PARLIAMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19316, 31 October 1924, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL . (Pbb. Hsitbp Pb*»9 Association.) r WELLINGTON, October 30. ’’ The, Legislative Council met at 2.20 p.m. to-day. ‘ RAILWAYS AUTHORISATION. The Council agreed with amendments proposed by tho Governor-General in the KailWays Authorisation Bill. REFERRED TO COMMITTEES. The Dairy Industry Amendment Bill, the Mining Amendment Bill, and the Native Trustee Amendment Bill wore received from the House of Representatives, read a first time and a second time pro forma, and tc-ferred to committees. SAMOANS AS BRITISH SUBJECTS. -Sir FRANCIS BELL gave notice_ of his intention to introduce the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Amendment Bill, the object of which is to allow Samoans to become British subjects without the necessity for a knowledge of the English language. TOLAGA BAY" HARBOUR BILL. On the motion of Slir FRAN CIS BELL, the second reading of the Tolaga Bay Harbour Bill was defeated by 18 votes to 10. EDUCATION AMENDMENT. The Education Amendment Bill waS reported from the Education Committee with amendments. The Council adjourned at 3.35 p.m. until to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. AN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. Replying to Mr Linklater, the Hon. W. NOSWORTHY said the Government had not yet considered the question of a site of an.agricultural college for the North Island, .but,.would do so as soon ns tho session was • .jbver and the Ministers had time to go into ~sto question. ': ■ GOLD PRODUCERS’ LOSSES. Trt reply to Mr Wilford, Mr MASSEY Jtaid he was not able to give any encouragement to the suggestion that, a Royal Commission bo appointed to go into the question of the loss suffered by gold producers owing to the embargo placed on the export qf gold Muring the war. He had twice ’gphe ’into this matter with the Imperial when he was in England, but ' (fiat Government had considered that it bad no responsibility in the matter. It raid the Mint price in gold and made no profit out of it. Neither the Government nor the banks at this end made a copper out of the embargo. They merely carried out the instructions of the Imperial Govern- . meat. .. (Mr WILFORD suggested that as there might shortly bo a new Chancellor of the Exchequer, it might be worth while apiproaChtng him. . Mr-MASSEY admitted the possibility of "a - change in the Chancellorship, but was •not inclined to reopen tho matter with him. PUBLIC SERVICE ACT. ,1a reply to Mr Wright, Mr MASSEY •Said that much as an amendment to the Public Service Act was needed- it could not rbe proceeded with this session. TAXATION ON SMALL RACING ‘ ' CLUBS. Replying to Mr de la Perrelle, Mr MASSIfIY said that Cabinet would consider the question of reducing taxation on small racing clubs before the session closed. HEAVY TRAFFIC BY-LAWS. In reply to Mr Wilford, the lion. L G. COATES said he could not refer the Public Works Amendment Bill dealing with heavy by-laws to a special committee. ("That meant killing the Bill this session, And lie could not afford to delay it, as no legislation was more necessary. FIRST READINGS. " 'Thfe following bills were introduced and fdad ’ a first timeßating Amendment Bill (tho Jlon. R. F. BOLLARD); Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill (the Hon. G. J. ANDERSON). * BILLS INTRODUCED,’ The,following Bills were introduced by ty Governor-General's Message (—Native “Wash-up’’ Bill, Mount Egmont Reserve Bill. THE NEW HEBRIDES. Mr J. M‘C. DICKSON (chairman of the Public Petitions Committee) brought down a report on the Auckland petition concerning the government of the New Hebrides. The committee recommended that the peti- ■' tion be. referred to the Government for favourable consideration, and urged that Hite Government should communicate with the Imperial Government. Mr MASSEY' said that France would Sever give up her territory. He agreed that tho condominium was working un- ■ satisfactorily, and said he could not understand how Great Britain had agreed to it. Perhaps it was a counsel of despair to advocate partition, but it was the lesser of two evils, and he could see up other way out of it. Had it not been for the strenuous advocacy on the part of the New- Zealand , jaqd‘Australian representatives these islands (would have been handed over to the French Government holus bolus. That would mean disaster. The position in the. New Hebrides Was going from bad to worse after all the work of the missionaries during the past 50 years. ‘ League o£ Nations doing anytneng to (ameliorate the conditions? 'Mr MASSEY': If this had been mandatory territory it would have been different. ■ Mr WILFORD: There is no dispute between the two countries. “No,” tho PRIME MINISTER replied. He added that the matter looked small from Europe, but it was not small as far as tho ■ natives were concerned. Britain had no more right to compel France to give her territory; than France had to compel Britain to do so. It would be a good thing, and it was his only suggestion, that from the next Imperial Conference the Australian and New Zealand representatives should personally visit Paris'and interview the French Government, in which ease some impression might be made. There would have to be compensation, but that.