HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15552, 6 September 1912, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 2.30 p.m. NEW BILLS.

The East Coast Native 'Trust Land Assessment Bill (the Hon. Mr Hemes) and the ChriMchurch District Tramways Act 'Amendment Bill (Mr Laurenson) were read .a first time. The Hon. Mr ALLEN laid on the table the following statement of the finances:— Statement of receipts of the Consolidated Fund for the five months ended 31st August, 1912: The ordinary revenue amounted to £3,729.585 3s 3d, the territorial revenue to £82,870 ss, the national endowment revenue to £59,413 19s 7<l, and other receipts £92 4s ;—total, £3,871,959 lis lOd. Added to the balance on the Ist April, 1912, this made a total of £4.679,255 5s 6d. The expenditure amounted to £1,603,573 16s 9d and the annual appropriations to £2,241,575 lis 4d, making a total expenditure of £5,844,949 8s Id; leaving a balance of £854,285 15s sd. The receipts for the month ot August totalled £783,394 12s lid and the expenditure £898,138 6s 3d. DUNEDIN DRAINAGE BILL. The House went into committee on' the Duncdin District Drainage and Sewerage Acts Amendment Bill, which went 'through without amendment. The bill

*as subsequently road a third limo and passed.

MOKAU lUUBOUH BOARD KM'

POWERING BILL.

Tl'o committee then considered tho Mokaii Harbour Board Empowering Bill. Objection was raised by several members to the provision for plural voting, and a long discussion dismal on that point. Mr ELFi moved an amendment providing for one vote only for every elector instead of one vote per £1000, two votes for £2000, and three votes for over £2003 capital value of property, as provided in the bill,

After a lengthy discussion the amendment was defeated by 35 votes to 26, and the bill was then passed through the committee- stages, and was read a third time and passed. SECOND BEADINGS. The Wellington and Karori Sanitation Water Supply Bill (the Hon. Mr Herdman) was read a second time. The second reading of the Public Servioo Mil was postponed on (ho motion of the PRIME MINISTER.. Tlio Gold Duty Act Amendment Bill, tho Wanganui Bridgo Act Amendment Bill, and the Waihon and Ohinermiri Rivers Improvement Act Amendment Bill woro road a second time, STATE FIRE INSURANCE. . The ,Hon. Mr, FISHER moved tho second reading of tho State Fire Insurance Amendment Bill, which lie explained provided for buildim; up a reserve fund out of the profits of tho business. _ Mr RUSSIiLL asked tho Minister to infopn Hie House what tho exact relation was between the State Fire Insurance Oflice and other companies in operation in a .similar direction.

Mr HARRIS urged that the (Jovemment should continue tho policy that mortgagors under tho Stato-guarantccd Advances Act should insure with tho Stale Firo Office.

Mr PEARCB contended that mortgagors should have a free hand. If they had that they could insure with the Farmers' Union insurance companies, which insured at lower rales than the Slate office.

Mr BELL said he thought tins object of the department was to keep rates down to a reasonablo rate. Any mortgagor, should havo tho Tight to insure in any office he chose, otherwise they would create a monopoly which would drive private companies out of the market. Mr lIINDMARSH said ho thought it was only right that borrowers from tho State should insure with the Slate.

Mr BUCHANAN held that mortgagors should be allowed lo insure whero they pleased. The rate offered by tho Farmers' Union insurance companies was lower than any other company. Mr ELL said he bad a suspickm that tho State Insurance Department -would be run more in tho interest of private companies in tho future.

Tho Hon. Mr FISHER, in reply, said tho Stato Fire Insurance Dc|>arlment had no arrangement with any privalo company. Tho State Department would not bo run at a loss, nor would it tako any risks. If forced to do so it would fight. They would not allow private companies to squeezo them when thoy wanted to. The object of establishing Uio State Firo Insurance Department was to regulate tho insurance rates. There were rumours that there was going to bo a drastic alteration in tho policy of the department, but thoso rumours had ended in smoko._ Tho bill was read a second lime.

Tho Houso toso at 11.5 p.m.