PARLIAMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21146, 2 October 1930, Page 10

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS. % LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (Fes United Press Association.) ■ WELLINGTON, October 1. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. SPEED OF MOTOR VEHICLES. Mr D. Buddo asked the Government whether it would introduce legislation extending the present restrictions\on the speed of motor vehicles. The Leader of the Council (Mr R. Masters) said there was ample power at present under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1024. A re-draft of the regulations was ready for circulation to local bodies and others interested. The Government .was .fully alive to the seriousness of the traffic accident situation. A' BANKING MEASURE. The London and New Zealand Bank (Ltd.) Amendment Bill was reported from the Committee of Selection without amendment. ? FOREIGN MAGAZINES. Mr C. J. Carrington moved —“That In the opinion of the Council the Government should consider the question of limiting by means of duty the importation in bulk of - papers and periodicals of foreign origin, thereby conserving our national spirit and national ideals by assisting our own periodicals to exist by maintaining a wider circulation.” Mr Carrington said that New Zealand was being made the dumping ground for foreign magazines, and it was practically impossible for New Zealand magazines to keep going. Other members of the Council thought they should be very careful before placing any restriction on the importation of books which might mean knowledge to the people of the Dominion, Eventually Mr Carrington agreed to withdraw his motion. BILLS DEALT WITH. The National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum Bill and the Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill were referred'to the Statutes Revision Committee. , The New Zealand Institute. Amendment Bill and the Incorporated Societies ■ Amendment Bill were read a second . time. < ■ , The Council adjourned at 3.20 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day, • WOMEN JUSTICES OP THE PEACE. Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch - South) in a personal explanation, stated that during the consideration of the Justice Department estimates he had said that only members of the Victoria League could, under the Reform Administration, be appointed as women justices of the peace. He had found' on investigation that this was incorrect, and he regretted that the statement had been made. ■ PRICE OF PETROL. Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Waitomo) asked the Acting-Prime Minister whether he was aware that it was reported that the oil companies operating in New Zealand proposed to- increase the price of petrol py Id per gallon; and whether he would, in the event of such increase,' set up a committee of the House . to inquire into the difference between the prices charged in New Zealand and those in the United States.- • The Acting-Prime Minister (Mr E. A. Ransom) said the Government had mo information that an increase was contemplated, but it would give consideration to Mr Brdadfoot’s suggestion if an increase'took place. RAILWAY COMMISSION'S REPORT. Replying to the Leader of the Opposi- • tion (Mr J. G. Coates) the Acting-Prime ' Minister (Mr E. A. Ransom) said the Railway Commission’s report would be presented to the House to-morrow. SOLDIERS’ REHABILITATION ■ _ COMMISSION. The Acting-Prime Minister (Mr E. A. Ransom) said the report of the Soldiers’ Rehabilitation Commission would come up for discussion next week. Legislation would be introduced which, it was-hoped, would give effect to some of the commission’s recommendations, though at the present time it was not possible to deal entirely with these .'recommendations. ; : THE ARAPUNI WORKS, . ~The Acting Prime Minister (Mr E. A, Ransom) said the report of Professor Homell on ‘Arapuni was not yet in the hands of the Government, but he expected It to be available shortly, and he hoped to be able to present it to tho - House next week. SPECIAL RAILWAY COMMITTER In reply to a point raised by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr J. 6. Coates),’ the Acting Prime Minister (Mr E. A. Ransom) said it was a matter for the Special Railway Committee itself to decide when it would report back ‘o the Housed '' CRUELTY TO MONKEYS. Replying to Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon), the Minister of Health (Mr A. J. Stallworthy) said he was not aware that any application had been made to conduct monkey gland experiments in New Zealand. Mr Sullivan asked whether, in view of a menace to the community and the torture of the animals involved, the Minister would prevent sn'ch experiments being made. . < . Mr Stallworthy said he would have to investigate the position and ascertain what were the department’s powers in the matter. . WELLINGTON CITY AND SUBURBAN