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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22250, 26 October 1935, Page 15

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LAST-MINUTE RUSH MANY MEASURES PASSED SADLY DEPLETED HOUSE SECOND FINANCE BILL [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Friday The final session of New Zealand's 24th Parliament virtually came to an '/ t »nd to-night. The House of Representatives sat morning, afternoon and night, rushing through last-minute legislation in almost inspired fashion, but it was a sadly depleted House that assembled after the dinner adjournment, a number of members having left either bv train or ferry steamer for their constituencies. The House will have to meet agaiti to-morrow, but the business to be transacted will be largely formal. Once again the House commenced the day's sitting with discussions on reports of Select Committees on public petitions and no surprise was caused when the Hon. A. D. McLeod (Government— Wairarapa) recommended on behalf of the Industries and Commerce Committee that the niuch'dohatcd Com- > niercial Trusts Amendment Bill should not proceed this session. The committee, he said, had not had sufficient time to complete tho hearing of evidence on the proposed amendments regarding pricefixing. Work in Earnest The Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, found it necessary to interrupt the* presentation of committee reports in order that legislation might receive attention. Tho House then settled down to work with a will and eight bills were passed in quick time. The only measure on which there was much discussion was the Tobacco Growing Industry Bill, which provides for the setting up of a Tobacco Board with powers to control both the growing and manufacture of tobacco. However, the bill passed with only a minor amendment. Other bills put through their remaining stages were the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill, the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill, the Government Railways (Wellington to Johnsonville) Bill, the Native Purposes Bill, the Trustee Amendment Bill, the Rural Mortgagors Final Adjustment Amendment Bill .and the Transport Licensing Amendment Bdl. More New Measures In addition, a Native Housing Rill was introduced during the day by Governor-General's Message and put through all its stages without discussion. In the evening the Supplementary Estimates appeared. They contained no provisions of outstanding importance and sought in the main to authorise the recent retrospective restorations in civil servants' wages and in pension rates. The estimates were passed fairly rapidly. / The necessary Appropriation Bill to give legislative effect to the votes in both thu Main and Supplementary Estimates was passed through all its stages and shortly before midnight the promised Housing Survey Bill was introduced by Governor-General's Message. The second Finance Bill was subsequently introduced. UNPAID CROWN RATES HARDSHIP ALLOWANCE £BOOO FOR LOCAL BODIES [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTED 1 WELLINGTON. Friday Local bodies will welcome an item in the Supplementary Estimates passed by the House of Representatives to-night, j The Department of Internal Affairs! estimates involve grants amounting to i £BOOO for certain local authorities on account of hardship caused through the lion-payment of rates by the Crown as mortgagee in possession. The particular local bodies are not specified

DETECTIVE'S DISMISSAL

PETITION FOR INQUIRY SUPPORT BY COMMITTEE [BT TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] ' WELLINGTON. Friday A recommendation that a magisterial nquiry be held was made by the Public Petitions Committee in reporting to the House of Representatives on the petition of L. Studholme, of Christchurch, who asked for a full inquiry into the circumstances of his dismissal from the Police Force. Mr. F. Lye (Government —Waikato) reported that the committee was of opinion that the allegations of peti- ' tioner should be inquired into by a magistrate, ;ind that, with a view to such an inquiry being held, the committee recommended that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. The petitioner was formerly a detective stationed at Timaru. He was dismissed following a departmental inquiry into allegations made against him by a number of bookmakers. The Rev. C. L. Carr (Labour— Timaru) said that the petitioner was completely exonerated on the charges made against him of having accepted bribes from bookmakers, and left the inquiry without a stain on his character, but the Commissioner of Police, under clause 9 of the Police Force Act, dismissed the man, apparently on the ground that he did not accept the departmental "inquiry. The sworn statements of nine convicted bookmakers were accepted against a man whose character bad been cleared at a departmental inquiry. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour —Avon) said he .hoped the Government would probe the matter to the utmost. As it stood at the moment, it had all the Appearance of constituting a scandal.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

UNUSUALLY LATE SITTING fBV TKLKGIIAI'H —PIIKSS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Friday The Legislative Council, after receiving bdls from the House this afternoon, adjourned to enable the bills to be considered by committees. The Council had intermittent adjournments and sat until 11.40 p.m. It passed all bills received from the House with the exception of the Trustee Amendment Hill and the Local legislation Bill, which were referred to committees. The Council adjourned until 10.30 to-morrow morning.

NATIONAL HOUSING PROVISIONS FOR SURVEYS LOCAL BODIES' DUTIES INFORMATION FOR MINISTER [nv TELEGRAPn —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday Local authorities are required to make housing surveys within their respective districts preparatory to the inauguration of a Dominion housing scheme under a Housing Survey Bill which was introduced by GovernorGeneral's Message in the House of Representatives shortly before midnight tonight. The bill will apply to boroughs with a population exceeding 1000 inhabitants, the Mount Roskill Road Hoard, the M ount Wellington Road Board and any other local authority named by Order-in-Council. Tlio local authorities arc required to furnish particulars regarding the extent of overcrowding in dwellings, the standard of :he buildings themselves and the number of people detrimentally affected by existing housing conditions. Power is given for the inspection of dwellings with a penalty of £lO in cises of obstruction. Occupiers of houses arc required to furnish written statements if called on to do so regarding tho conditions of their houses and the number, ages and sexes of people living in them. Details of the surveyn are to be furnished to the Minister of Internal Affairs. Ihe provisions of tho bill will automatically expire on December 31, 1936. "The number of proposals to bo given effect to next session seems to be evidence of the unbounded optimism of the Government." said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage. "Tho bill puts the responsibility on somebody else to do tho work, but apart from that nothing much can bo said against it." AID FOR MAORIS ADVANCES BY BOARD A PROMISE FULFILLED [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER 1 WELLINGTON, Friday Fulfilling a promise which he made last session, the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, as Minister of Native Affairs, introduced a Native Housing Bill in the House of Representatives to-day. The bill, which was brought down by Governor-General's Message, provides generally for advances to be made by the Board of Native Affairs on security for the erection and repair of dwellings owned by natives.

The securities on which money can : be advanced from sums appropriated by Parliament are defined in the bill. They include mortgages or assignments on native land and assignments on farm produce, but there is no fixed margin of security. The advances will not be made direct to the applicant, but the money will be expended or applied by the board or at its direction and charging orders mav be made by the Native Land Court in respect of advances. The rate of interest on advances is not to exceed the current rate fixed by the MorWaoe Corporation and the Board of Native "Affairs is to have powers of inspection and supervision with regard to the whole scheme. Outlining the provisions of the bill, Mr. Forbes said the advances would be secured against revenues received by Maoris. Some of them were receiving small amounts bv way of interest, but they were too small for use in building np a capital sum. The proposals should be of marked assistance to the Maori people. The question of improving the houses of those not able to offer security would be dealt with in the investigation under the general housing scheme. Mr. W. E. Barnard (LabourNapier) : Will you say where the money is coming from? Mr. Forbes: The same place as the advances to settlers and workers.