment Bill in the House tonight, the Hon. W. Eownie Stewart explained that it waß a short measure designed to give effect to tho recommendations from the Municipal Associations' Conference covering tho application of rating on unimproved land values, additional charges in respect of unpaid rates, and the rebates permissible in the case of rates paid promptly. Mr. F. F. Hockly (Eotorua) opposed clause 4, empowering an additional charge (on unpaid rates. Otherwise he said the Bill was a uiseful one.

Sir John Liike (Wellington North) said he considered it unwise to give local bodies power to alttr the method of rating by resolution. Tho unimproved rating waa not suitable for a city like Wellington, where congestion was serious. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) supported the Bill as likely to help municipal finance by inducing ratepayers to pay up earlier.

Mr. A, Harris (Waitemata) opposed clause 4.

After several other members had spoken the Minister, in reply, said the Bill was going to the Statutes Revision Committee, where all the contentious points could be further considered. The Bill was read a second tim.e and referred to the committee-.

COST OF AN EXPERT.

SIR DUNCAN ELLIOT.

.WELLINGTON. Tuesday.

[EX TELEGRAPH. —PRESS

The sum of £40,391 6s 4d was paid by t'he New Zealand Government during: the past three years to Sir Duncan Elliot in his capacity as consulting engineer and adviser. Detail of the agreement show that he was paid 1 per cent, for consultation, specifications and advice, 1£ per cent, for inspection only, 2£ per cent, for advice regarding acceptance of tenders and preparation of specifications. For rails and fisholates, up to 100 tons, he was paid 4s 6d; 101 to 200 tons, 4s 3d: 201 to 300 tons, 4s; 301 to 400 tons, 3s 9d; 401 tons and upwards, 3s 6d per ton; iron for bridges, up to £1000 in value, 4s 6d per ton; £1001 to £10,000, 3s 3d per ton; £10,000 and over, 3s per ton; inspection of locomotives and waggons, 2 per cent.;'other railway plant and machinery. 2£ per cent.; and a minimum of £2 2s per order; cement, 6d per ton, or 7d if turned once, 7£d if turned twice; stores, £2 2s per day, or 6s 3d per hour.