HIGHWAYS. - Mr C. H. Chapman (Wellington North) gave notice of intention to introduce the Wellington City and Suburban Highways and Hutt Road Amendment Bill. NATIVE AFFAIRS. ■ The Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment (Washing Up) Bill was introduced by GovernorGeneral’s message and read a first time. At the request of the Native Minister (Sir Apirana Ngata) the Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. COAL MINING INDUSTRY. Mr J. O’Brien (Westland) crew attention to the prospect of unemployment among coal miners on the West Coast through lack of orders, and asked whether the Government would take steps to prevent the importation of Australian coal. The Acting Prime Minister (Mr E. A. Ransom) said that nnder the terms of the tariff agreement between New Zealand and Australia a duty on Australian coal could not be imposed unless by mutual agreement between the Commonwealth and the Dominion, or until after the expiry of six months’ notice to the Commonwealth. The question of importation of coal was at present receiving the carefu' consideration of the Government. The Minister of Mines (Mr A. J. Murdoch), replying to the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr H. E. Holland), said the whole question of the coal mining industry was under consideration by the Government. The Railways Department had no orders placed for Newcastle coal, and at present was not contemplating euch orders. INSECTS IN TIMBER. The Acting Prime Minister (Mr E. A. Ransom), in reply to Mr W. E. Barnard jlNapier), said the question of the ore-

vention of the importation -of timber harbouring injurious insects, or subject to fungal attack, had been receiving attention for some time. The importance of the matter was fully appreciated, and efforts to find a satisfactory solution of the difficulty were being continued. POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANK. In reply to Mr W. E. Barnard, who drew attention to the growing increase of withdrawals over deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank, the Acting Prime Minister said that whilst it was not proposed to increase the interest rates oh deposits at present the Government was fully seized with the importance of the question. It was to be pointed out, however, that the Post Office Savings Bank deposits were at call, and from the point of view of security these deposits were in a different category from deposits lodged with finance companies, etc, . NEW ZEALAND PERMANENT FORCES. The Minister of Defence (Mr J. GCobbe), replying to Mr F. Waite (Clutba), said it was not the intention of the Government to discharge such officers and non-commissioned officers of the New Zealand Permanent Fordes as it could reasonably employ. Every encouragement was being given to officers and non-commissioned officers of the territorial force to continue their service voluntarily and maintain the organisation and esprit de corps of their units. ALLUVIAL GOLD DEPOSITS. The Minister of Mines (Mr A. J. Murdoch), replying to Mr J. O’Brien (Westland) , .said the unworked alluvial gold deposits in Westland were still being prospected by means of the Keystone drills owned by the Mines Department, which were hired out upon reasonable terms and conditions. In addition to that, the Government had decided to grant subsidies for the purpose of boring approved alluvial gold deposits. STANDARDISED CHEESE. In answer to a question submitted 6y Mr F. Waite (Clutha), the Minister of Agriculture (Mr A. J. Murdoch) said the position resulting from last year’s operations was that, while a proportion of the standardised cheese exported from New Zealand had been of good quality and acceptable to buyers, a good deal had not been up to the quality desired. The experience gained last season, coupled with a vqry evident desire on the part of the industry to raise the quality of the cheese output, was confidently expected to bring about better results during the coming season. COAL CARBONISATION. ' The 1 Acting Prime Minister informed Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon) that the recommendations of the Special Unemployment Committee were receiving earnest consideration, including the question of coal carbonisation, the importance of which was fully realised. , ; ' LICENSING ACT. In the .course of a reply to Mr W. E. Broadfoot (Waitomo), the Minister of Defence. .(Mr J. G. Cobbe) mentioned that it was not proposed to introduce any amendment to the licensing Act this session. TEN-SHILLING NOTES. Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) asked the Acting Prime Minister whether the Associated Banks had decided to withdraw or curtail the issue of 10a notes through the Post Office Savings Bank. . The Acting Prime Minister replied that the Post Office Savings Bank was not a commercial bank, and to use it for note-issuing purposes would be quite incompatible with its principles. He added that the whole question of note issue was being examined in a review of the banking system which was now being undertaken. ' Mr C. A Wilkinson (Egmont) asked whether, in view of the proposed curtailment of the circulation of the 10s notes, the Government would consider arranging with the" Imperial Mint authorities for a special issue of a silver coin suitable, for the Dominion’s requirements. He pointed out that this should be a very profitable transaction. Considering that an ounce of silver was worth to-day Is 6d, it would, when combined with, an alloy to the present coinage standardproduce coins to the face value of 10s. The Acting Prime Minister replied that the Government did not propose to take any line, of action that would have the effect of defeating its own taxation measures. However, the point raised, in so far as profits on silver coinage were concerned, would be looked into in connection with the general review of the banking and currency question at present being made. INDUSTRIAL LIFE OF DOMINION. Mr T. D. Burnett (Temuka) asked whether, seeing that all the authorities/ were agreed that the Dominion’s selling season would he opening shortly, with all our primary products at a lower level than last season’s closing prices, he would, immediately on the rising of Parliament, declare the country in a state of emergency and call representatives of all interests in the State to see if, by a round-table conference and conciliation, and the facing of facts, an amicable readjustment of the industrial life of the Dominion could not be effected. The Acting Prime Minister replied that there was no necessity to resort to the panic measures indicated by Mr Burnett. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SESSION. The House of Representatives resumed at 7.30 p.m. MAGISTRATE’S .COURT BILL. On the motion of Mr H. G. R. Mason (Auckland Suburbs), the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Magistrate’s Court Amendment Bill were agreed to. COMPANIES AMENDMENT BILL. The Companies Amendment Bill (Mr W., E. Barnard) was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. RATING AMENDMENT BILL. ‘The Rating Amendment Bill (Mr H. G. R, Mason) was considered in com mittee. Mr W. Downie Stewart (Dunedin West) asked what were the views of the Government on the Bill. He contended that it should not be left to the Opposition to undertake the responsibility of determining whether private members’ Bills were desirable or not. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr P. A. de la Perrelle) said the expert advice was to the effect that the Bill was in no way undesirable. On the contrary, it would to some extent eliminate administrative difficulties. Mr Barnard expressed regret that Mr Mason had imported into the Bill a new provision which would have the effect of taking away from property owners the right to relief from the payment of rates in the event of..a building being unoccupied for six months. He had no knowledge of any case in which a person had —as had been suggested—erected a small shack on a section for the purpose of avoiding the payment of rates on the ground that the building had been unoccupied for six months. Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) agreed with Mr Barnard that it was unfortunate the new provision had been included. Mr Mason remarked that the remainder of the ratepayers in a district would have to bear the consequence of granting such rebates to property owners. Other members expressed regret that Mr Mason had not left the Bill in its original form instead of seeking to include at a few moments’ notice an amendment taking away an important right relating to relief from rating.

A division was sought, when the amendment was put and it was defeated by 48 votes to 16. Mr Harris moved an amendment with the object of providing that districts in which the unimproved value system of rating was in operation should be exempt from the clause of the principal ’Act providing that half rates were chargeable for. buildings unoccupied for six months. The amendment was defeated by 41 votes to 17. The Bill was reported to the House with a minor amendment inserted at MiMason’s request, and was read a third time and passed. LOCAL ELECTIONS AND POLLS. The Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill (Mr H. G, E. Mason) was considered in committee. Mr Mason explained that the measure was purely a permissive one, and was designed to give local bodies the option of employing the “ X ” system of voting if they wished. The Bill was put through its remaining stages without amendment and passed. MEAT EXPORT CONTROL. The House then went into Committee to deal with the Meat Export Control Amendment Bill- (Mr W. D. Lysnar). A number of members criticised the Bill, maintaining that the producers generally did not desire changes in the method of electing the board. The discussion was interrupted by the rising of the -House at midnight till 2,30 to-morrow.