(could be arranged either in cash or in territory. It ought to bo done in the interests of humanity and in the interests of the natives. The attitude of the people .Who ought to know better was most disivjppuraging at the last conference. Mr WILFORD said there were hundreds of Islands in the .South Pacific just as valuable as the New Hebrides, and it Should be possible to make an exchange .with France. - Mr HOLLAND opposed Mr Wilford’s suggestion as one which would abolish one difficulty by creating another. The people of the New Hebrides were being shamefully Seated and every credit; was due to tho people of the Presbyterian Church for calling attention to the matter. There was involved the eternal question that arose when,.white people, irrespective of nationality, set out to exploit the islands occupied trimitrvo peoples. The demoralisation of the New Hebrides was not a whit worse than the degradation of the Indians in v E*iji, qhd a section of tho French people was ; .mo. worse than a section of the British. only real solution would be when we \ycjro .sufficiently developed to bo able to form a real League of Nations that would iq a position to take charge of backward islands and conserve tho interests of native people . rtMr -WILFORD said he did not suggest 'tfinb, the French could not manage as well ns the British. Having tho idea that they could he saw no objection to the French taking the mother island, i Why should dual control not be abolished without blaming either the French or the British? ‘ The report was then tabled. •FRUIT CONTROL BILL. The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE then moved that the House go into committee on tho Fruit Control Bill. In doing so' he -said the main feature of tho Bill .waft, the provision for the appointment of a. Fruit Export Control Board, and the control of fruit intended for export, also for the appointment of overseas agents. Provision was also made for the” control of jfVuit for local consumption. This part of ‘tffe Act was not to be operative in any ■provincial district until brought into force •by proclamation, and polls were to be taken • on the proposal to bring this part of the ■ ; Act into operation. The Bill dealt also ; jpyth the constitution and owners of local ’ 'control- - boards. There was provision for a levy on fruit intended for export, and on all fruit intended for sale or consumption in Now Zealand. The levy was to be pre- ■ scribed, by regulation, and was not to , csetted 3d a case. , • 'i -Nfr -SIDEY wanted to know why the insisted on dragging Otago into ' 'operation of tho Bill whan Otago did not - lifmtxo ; to -be brought under it. All the .Otago growers wanted was to be left to /manage their own affairs. ■’, -My WITTY Emitted that the BiJ had

boon improved by the committee, but he thought there was room for further improvement. particularly in the matter of the qualification for a vole in the election of a control board. Mr ISITT suggested that the several members who wore objecting to portions of the Bill should meet the Minister in an amicable conference when the House rose, and ho thought that an arrangement could be arrived at which would facilitate the passage of the Bill. Mr H AWKKiX gave the Bill general support. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. When the House resumed at 7.30 p.m. the Hon. Mr NOSWORTHY announced that during the dinner adjournment he had met the objecting members, and they had come to a mutual agreement that the Bill should go on in its present form, but as soon as the Bill became law and dominion control was carried any province would have the right to vole itself out of the Act if 70 per cent, of the orchardists in that province so desired. If. on the other l and, 60 per cent, of the orchadists in anv district declared at the poll that they desired to have local control their wishes would be given effect to. If the Bill were passed and experience proved that the amendments were required, he would oe pleased to amend it. next session to make the measure work more smoothly. Mr WITTY objected that the arrangement was that local control was to take effect on a petition, not on a poll, but the MINISTER explained (hat he had since been advised that a poll- was considered the more satisfactory method, and he appealed to members to give the measure a trial. The Hon. W. D. STEWART said that Otago’s objections were largely met by the compromise. Pools would not work satisfactorily if an attempt were made to. control (ho price on the world's market. The function of the pool was to see that produce was provided with proper transport, to control grading, and to regulate supplies. The efforts of the committee and of the conference led him to believe that it was possible to meet all reasonable objection. Mr WILFORD said he believed a good deal of the opposition to the Bill was due to misapprehension, and it would he found that most of their objections were groundless. He pointed out the difficulties experienced in shipping fruit, but contended that the board would bo able to make better terms with the big shipping companies than any individual shipper i could. Mr DICKSON (Chalmers) said the conference would do no good. Its result would simply prove to be Dead Sea fruit. Mr LANGSTONE said this was an ago of combination in industry, and the Bill would result in the elimination of waste. With better organised ion the fruit industry could be so regulated that all communities could receive ample and constant supplies. Mr HOLLAND said that the compromise arrived at was the most sensible thing to do. . It did not give everybody everything they desired, but it would.remove the deadlock. The Bill then went into committee. The MINISTER resisted all amendments except those necessary to carry out the compromise arrived at. These were made, and the Bill was reported with amendments. The Bill was read a third time .-.nd passed. CUSTOMS AMENDMENT. The Hon. Air STEWART moved the second reading of the Customs Amendment Bill, which confirms the recent reduction of 8d per lb on pipe tobacco. Mr M'COMBS urged that the time was ripe for the readjustment of the duty on hoots to assist the bootmaking industry, which was languishing. Mr SIDEY contended that some consideration should he given to encouraging body-making for motor (sirs in New Zealand by admitting British-made chassis free of duty. This system had been very successful in Australia. This view was supported by Mr LYSNAR and the Hon. D. BUDDO. Mr VEITCH suggested several directions in which the Customs tariff might be amended. He contended that Australia had derived more benefit from the reciprocal tariff than New Zealand had. The Hon. Mr STEWART said the question of duty on boots was one of the most controversial his department had to deal with, and nothing could be done this session. He agreed the! motor car bodymaking should be encouraged in the dornnon, but ho was not