PARLIAMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18455, 17 January 1922, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS (Abridged from Press Association Telegram.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WELLINGTON, January 16. The Home met at 7.30 p.m. DENTISTS AMENDMENT BILL. The Dentists Amendment Bill was, on the motion of the Hon. O. J. Parr, read a second time pro forma, in order that it may be sent to the Public Health Committee, which will sit to-morrow, and will take evidence on the Bill. INSURANCE COMPANIES. The Hon. J. G. COATES moved the .second reading of the Insurance Companies' Deposits Bill, which provided that British companies carrying on business in New Zealand should pay deposits, as tpllow:— Fire insurance, £15,000; employers' liability, £15,000; all other insurance, £5000; foreign companies, £35,000. The Bill was a*ke<l for by the companies. Dr NEWMAN (Wellington East) complained that, while British companies were Riven three months to find a deposit, foreign companies were given six, which •was unfair. . , Mr M'CALLTJM (Wairau) thought the i. Minister of Finance would not get much money out of this proposal. The effect would be to shut out foreign companies., He asked the Government to revise tbo accident insurance law, under which £BO ■ of every £IOO paid bv the insurers goes , Jnto the pockets of the companies. All the work done by the 28 companies carrying on business in the dominion should be done bv the State department. Mt S. G. SMITH (Taranaki) criticised the methods employed by some of the companies in getting business, and which, he thought, was a fit subject for an inquiry. •:'. Mr W. T. JENNINGS (Waitomo) gave instances in which he considered insurers ■were victimised by life insurance companies. and h© asked that the Government should afford some protection in such cases. „■■ Mr E. J. HOWARD (Christchurch South) ', suggested that the Government should , take' over the whole of the accident insurance business. Mt 'G. WITTY (Ricoarton) urged if the Government did all the accident insurance business it must result in, great economy, which would enable the public to enjoy cheaper insurance.' Messrs M'COMBS (Lyttelton) and W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) urged - State control of the insurance business. Tho MINISTERS, in reply, said that Mr M'Galium.'was mistaken in the percentage of the promium collected and the claims paid. If particulars were_ supplied him of cases of victimisation by insurance agents he would be pleased to make representation to the insurance companies. Personally,' he did not think that any company would continue to employ an unscrupulous agent. The Bill was read a second time. LIFE INSURANCE. The Hon. J., G. COATES moved the secondj reading of : the Life Insurance Amendment Bill, which, he said, partly consolidated the existing 'law, and clause three dealt with the repayment of the premiums paid on the lives of young children on death. Mr T. M. WILFORD thought that tho 'Bill'went in the right direction, but did not'go far enough. Instead of the clause ■being made permissive it should be man- - datdry. Mr F. N. BARTRAM (Grey Lynn) contended that the BHI should be retrospective. because there were hundreds of policies in force which were unfair to parents who iimrred their children, and these should be covered by the Bill. . ARBITRATION ACT AMENDMENT. Tho Bill was read a second, time. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill was introduced 'by Governor's Message, and read a second i' time pro forma and referred to the [ Bills Committee. . COUNTRY TELEPHONES. The Country Telephone Lines Amendment Bill was also introduced by Governliar's Message. The House then wont into committee on the Insurance/Companies Deposits Bill. In reply to Dr Newman, the MINISTER said 1 he would reconsider the question of allowing foreign companies six months in which to find a deposit. Replying to Mr Wilford, the MINISTER said' he expected to get £750,000 from these deposits, and the money would be employed in the development of the country. It woiild bo administered by the Public Trustee. The Bpll was reported without amendment. . On the Life Insurance Amendment Bill, J the MINISTER moved a new clause providing for a six-monthly return being made by insurance companies, The clause . was agreed to. Mr BARTRAM moved a new clause, the 1 effect of which would.'be to give the companies power, to refund premiums on existing policies. , The MINISTER said he would* favourably consider the suggestion, and on that under,standing the amendment was withdrawn. 'Mr .JENNINGS moved a new clause payments of life insurance to the next-of-kin whether that next-of-kin was dependent on tho policy of the holder or not. This also was withdrawn on the assurance of the Minister' that tlio position would.be looked into. FACTORIES BILL. On the short title of the Factories Bill, Mr HOWARD declared that electric power was being put into the homes of people which were being registered as factories. The factories were contracting their /work oiit. This' work was being done in the homes, and so the sweating process went on. to the detriment of the health of the people. He proposed to move amendments to prevent effectively sweating. The MINISTER said this had been thoroughly discussed \ by- the Labour Bills Committee, and he proposed to have a thorough investigation made into the matter during'the recess, and if the circumstances ■warranted it an amendment would be made next session. Mr HOWARD said that was satisfactory. Sir J. P. LUKE said that tho Labour Bills Committee were quite sympathetic in the matter of repressing sweating, but it wanted nnore information before it went as far as was suggested by Mr Howard. Mr FRASER asked why no provision had been modo in the Bill for daylight baking. The Hon, G. J. ANDERSON said it was impossible to make such provision until a scheme was ; devised. It was not a success in Australia. On that point he. proposed to make full inquiries during the recess from the Australian Governments. The clause wa-s passed. In cia-uso 29 Mr HOWARD moved to 1 delete■ the. words "in connection with, textile or shoddy material." This has reference to sweating, but on the assurance- of the MINISTER that he would look into ■ the present practices the amendment was lost on the voices. Mr M'COMBS moved a now olause giving effect to daylight baking. •' Mr FRASER said the principle whs work--1 ing well in New South Wales. The amendment was lost on the voices. The "Bill was reported without amendment. All three Bills were then read a third 1 time and passed. ; WASHINGTON CONFERENCE. •Replying to Mr Wilfordv Mr MASSEY said tjhat when i he received the official report of . the Washington Conference proceedings from Sir John Salmond its contents would be given to the public so far as it was advisable to do so. The House rose at 10.44 p.m.