"RUSH TACTICS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20626, 26 July 1930, Page 15

"RUSH TACTICS."

OBJECTION BY MR. COATES.

MR. MASON'S RATING BILL.

INTERRUPTED BY ADJOURNMENT.

[BY TELEGRAM!.— SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday.

"These rush tactics are likely to get us into serious troublo," declared the Leader of the Opposition, tho lit. Hon, J. G. Coates, just prior to tho adjournment of the House this afternoon, when an attempt was being made to secure the second reading of the Rating Amendment Bill in tho minute that remained before tho House rose for tho day. Tho bill is a private one, and is being sponsored by Mr. H. G. R-. Mason (Labour —Auckland Suburbs).

"Tho timo has arrived for the adjournment," said Mr. Speaker, interrupting Mr. Coates. However, Mr. Coates raised a point of order to enable him to complete his remarks. "It would bo in tho public interest if tho Primo Minister would set aside another day before long for dealing with private members' bills," ho said. "It has been represented to me, and to tho Prime Minister also, I believe, that private members are becoming concerned about their bills."

Mr. E. J. Howard (Labour —Christchurch South) : You havo just killed

Mr. Coates: I cannot discuss that now, but I say that private members aro entitled to reasonable consideration.

Mr. Howard: You did not give Mr. Mason reasonable consideration. Mr. Coatcs: There is no man in this Houso I would rather give reasonable consideration to than tho member for Auckland Suburbs.

Mr. H. E. Holland, Loader of tho Labour Party: God help him then. Mr. Coates: The honourablo member has a reason for saying that.

Of course the incident has a certain piquancy for tlioso who know the cordial and friendly relations between Mr. Coates and Mr. Mason. It was only last evening that Mr. Howard stated in the House, when speaking on the political situation : —"Many on these benches like the Leader of the Opposition personally, but they dislike his politics. Ho had a couple of Jonahs on his ship and he floundered at the last election. Had ho not had them, he might have been on the Treasury benches to-day." On the other hand, there was an incident in the House last session which revealed that Mr. Holland and Mr. Mason did not always see eye to eye. Mr. Holland had urged the curtailment of a discussion on a certain matter before the House, whereupon Mr." Mason retorted with some warmth that there was nothing which some members so much resented as being told to bo quiet, when that was what they desired to do.

SCROGGY HILL GRADE.

QUESTION OF IMPROVEMENT.

NO ACTION TO BE TAKEN.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday.

The cutting-down of the grade on Scroggy Hill, on the North Auckland railway line, was recently suggested by Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Labour —Auckland Suburbs), who added that the work, which was understood to be urgently required, was particularly well adapted to reduce unemployment. Replying in tho House to-day, the Minister of Railways, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, said the Scroggy Hill grado was not tho governing grade as regards train loadings between Auckland and Waitakere or northward. The easing of the grade was not regarded as an urgent work or likely in itself to give any financial return commensurate with tho outlay involved. Therefore, it was not proposed to take action in the direction suggested.

BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

MR. LANGSTONE'S BILL.

SECOND READING STAGE

[BY TELEGRAM. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] ■WELLINGTON, ■ Friday.

The Bank of Now Zealand Amendment Bill, sponsored by Mr. F. Langstono (Labour —Waimarino) was read a second time in the House of Representatives today. The bill, which is one of the " hardy annuals," proposes:—(l) That the directors of the bank shall not bo shareholders in any other bank, insurance company or commercial company; (2) to give voting power to the Government in respect to its preference shares; (3) to increase the dividend paid on shares held by tho Government and correspondingly reduco the dividend on ordinary shares held by tho public. Tho Hon. W. Downie Stewart stated that tho position as outlined by Mr. Langs tone was not altogether accurate. As a matter of fact, by the Act of 1920 the Government had received more from tho Bank of New Zealand, both in profits and in shares, than it was entitled to, but independent investigation had shown this was not detrimental to tho interests of the Dominion as a whole. Mr. Stewart added it would be difficult to find men possessing the necessary qualifications for the directorate of the bank who were not in any way interested in any other financial institution. The bill was read a second time. Mr. T. Makitanara (Government— Southern Maori) voiced his opposition when tho question was put. but heeded Ministerial advice to let it go.' It will bo a surprise if anything further is heard about tho bill this session.