PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22136, 14 December 1933, Page 13

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

NOTES FROM THE PRESS . GALLERY (Fbom Ooa Pabliamentaby Repoetes.) WELLINGTON, December 13. REVALUATION OF LAND. During the last five years 64 per cent, of the cities, boroughs, and counties of New Zealand have been revalued. Since 1920 the reductions in the unimproved value of counties have amounted to, £37,500,000, representing a decline of IGJ per cent. These figures were quoted by the Minister of Lands (Mr E. A. Ransom) when he replied in the House of Representatives to-night to critics of the Valuation Department. Mr Ransom said he thought that since someauthorities had not sought valuations a reasonable number of districts l"’d been dealt with in recent years. He agreed that the operation of section 45 of the Valuation of Land Act was affecting local bodies very seriously, arid said it was proposed to amend this section in a way which he thought would be acceptable to the House. The Minister mentioned that tinder the provisions of this section he had recently made an attempt to secure two properties at the owners’ own valuations, but as soon as he took action their demands for a reduction in the valuations were quickly withdrawn. Amending legislation, ,he said, was proposed to avoid the rush of applications for revaluation which customarily came in at the end of March. THE MAUI POMARB. “The Government steamer Maul Pomare is working now better than ever and is likely this year to pay more than expenses,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Forbes, in the House to-night. ■ The matter was raised' during the discussion on the Estimates for the Department of External Affairs by Mr Sullivan, who asked if the Maui, Pomare was working efficiently. “Quite satisfactorily,” replied the Prime ‘Minister. “It is doing better to-day than ever it did. We hope that at the end of the year, instead of losing, it will be able tp pay working-expenses and a little bit more, for the , first time in its history.” . THE PRICE OF BANANAS, '.The request to the Prime Minister, Mr G. W. Forbes, to. protect the people of New Zealand against exploitation by an alleged monopoly, in Sampan bananas Avas repeated in the House to-night by Mr D, G. Sullivan. • Mr Sullivan said he was dissatisfied with the method; of disposing of these bananas in the South Island, The crop Avas sold to one tenderer who had virtual control of tho :whole; of the New Zealand market. The baiianaa vrere brought to New Zealand in a state-OAvned vessel.

The Prime Minister replied that in some years the successful tenderers were able to make money and in others they suffered losses. The greater part of the fruit was put up to auction and so it could not he said there was exploitation. Samoan bananas had to compete against Cook, and Niue Island bananas. Tlie prices of bananas to-day, he claimed, were as reasonable as they had ever been in the history of the country. The Maui Pomare had been able to carry them successfully now for a long period and they were hoping that would continue. This time there had been more competition than usual for the tenders and the prices were higher so - that the natives should get a little more for their fruit. , ", '