PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21349, 25 November 1932, Page 13

PARLIAMENT

BILLS CONSIDERED

SECOND READING STAGES

PROGRESS NOT RAPID

minor points discussed

COMMITTEE WORK TO-DAY

[by TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTEIt] WELLINGTON. Thursday i After showing signs of industry earlier jn the month, tlio House of Representatives is slipping back into its old jog-trot and on every da v this week progress has been painfully slow. Hopes were held out recently that the session would end early in December, but those prospects are fading fast. Most of this afternoon, for instance, was spent in discussing reports of Select Committees on petitions, many of a purely individual nature.

Subsequently the National Expenditure Adjustment Amendment Bill and the Mortgagors and Tenants' Further Relief Dill were read a second time without a great deal of discussion. However, in the evening, members dwelt on a comparatively trivial bill which merely incorporates the Municipal Association. They talked at length about the virtue of this association, and the work of local bodies generally, although a rather different, note was struck by Mr. Hi G. R. Mason (Labour —Auckland Suburbs), who wondered whether the bill had not been promoted merely to give a fitting sense of importance to municipal bodies, in keeping with similar treatment given td power boards some years ago.

Later in the evening, the House proceeded to the second reading debate on the Municipal Corporations Bill, a bulky measure of 394 clauses, which was introduced only yesterday. As a matter of fact, copies of the bill were not available until the second reading debate was on the point of being initiated, and there were murmurs of protest from ttie Opposition at members being asked to debate a measure before they had had a proper opportunity to peruse its contents. The Hon. A. Hamilton, who had charge of the bill, said it was more a measure for consideration in Committee owing to the wide variety of subjects dealt with. If the second reading were accorded, he promised that an ample interval would be given before the Committee stage were taken. Members would thus be able to consult the local bodies in their districts

regarding any representations it was desired to make. The second reading was accorded at 11 p.m., when the House adjourned. The House will go into Committee on the bills to-morrow. CLASH OF APPOINTMENTS THREE COMMITTEES SITTING HOUSE ATTENDANCE DEPLETED [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday "Why not adjourn Parliament for the afternoon ?" inquired a member facetiously in the House to-day when three committees sought leave to sit during the sitting of the House.

No exception was taken to the first request. which was made on behalf of the Superannuation Funds Bill Committee. When similar facilities were sought on behalf of the Industries and Commerce Committee, some members registered surprise, but. no protest was made. However, when the A to L Petitions Committee also expressed its desire to sit this afternoon, Mr. M. J. Savage, deputyLeader of the Labour Party, rose in his place. '.'This must have a stopping place somewhere," he said. "It is obvious that if all these committees are allowed to meet, there will not be many members left in this Chamber. While I do not

want to raise unnecessary objections, it is quite clear this sort of thing cannot go on indefinitely." Mr. J. A. Nash, chairman of the Super, annuation Funds Committee: Some of the committees will not take long. The Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, suggested that the Petitions Committee should postpone its meeting until tomorrow. He pointed out, presumably in reference to the Motueka by-election, that some members were absent from Wellington, and that it would be rather awkward if all three committees met, thus further depleting the attendance. Mr. E. F. Healy, chairman of the Petitions Committee, said it was desired to hear a witness who had come fioin

Sydney. Mr. Speaker said he would have no alternative but to put the question unless eorne arrangement were made. The Prime Minister said it was difficult to judge the degree of urgency of each committee. The affairs of the country should receive some consideration, however, even if there was a witness from Sydney. The* Hon. A. D. McLeod, chairman of the Industries and Commerce Committee, said his committee desired to examine witness from Dunedin, and that would take only about 10 minutes. He could arrange for the committee to sit at an hour which would not conflict with meetings the oilier two commit tees.

On that understanding, the House consented to the Petitions Committee also having leave to sit this afternoon.

CANTERBURY BILLS

ONE ADVERSE REPORT

[BY TEI.EGR.APH —PRESS ASSOCIATION']

WELLING T0 N, Th urscl a 7

The Christ church District Drainage 'Amendment Bill was reported to the House from the Local Bills Committee V'ithout amendment to-day. Reporting on the Avon and the Heathcote Estuary Conservancy Bill, the Local Bills Committee recommended that as it provided for the creation of another local Authority, and in view of the fact that the Government proposed to undertake an investigation into the possibility of reducing the number of local authorities, the bill should not be allowed to proceed this session.

HAWKE'S BAY RIVERS

[BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION]

WELLINGTON, Thursday

The Hawke's Bay Rivers Amendment tiill (Mr. W. E. Barnard) was introduced and read a first time in the House of Representatives to-day, ,