PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21347, 23 November 1932, Page 13

PARLIAMENT

NINTH WEEK OPENS

LEISURELY PACE SET

PUBLIC WORKS POLICY

hospitals bill debate

SPEAKERS ENCOURAGED

[by telegraph—special reporter] "WELLINGTON, Tuesday

Parliament opened the ninth week of the session in leisurely fashion' to-day and there was a notable slackening in the rate of progress that has recently been maintained.

Perhaps the most interesting development to-day was the move made by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. 11. E. Holland, to set up an inter-party committee to consider the existing economic difficulties, including the exchange rate question, but no clear indication has yet been given regarding the facilities the Government will give him for a discussion of the motion, of which he- merely gave notice to-day. The Public Works Statement was tabled to-day, but in view of the curtailment of that department's activities, the document was /much less interesting than usual. It was scarcely a secret in the lobbies to-day that the Government was encouraging members on both sides of the House to speak on the various bills scheduled for second reading and that had there been need for faster progress, the House could quite conveniently have covered three times as much ground as it actually did.

Although a lukewarm reception was given the Urban Farm Land Eating Bill, it was read a second time without dissent, and members then settled down to a long and dreary discussion on the second reading stage of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill. This contains several contentious clauses, notably that providing machinery for the amalgamation or readjustment of districts, and another seeking to make it mandatory for boards to provide maternity hospitals when called on to do so by the DirectorGeneral of Health.

Some members saw in the latter clause cause for apprehension lest the ultimate closing of St. Helens homes was con templated. lhe Hospitals Bill was read a second time, and the Houso rose shortly before midnight. it is expected that the second batch of Ministerial answers to questions will be circulated and discussed to-morrow afternoon and that the Public Works Statement will be discussed in the evening.

WAR DEBT PAYMENTS

RELIEF TO DOMINION

EFFECT OF BRITISH ACTION

[-BY TELEGRAM —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Tuesday

Ia a question in the House to-day, Mr. H. M. Kushworth (Country—Bay of Islands) asked if it was. correct that Britain liad agreed to suspend for ' another year the payments due from New Zealand on the funded war debt, and whether the sum involved for the current year was £825,000. He further asked how would bondholders be affected in the event of the report being correct. The Trime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, drew attention to the announcement in the Budget that Britain had consented to postpone for another year all payments due on New Zealand's funded war debt and certain other debts duo to the British Government, and that the relief to this year's Budget was £825.000, in addition to which a saving of £47,000 would accrue to the State .Advances Office. "The funded debt," he said, "is an arrangement made between the Imperial Government and tho New Zealand Government in respect of moneys raised by the Imperial Government during war period and lent to the New Zealand Government. It relates to no particular holders of Imperial Government securities and therefore lenders are notaffected, as their interest will continue to be paid by the Imperial Government."-

URBAN FARM LANDS

RATING CONCESSIONS

BILL READ SECOND TIME

[BY TELEGRArH—PRESS ASSOCIATION]

"WELLINGTON, Tuesday

Moving the second reading of the Urban Farm -Lands Rating Bill in the House to-dav, the Hon. A. Hamilton said the present law did not do justice to small farmers in urban areas. Most boroughs contained land used for rural purposes and the bill was designed to give relief where the present system of rating was bearing too heavily on landowners. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour —Avon) Said the weak point of the bill was that the concession secured by holders of rural farm lands would have to be paid for by other people in the borough, and that ttas \vhy he doubted the wisdom of legislation at present.

Mr. Sullivan and other Labour members urged that relief workers should also be given consideration with respect to the payment of rates. The bill was read a second time.

NATIVE LAND BILL Referred to committee [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The Native Land Amendment Bill was ffiad a second time pro forma in the House to-day and referred to the Nativp Affairs Committee.

PARLIAMENT CRITICISED

SOUTHERN THAMES FARMERS

[fkom our own correspondent]

TE AROHA, Tuesday

The Southern Thames sub-provincial executive of the Farmers' Union, which 'net' last evening at Manawaru, passed a resolution endorsing the speech of Mr. M. Rush worth, M.P., dealing with the inefficiency of Parliament's procedure and the 'failure of Parliament to face the facts £>f the existing monetary situation. Iho executive also considered that failure to discuss fully in the House of Representatives the financial situation would be a betrayal of tho country's interests. It was decided to forward a copy ol the resolution to all members of Parliament.,