PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18457, 21 July 1923, Page 10

PARLIAMENT.

■ ADVANCES MEASURE ■ THIRD READING PASSED. NO AMENDMENTS • MADE. OTHER BILLS INTRODUCED. [by ' TELEGRAPH.-~ reporter.] WELLINGTON. Friday. .The House of Representatives spent another day in discussing the State Advances Amendment Bill, and after a long sitting the measure "wag read a third time and passed. Threo amendments were proposed in Committee, but two moved by Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central I were disallowed on the ground that they involved appropriations! The third, moved by Mr. R. Masters (Stratford), was defeated by four , vote.*, but apparently the majority should have "been only. two. The position was that Mr. E. A. Ransom (Pahiatua) arranged a pair with Mr. J. A, Nosh (PaWrston), but tho latter subsequently explained to the House that he did not 'enow Mr. Ransom had left sc soon, and accordingly he registered his vote. Notice was given of the introduction of 'he Savings Bank Amendment Bill ("Mr. Massey) and the Wliangarei Harbour Board Vesting and Empowering Bill (Mr. A,. J- Murdoch). The St. John's College Tvu.t Bill, received from the L-.-.islaf-ive Council was rend a fir,: time. The Sale of Foods and Drugs Amendment Bill (Sir dam Prtmare) was read a second time r.ro forma, and the House rose at 10.55 until Monday evening. Huj '"Legislative Council held a short sitting, and passed the St. John's. College Trrist Bill, and aanwd to tho second reading of the Captive Birds Shooting Protection Bill. The. Council adjourned until hiesday afternoon.

MORTGAGED FARMERS' CRY.

NO MONEY FOR RATES.

"WE CANNOT PAY TAXES."

[]5Y TKLSGRAP.H.—OWN' CORRESPONDENT. 1

WELLINGTON. Friday. The plight of many farmers in Taranaki was emphasised bv a member of the Hospital .Board's deputation to Mr. Masfi*y' yesterday. Mr. M. Eraser said 'hat a '.though 'i«iranaki was considered a prosperous province, it consisted of small dairy farmers ail of whom wore loaded to death with mortgages. .'.' The dairy farmers there have mortgage 'alter "wtgage 0:1 their land," said Mr. Fr-iirir. .'' und when we «c]; for necessaries for the hospital they sssty,' leave us alone,"we cannot pay our taxes-' Taranaki was suffering' because the farmers bought their land too dear.

SILVER PINE FORESTS.

NATIONAL PARK AREAS. '•PREVENTING DESTRUCTION. ■■ : [BY . telegraph.—own correspondent.] ■-»-*-' 'J : , WELLlira-TON. Friday. ■"- Speaking at the annual, me<4ing of .the New - Zealand Forestry , Lea j;,io r the president, Sir James Wilson, said that for "some time efforts had been directed to- ■" ward the ■"' preservation of the silver- pine ' forests in the Tongarh-o National, Park. A deputation had waited ,upon ,the .Minister in that respect, and during the year active steps had been taken to prevent the destruction arid to .secure the preservation of any reserves which -were in danger of being destroyed. Steps had been.-taken, to secure protection for -a giant pokutukawa tree on .-, Major Island, and also a giant kauri in - the Auckland province. A letter was sent j; to the Minister for Railways drawing his .' attention to the danger of destroying plan- ... tations alongside railways and expressing ' the hope that special efforts %\ould be made to avoid this when clearing railway ~ reserves of grass and ether growths.

: THE MINING ACTS.

CONSOLIDATION WANTED.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— : SPECIAI/ REPORTER;] - • ■■■ . WELLINGTON. Friday.

'";.• A question whether it.was proposed to .take m/hand the consolidation of the Mining Acts this session «vas asked by '.Mr. A Bell (Bay of Islands) in. the House of Representatives. • The Minister for Mines, the Hon G. J. Anderson, replied that the provisions of the Coalmines and Mining Acts were highly technical and most, complicated'. The work of consolidating them would ' bs one of considerable magnitude and could not be satisfactorily completed in 'time for introduction this session. The necessity for their consolidation was; however, fully recognised and the work would be undertaken during next recess..

STATE FIRE OFFICE.

THE SURPLUS PROFITS.

'"[BY TELEGRAPH".SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday.

',''. The Minister in charge, of the State ' Fire Insurance office was asked by Mr. . McCombs (Lytteltor.), when the Government proposed to give effect to the provisions ..'of the State Fire Insurance Act' in respect to the division of the surplus' profits among the policy-holders of the department. The Hon. Sir R. H. Rhodes said the intention of the Government regarding the" rebate would be made known before the close of the session.

M3OT ■:; EXPORT COMIOL. EVIDENCE TO COMMITTEE. [lit It-.T.KGKAPtT. — CORBESPONDENT.j WELLINGTON., Friday. About 50 persons are at present in "Wellington for the purpose of giving evidence for and against the Dairv Produce Export Control Bill, which made its appoarance in Parliament recently, and is at .present before the Agricultural, Pastoral and Stock Committee of the House of -Representatives.

The committee has already heard •; number of witnesses. It has been decided to give two days to the hearing of witnesses opposed to the Bill, and ono day to its supporter?. The witnesses hail from all parts of Now Zealand.

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

INVESTMENT OF FUNDS.

[By TMLEOBAJ'H.-— SPECIAL REPORTER.]

WELLINGTON, Friday.

The accounts of the Public Trust Office show that the amounts held in the common fund of tho office total £14,916,227, and lh_* there are other funds which bring the : aggregate to £17,466,787. -■ The office has invested £83,894 in Government securities, £50,192 in land settlement Finance Act debentures, and £4,175,437 in local bodies' debentures. The amounts loaned on mortgages aggregate £9,155,210, while properties acquired by foreclosure are valued Jit £70,655. There are also mortgages held as special investments for certain estates, and funds amounting- to £1,385,165, while other special / .investments are Government securities, Xil3j&6s, and. local body debentures