HOUSE AND LOBBY PARLIAMENT IN PARAGRAPHS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12528, 18 August 1926, Page 6

HOUSE AND LOBBY PARLIAMENT IN PARAGRAPHS

The Dairy Export Control Bill war. reported to tho Legislative Council vesterdnv without amendment. * # * • A RUDE AWAKENING “People on these steamers between Lyttelton and Wellington go to bed at II at night, and wake up in the morning at both Joseph YV ard. * * *. • Both Messrs J. S. Dickson and \V. 8. Glenn were absent from the House yesterday, and Mr A- Hamilton acted in the rapacity of Government whip. LICENSING LEGISLATION The question of licensing legislation was mentioned in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Mr McCombs said he had received a number of telegrams from his constituents asking that the Bill should be proceeded with. Also, in common with other members he had received a circular “from the so-called Licensing Reform Association,” asking that the Bill be dropped. He wanted to know when the Bill would be introduced, if it would be proceeded with this session, and if it would be given as good a run as was accorded tho Gaming Bill last Parliament. Mr Coates said that a licensing Bill was to bo brought down. Mr McCombs: Will it be proceeded with this session? Mr Coates: The intention is to pro reed with it. I am not going to guarantee the Bill will be passed. (Laughter.) That is a matter for the House. * • * 4 GOVERNMENT FILMS Mr A. Bell asked in the House yesterday if in view of tfie films recently taken in the far North the Minister would state what facilities had been given for their circulation in England. He understood that there had been a heavy duty up to the present. Hon. Mr Anderson said that after considerable negotiation it had been decided to admit the Now Zealand Government films free. The new arrangement would considerably cheapen our film operations in England. The only undertaking was that the New Zealand Government did not make financial profit out of the films or permit their sale. * » • • MORE BILLS Hon. Mr Bollard intends to bring in a Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill, and a Marriage Amendment Bill. « *• * 4 RURAL CREDITS The Prime Minister moved yesterday to set up the following committee to consider and report on the proposals contained in the Rural Credits Commission’s report and proposals incidental thereto: Messrs J. G. Elliott, G. W. Forbes. A. Hamilton, H. E. Holland. D. Jones, D. S. Reid. E. Walter, Right Hon. Sir Joseph Wftrd and Hon. Mr Stewart. Mr H. E. Holland asked if the Prime Minister would put Mr McCombs on instead of Mr Holland. Mr Coates said the Government was willing to put Mr Howard on instead of Mr Holland. Mr Holland said this was not fair, in view of the reauest he had made. Thereupon Labour divided the House to mark its protest, hut was defeated by 44 to Jo Messrs Lysnai and Atmoro voted with Labour. 4 - • 4 DIVORCE LAW In considering the special report co the Legislative Council on the Mildred Elaine ,Bmyth,Bill yesterday, the Hon. J. Barr..moved, that the attention of the Government be drawn to the necessity for .general legislation to meet cases suofi as that of Mrs Smyth. This was passed bv the Council. '•. • • * TWO 808 I When the Family Allowance Bill was mentioned in the House yesterday afternoon* Mr Savage asked if the Min-ister-in-Charge of the measure would outline its provisions. Horr. Mr Anderson said that the Bill provided for giving assistance to 55,000 of 60,00(1 children of parents whose incomes were round about or under £4 a week.' The allowance would cease at £5 IQs., 'The amount available this year was a littlo over a quarter of a million, land that had been apportioned in wliat was considered a fair and equitable wav. The measure would come into force at the end of this financial year. Sir Joseph Ward: What is the total liability ? Mr Anderson: Nearly £260,000. A member: How much is the allow ance ? Mr Anderson: The amount proposed is 2s per child. Mr Parry (scornfully): Two bob 1 Mr McKeen: Are you providing it from tho Consolidated Fund? Mr Anderson: Yes. A member: There will bo no contribution ? Mr Anderson: No. Mr Holland: And no reduction of single men’s wagesP Mr Anderson: I don’t think so, and I don’t think_ the hon. gentleman’s honorarium will he reduced either.

BILLS The following Bills were passed by llie Legislative Council yesterday:— National Provident Fund. Fire Brigades, and the Police Offences Amendment. The l.and and Income Tax Amendment Bill and the Samoa Amendment Bill wore read a second time ami referred to the Statutes Revision Committee, and the undermentioned Bils were read a second time: Scenery preservation Amendment, Cook Islands Amendment, Cinematograph Film Censorship Amendment, Cemeteries Amendment. 4 » * - 40 PER CENT. REDUCTION A reduction of 40 per cent, in railway freight on all fertilisers will come into force on August 30th. lu announcing this to the House of Representatives, the Minister for Railway* stated that it applied to truck lots, and that the deducion would be 25 per cent, for leswr quantities over one ton. The cost of the concession will be borne by the Agricultural Department to tho extent of two-thirds; the remaining portion being carried by tho railway revenue. It was explained by Mr Coates that in view of this concession and the important bearing on production of a supply of cheap fertilisers, the Government had conferred with all the interests concerned in its manufacture and distribution to secure their co-operation in reductions of charges. Two conferences had been held, and the manufacturers had agreed to reduce their price by Is 6d per ton freezing companies giving a similar reduction, while varions harbour boards had made concessions in wharfage. As distributors’ margins had recently been reduced they were unable to make any further concessions, but all parties agreed to pass on the full benefit of tho railway reductions to the farmer. 4 4*4 THOSE SAWN-OFF PILES Some time ago Mr Holland, M.P., raised a question in the House regarding the Blackball railway bridge, and asked that inquiries be made into tho alleged statement that a number of the piles had been sawn off instead of being fully driven. Yesterday the Prime Minister read to the House a statement of Mr C. J. McKenzie, of the Public Works Department, in which Mr McKenzie says: “I am aware that some of the piles which were scoured out were shod B 3 if seven or eight feet had been cut off the small end of the piles, this being disclosed by the marks on the piles. This shortening was, however, carried out with the full knowledge of the engineer in charge of the works, who reported it at the time. In this report he states that the driving was so hard that it was impossible to get the piles down to the specifiec depth,” 4444 WAIHI GRAND JUNCTION An assurance that the public inter* eßt will be safeguarded in the takingover of the Waihi Grand Junction Mine by the Waihi Goldmining Company, was given in the House of Representatives to-day by the Minister for Mines, Hon. G. J. Anderson. The member for Ohinemuri, Mr A. M. Samuel, asked the Minister whether he had taken steps to see that at least part of the Grand Junction Mine would be adequately manned, and that if the Waihi Company failed to utilise the whole erf the property, outsiders would not be prevented from obtaining rights over the unused portions. Mr Anderson, in reply, said he wa» assured that the Waihi Company intended to explore the whole property as expeditiously as possible. A Labour member: What does that mean ? The Minister: It means that the property will be prospected. He went 011 to say that the Grand Junction Co., as was well known, had ceased aotive operations some considerable time ago, and £200,000 worth of machinery was lying idle. The two companies had reached a working arrangement. A member: Regarding the number of men? Tho Minister said that more men would be employed if necessary. The requirements of the mining law would be complied with. He intended, m the public interest, to see that the arrangement between the companies was carried out. The only way by lYhiah capital could be found was first to make a thorough exploration of the Grand Junction mine. If applications were made in respect of portions of the property, members might rest assured that the applications would be dealt with in suen a way ns to safeguard the interests of the public. Mr W. E. Parry (Auckland Central): Do you know anything rbout tlie details of the arrangement ? The Minister replied that he did.