HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22066, 23 September 1933, Page 12

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

I. * . ' *. (Per United Press Association.) ■ ~ ' WELLINGTON, September 22. The House of Representatives met at 8 p.m. THE GAMING ACT. Further petitions asking for an amendment of- the Gaming Act were presented. RELIEF WORKERS, Mr A. S. Richards (Roskill) asked •whether the Minister of Employment (Mr A. Hamilton) would issue instructions to the relief employing authorities to provide the maximum of employment to all male unemployed whose wives were eligible for old-age pensions. He said that extreme hardships were being inflicted upon many homes because of the reduction in work and wages that was being made on account of the wife being given the old-age pension in part or in whole. Mr Hamilton said the extent to whicli the unemployed were relieved was governed by the amount of money going into the home. If such men were granted the same, scale of . relief as those whose wives were not in receipt of any income it would place them in a better position than other relief workers. B CLASS RADIO STATIONS. Mr F. Jones (Dunedin South) asked the Postmaster-general (Mr A. Hamilton) whether the Government intended to restrict or cancel the right of B class stations to broadcast sponsored programmes. Mr Hamilon said licenses to, operate B class broadcasting stations were issued from April 1 each year for a period of 12 months only, and no alterations would be made during that period. < FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were read a first time: —Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) (Mr J. G. Cobbe) ; Banks Indemnity (Exchange) Repeal (Mr W. A. Veitch); New Plymouth Airport (Mr S. G. Smith); Bay of Plenty Licensing Committee Enabling (Mr K. S. Williams) ; Meat Export Control Amendment (Mr W. J. Poison); School Committees Enabling (Mr R. M‘Keen); British Nationality and Status of Aliens in New Zealand (Mr P. Fraser); Distress and Replevin Amendment (Mr P. Fraser). BANKS INDEMNITY REPEAL BILL. Introducing the Banks Indemnity (Exchange) Repeal Bill, Mr Veitch said it simply proposed to repeal last session’s legislation which empowered the Government to compensate the banks for any losses they might suffer through the compulsory raising of the exchange rate. He had voted against the original legislation, and to-day he was convinced that as a result of the raising of the exchange conditions had ‘developed which had proved more harmful than anyone had predicted. The effect of the Government’s class-conscious attitude had been devastating to the industrial, commercial, and wage and salary elements, and the benefits which it had been alleged would accrue to the farming community had been largely imaginary. The high exchange had benefited only that section which was better described as the large landowner. There were hundreds of people being driven from their homes by economic conditions which were largely due to the high rate of exchange. Mr F. Langstone (Waimarino) said that Parliament had had no say in the fixing of the rate of exchange, and he alleged that the action of the Government had allowed unlimited speculation by “ those in the know.” Farmers had now freely admitted that the alteration had not benefited them. Mr Poison; Nonsense.

Mr A, Harris (Waiteraata) invited the Government to sponsor the Bill and repair the wrong it had done earlier in the year. History had proved every word of denunciation which had been delivered against the Governments policy. The Administration would lose nothing in prestige if it admitted its mistake and took action to remedy it. Incalculable harm had been done to the city dwellers and the benefits claimed for the rural section had not been realised. Commercial development had been paralysed to a large extent, and a harsh brake had been applied to importations, with the consequent loss of Customs revenue. Mr R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) commented on the silence of the supporters of the high exchange policy and asked the Minister of Finance to tell the House what would be the cost of the indemnity to the country.

Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon) said that what had happened in the ease of the Southland Power Board was an indication of the grave difficulties that had been created for local bodies through tho depreciation of tho currency in the interests of one particular section of the community. -The Government had intimated that it would introduce legislation compelling the Southland Power Board to pay. It would be interesting to see bow it would do it. While the Christchurch City Council had met its obligations in sterling because it desired to play the game with the people from whom it had borrowed money, members at the same time resented the additional debt service cost they had to meet through the Government’s high exchange policy. Mr Sullivan said that if a referendum were taken 90 per cent, of the votes would be against the Government’s, attitude. Mr Fraser said that if the Government members who were supporting the measure were sincere they should vote the Government out at the first opportunity. Mr A. J. Stallworthy (Eden) said the raising of the exchange rate had cost Auckland metropolitan local bodies in one year in interest and capital charges' the sum of £200,000. Mr Carr said the Government’s action had been an attempt to deal with effects instead of causes.

Mr D. M’Dougall (Mataura) said that the Southland Power Board was prepared to honour its pledges. Every debenture it had issued stated that the interest would be paid in New Zealand pounds and the board would pay as it had promised. The Government had deflated the currency but that was not the board’s fault. He hoped the Minister of Finance did not think his telegram had frightened the people of Southland. “They are hard to frighten down there,” he added. Mr R. Semple (Wellington East) said he had not met one farmer who claimed any benefit from the high exchange rate.

The Bill was read a first time on the voices and the House rose at 5.15 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. The Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes.) said that tributes to deceased legislators would then be paid and the Address-in-Reply debate would be initiated in the evening.