PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20304, 11 July 1929, Page 13

PARLIAMENT.

j\VOI!Iv 01? THE HOUSE.

the debate continues.

■IX IX.PEPENHKNT CRITIC.

labour still silent.

rpY T r.rrr;n.M-rr. —srEn.u, reporter.] WELLINGTON", Wednesday.

The end of (ho Addrcss-inßeply dchato j ; ~,,( \ e(, in sight, although the supply 0 f speakers in daily being reduced. Tho Government intends tr> continuo tho dchato until (ho c" f l of tho week. Several speeches brighter than tho usual pr.es woro delivered during the- dehato to(l.iv. A particularly good impression was ('i-rrtled by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, Indopendent member f<">r Egmont, and an old politician, who had tho advaritngo of I,ring unrestricted in his comments and cif Ping freo to apportion praiso and M.irno witli equal hands.

Evidently to emphasise tho plea mado 1,. \| r . |f. E. Holland tho previous even,„r. Labour members again refrained from entering tho debate, although they did I heir full sliaro of interjecting. The, Post-master-General, tho Hon. J. I>. Donald, made his debut during tho evening sifting. Tho Workers' Compensation for Aceiflints Amendment Pill (Mr. K J. Hnward) and tho Compulsory Military Service. Repeal Pill (Mr. W r . *T. Jordan) were introduced an 1 read a first time. The House lose at 11.11 p.m. until 2.30 p.in. tomorrow. SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY. FORMER OFFICIAL'S VIEWS. RIGHT TO EXPRESS OPINIONS. | |;y ti.lloi;\ru. —special reporter.] WELLINGTON, Wcdncsday. To advanco tho case for tho comploiion of the South Island Main Trunk railv,iiv, Mr. E. F. Henly (Wairau), speaking in tho. House this evening, followed tho lead of tho Minister of Labour, tho Hon. W. A. Veitch, and ridiculed tho opinions on tho project expressed by Mr. p. J. Jones, formerly chairman of the Itailway Board. "Mr. Jones u a man who is more fortunate than some of the members of thi3 House, for he draws a pension of over £1100," said Mr. Healy. "For some reason ho has come into tins South Island Main Trunk railway question, but 1 do not see what it has to do with a supcr-

animated civil servant." Mr. (J. A. Wilkinson (Eginont): It is not a fair thing that any retired civil servant should bo debarred from giving }iis opinion on such matters.

,\ Labour Voice: He's still a citizen,

Mr Wilkinson: Yes, and in many cases y-ucii men are in a. much better position to give advice than the man in the street.

STATE ADVANCES LOANS

DETAILS OF RATES CHARGED.

'"LOWER THAN THOSE OUTSIDE."

[r.v uixEGßArir. —special reporter.3

WELLINGTON, Wednesday

A statement, on the, interest, rates charged by the State Advances Oflico was made by the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, replying in tho House of Representatives this afternoon to a question by Mr. W. E. Barnard (Napier). Mr. Barnard asked whether the Prime Minister was aware that the State Advances "Office. was charging interest at, a minimum rate of 6 per cent, for loans for paving off mortgages or purchasing homes. He wanted to know whether that rate was lo be. continued while, the interest rates had an apparent falling tendency. Sir Joseph Ward replied that the present rates oi interest payable, on Slate advances loans were:—On loans to workers,• per cent.; on loans (other than redemption of mortgages) to settlers, per cent.; on loans for redemption of mortgages to settlers, b,'< per cent, All th'; above-mentioned rates wero subject to a rebate oi J. per cent, for prompt payment. The rate:; v.ere lower than those charged for loans arranged outside the State Ad\arues [l'partment. Especially was that : it if, tho case of all loans borrowed on the security of land, held under leasehold tenures. It generally known that "litside financial institutions did not seek :-1j •11 sc.runties, and where they did a hiVlier rate than was charged on the security of freehold lands was demanded. The "rate of interest chargeable on loans v ,i. liclermiri' '"I bv the State Advances Ird, with the approval of the Minister "t finance, and was governed by Ihe rate payable on the loans raised from tiuio 1" time, plus the loan flotation exptnsps and the cost of redemption of loan charges. When occasion arose the question of ari ,'lteration in the rate of interest would be duly considered by the State. Advances Board in accordance with the provisions "f the State. Advances Act. I; A (lOrr? rftNVRNTIONS. (iA THE.RINGS AT GENEVA. NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATION. 1 J I LF/.l; M'H. —SPECIAL nr.PORI F.lt.] WE L LIX GTO N, Wed n esd ay. N'*'.v Zealand will be represented at lu!nre conventions of the International Bureau at, Geneva, according to a tateirieui, made in the House of Repre•enf.itives to-day by the Prime Minister. Sir .1r,,.,|,|, Ward. Tho matter arose ihiou.jl, (ho presentation "f a paper dcal:ri; v..':i the League of Nations. Advantage "f the occasion was taken by 'he I.e,i fll• j- of the Opposition, Mr. (.'oates, t" ..iv that in the past representations had I'c.i made to tho Government to pernal. of I ..a hour organisations being rcI,i e-.-ntf,l at tbe International Labour Con-Im'-u. e at Geneva, but the matter had '"■oi p.;tpoi,ed until better times arrived, v •- later . la go, perhaps, the Prime Mini would enlighten the House as (o "hat 11 if) present Government proposed in ifiat connection. Ihe. I,cadet of the Labour Party, Mr. II f Holland, raid tho Prime Minister ll ,i>l ,i; ii.ril in representation at this year s ~,iii<-.|euro, but for some reason or other ihe in,hr I rial organisations wero unable, i.i In]-,.'. advantage "f the offer. It was n.i taulf of the. Government that represeni i'i did not go forward. I,''t plying to a tpiestion, Sir Joseph Ward : aid there was nothing material in the "port he was about, to lay oil tho table. It dealt, mainly with arrangements for tho conduit of business When papers of impoitanco lo New Zealand came, forward opportunity for discussion would be given. Ihe Government had signified its intention of allowing representatives to attend 'ld.- \ear'.-, International Labour Confcreiii e at Geneva, but unfortunately the inflation crime too Into to allow delegates t" reach Geneva in time. However, it v. i- hoped representatives would bo able to go next year.