prepared to say at thed moment what was the best way of dong’ it. Ho understood that Australia was considering aliondoning its system of admitting a certain percentage of chassis to completed cars. His information concerning the Australian Treaty was that we were doing better thas Australia. Ho certainly had no complaint about it. The Bill was read a second time. PUBLIC WORKS AMENDMENT. The Hon. J. G. COATES moved the second rending of the Public Works Amendment Bill. He said that every local body in New Zealand had asked for the Bill in order that there might be some effective control of heavy traffic on the public roads. He therefore could not. delay the Bill by sending it to a committee, but he proposed, before the regulations were adopted, that they bo submitted to the carriers, who would subsequently meet the departmental officials and the Government, when ha hoped an agrrement would bo arrived at. The Minister explained in detail the provisions of the Bill, which, he said, were very comprehtinsive in so far as they affected motor lorries. This class of vehicle included every commercial vehicle carrying passengers and goods which, with its maximum load, exceeded two tons in weight. Power was given to make regulations by Order dn-Co;;ncil for the following purposes : (a) For the classification of motor lorries according to their weight and carrying capacity. (b) For the classification of all roads and streers in New Zealand with reference to their suitability for use by different classes of motor lorries. (c) For the issue of heavy traffic licenses for such vehicles by the authority 'controlling the roads. (d) Fixing the license fees payable for heavy traffic vehicles by reference to weight, carrying capacity, and tyres, the minimum fee to bo £5 and the maximum fee £75. (e) Defining the areas within tvhich license shall operate, and providing for an opportionment of the fees among the local authorities concerned. (f) Providing for the application by tho local authorities of the revenue derived from the license fees for road or street maintenance. (g) Fixing tho limits of tho speed for motor lorries .with reference to weight, carrying capacity, and,tyres. (It) Prescribing the minimum weight, and thickness of the tyres to be used on any class of .motor lorry. (i) Authorising local authorities to prohibit the use of motor lorries or any class of motor lorries on anv road or street they control during any specified period. (i) Providing for the appointment of officials empowered to stop any motor lorry, inspect its load, require its load to be weighed or measured, and require the removal of any load exceeding the prescribed maximum. (k) Providing fines not exceeding £2O for a breach of any such regulations. The regulations so made would not bo held to be invalid merely on the ground that the fees imposed were unreasonably high or that any condition contained in them was unduly restrictive. These regulations would be given a fair trial and if successful he thought they should be embodied in the Statute next year. The clause limiting the weight of motor lorries did not affect any lorry at present in use in New Zealand, on the water, or on order, but in future no lorry could be imported into New Zealand weighing more than six tons, or when loaded 10 tons. That was tho limit now imposed in all the States in America. Mr WILFORD said that he, on behalf of a largo number of carriers, protested against this measure being rushed through before they had any chance of making representations on the subject. Ho repeated his request to have the Bill referred to a special committee. Mr YOUNG said that as the regulation wore to bo submitted to the carriers before they were adopted his objections had been largely overcome. The Hon. D. 'BUDDO and Messrs SAVAGE and SULLIVAN all regretted the Minister’s decision not to refer the Bill to a committee. 1 The MINISTER in reply said he took the responsibility for pressing tho Bill through, because the pressure upon our roads owing to the heavy traffic was such that it must he controlled, otherwise tho roads would continue to carrv loads far in excess of what they were built to carry. The Bill was road a second time. NATIVE LAND RATING. Tho Native Land Rating Bill was brought down by Governor-General’s message, read n second time pro forma, and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN’S AMENDMENT. Tho Hon. G. J. ANDERSON moved the second reading of the Shipping and Seamen’s Amendment Bill, which, he said, gave the Government power to insist that ships trading to New Zealand must carry wireless apparatus for sending and receiving wireless messages. , Mr FRASER welcomed the Bill as a real

tep forward in the matter of saving human ife. 'This, however, did not exhaust the Kseossity for legislation amending the Shipting and Seamen’s Act, One thing they hould guard against was that, tho crews of >il burning ships were not reduced below he safety line and that ample hands should to employed to man the boats. Mr WILFORD stressed the necessity for ;eeing that the sending sets installed on ihips wqro of sufficient power to send a nessage beyond a few miles. Sending was juite a different, matter to receiving. Mr MONTEITII complained that too nuch discretion was left to the Minister md not sufficient was definitely laid down jv Parliament. . , , 'The MINISTER, in reply, said he .had ooked into the question of manning oil miming steamers and ho was advised by tis experts that they were carrying suffi■ient crews. Care would be taken to see hat. ships carried sending installations of mffidient power. The Bill was road a second time. PUBLIC WORKS BILL PASSED. The House then went into committee on the Public Works Amendment Bill. Fhe Bill was passed without amendment md was rend a third time and passed. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN’S BILL PASSED. The Shipping and Seamen’s Amendment Bill was passed with an amendment moved by the Minister increasing the fine tor a broach of the regulations relating 1 to wireless from £SO to £250. The Bill was also read a third time and passed. The House rose at 0.40 a.m.