PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21880, 16 August 1934, Page 13

PARLIAMENT

MINOR MATTERS private bills taken .' NO HOPE OF SUCCESS HOUSE PERMITS DEBATE BUDGET NEXT WEEK [BY TEr.UC.TI A"H SPECIAL REPORTER] -WUT.T.TVOTON. TCednesdny Members of Parliament rave their nttentio" to n wi'do variety of subjects jn the House of Representatives to-tlav. frit lift 1 " of national importance was discussed. Minister's renlies to ouestions were circulated in the afternoon and. as usual, the whole was snent in their consideration. Tn the majority of oases the ouestions and replies referred to tonics of nurely local interest, and members took- advantage of the opnortnnity to talk of minor matters affecting their own electorates, an opportunity generally afforded by question day in the House. Some spoke of relief rates of pay in certain districts, some talked about letter boxes and stamp-selling machines and others confined themselves to restrictions on radio broadcasting and to railway charges over certain sections of the system.' Private members were given an opportunity to proceed with their own bills at the evening sitting. Although most of the bills discussed were ruled out by Mr. Speaker because they involved an. appropriation, the Prime Minister. Mr. Forbes, allowed them to come forward for debate or to bo referred to appropriate select committees. The Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, a measure introduced by Mr. C. H. Chapman (Labour —Wellington North) to protect hairdressers' assistants from exploitation bv unqualified instructors, was briefly discussed and read a second time. The Mortgagors and Tenants Relief Amendment Bill, brought forward by Mr. W. A. Veitch (Independent —Wanganui) to legalise the suspension of the personal covenant under mortgages of property owned by religious, charitable and educational bodies, was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee The Shipping and Seamen Amendment BiH, promoted by Mr. P. Fraser (Labour —Wellington Central), was formally read a second time and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. The Harbours Amendment Bill, sponsored by Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour —Christchurch Mast), which seeks to secure an additional city member for the Lyttelton Harbour Board, was referred to the Local Bills Committee. ,

The Transport Law Amendment Bill, promoted by Mr. V'eitch, which is designed to protect coastal shipping against "unfair" competition of the railways, was discussed for the remainder of the evening.

The Prime Minister, announced at the close of the sitting that the Budget and the Customs Amendment Bill would be brought down early next week.

LICENSING BREACHES

RICCARTON CASE QUOTED VIGILANCE OF THE POLICE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday "No doubt there are breaches of the licensing law, as there are of all other laws, but I can give an assurance that the police do their best to enforce respect for the licensing law, to detect breaches and to prosecute offenders," said the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Justice, in replying in the House today to a question recently asked by Mrs. E. R. 'Mc-Combs (Labour —Lyttelton), who had drawn particular attention to evidence given at the inquest into the Riccarton hotel murder. The Minister said the breaches of the law at the hotel at Riccarton had been brought to the notice of the local police.

STATE INSURANCE FIRE AND ACCIDENT LOWER PREMIUM INCOMES [hy telegraph —special reporter] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The reserves and funds of the State Fire Insurance Office at December 31 last amounted to £991,087, compared with £952.299 in 1932 and £918,682 in 1931, according to the annual report of the office tabled in the House of Representatives to-day. The income from premiums in 1933 was £201,351; in 1932, £208,493; and in 1931 £218,007. The various surpluses were £71,972 for 1933, £60,018 for 1932 and £41,799 for 1931. The reduction in premium income was due mainly to adjustment of amounts insured to a lower level, in accordance with present dav values. The report of the accident insurance branch of the office was also tabled. It shows that the reserves and funds at December 31 last were £342,508, compared with £324,753 in 1932, and £312,054 in 1931. The income from premiums during 1933 was £80,207, compared with £87,068 in 1932 arid £102,061 in 1931. The reason given for this fall in income is the decline in wage returns and lack of employment. However, the report states that the underwriting results were better than for some years.

CUSTOMS REVENUE j LAST YEAR'S COLLECTIONS [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Customs and other revenue collected by the Customs Department during the I year ended March 31 last totalled £10,843,724, according to a return tabled in the House of Representatives | to-day Of this sum, £4,969,287 was provided by customs duties other than petrol tax and duties on motor tyres. The next largest individual sum obtained was £1,847,333, realised by the sales tax. 'Petrol tax proceeds were £] .458,668. Th>3 largest sum collected at any individual port of entry was £3,748,960, collected at Auckland. The cost of collecting the total revenue was £109,890, Which worked out at £1 0s 3d per cent.