USE OF CLOSURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22896, 26 November 1937, Page 13

USE OF CLOSURE

FINANCE BILL PASSED

PROTRACTED DISCUSSION MULTIPLICITY OF PROVISIONS [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday After occupying the attention of members for nearly 20 hours of actual sitting time the Finance Bill with its multiplicity of important provisions was finally passed by the House of Representatives early this morning. Something in the nature of a stonewall developed during the committee stage last night and the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, moved the closure on four separate clauses in order to expedite tho discussion.

There was a lengthy argument shortly after midnight on the clause providing for tho Appointment of a special committee to consider claims for relief on tho grounds of hardship in respect of graduated land tax assessments for tho two years ending March 31 next year. An amendment was moved by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, designed to remove the provision whereby tho Minister of Finance has power to review all recommendations made by the committee and to make relief available in cases of hardship on any fair and reasonable grounds whatsoever. The discussion lasted for well over an hour before Mr. Hamilton' 3 amendment was lost on division by 47 votes to 16. Almost immediately the Prime Minister moved tho closure to terminate further discussion 011 tho clause. The other two clauses on which there was prolonged discussion wero those levying retrospective taxation on the Martha Gold Mining Company and validating the purchase by the Government of Picot Brothers, Limited. In these cases, too, the Prime Minister applied the closure. Finally the bill was passed with amendments introduced by the Government in committee and the House rose at 3.10 o'clock. STOCK IMPORTS NEED FOR NEW BLOOD SUGGESTION TO MINISTER QUARANTINE IN TASMANIA [nr TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday The establishment of a New Zealand Government quarantine station in Tas* mania with the cognisance of the Tasmanian Government was suggested by Mr. T. D. Burnett (Opposition —Temuka) in an urgent question addressed to the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. I Martin, in the House of Representatives to-dav. Mr. Burnett said that if such a station was established all stud stock from England for tho Dominion could be maintained there at the lowest possible cost in the charge of a New Zealand veterinarian. In view of the great national importance of the problem quarantine and maintenance* charges could be subsidised by the Agricultural Department. "The necessity for importing fresh stud stock into the Dominion and the grave consequences to the pastoral industries of this country if foot-and-mouth disease once got a hold are generally recognised," said Mr, Burnett. An undertaking to have the question thoroughly investigated was given by the Minister. There was the question of cost to bo considered and whether the Tasmanian Government would be agreeable to the establishment of a New Zealand quarantine station in that State. However, he recognised the necessity for something being done.

WELFARE OF MAORIS PROGRESS WITH HOUSING THE DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday An outline of the progress made with schemes for the housing of the native people was given by the acting-Minister of Native Affairs, the Hon. F. Langstone, when replying to discussion on the estimates of the Native Department in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. Langstone said that since March 1, a total of 100 new houses had been erected and 99 houses repaired. There was authority under all the schemes for the erection of GBB houses at an estimated cost of £142,341. There were 149 houses under construction and including all the houses started by Sir Apirana Ngata as Native Minister hundreds of dwellings had been built and bought for the Maoris. "As rapidly as possible we are improving the conditions of the Maoris," said the Minister; "it is true we are not going as fast as 1 would like, but we are going as fast as we can and probably as fast as some of the natives care to go." There were about 5000 natives working on development schemes as well as on the development of their own properties, the Minister added. A sum of £22,835 was being spent in supplying water to the natives, mainly to those on development schemes.