PARLIAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22137, 15 December 1933, Page 12

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS / BE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (Peb United Press. Association.) WELLINGTON, December 14. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 l>.m. . , A machinery amendment was included in the Companies Bill, which was put through its remaining stages and passed. TRADE WITH BELGIUM. The Leader of the Council, Mr R. Masters, moving the second reading of the Trade Arrangement (New Zealand and Belgium) Rill, said it was desirable that the Dominion should extend her markets in order that she might dispose of her surplus products. It was hoped that the treaty would be enlarged in the future to the benefit of both countries. Mr J. A. Hanan said it was essential for economic recovery that trade barriers 'should be removed and currencies and exchanges stabilised. The Bill was read a second time, put through its remaining stages, and passed. POPULATION PROBLEMS.

i Sir William Hall-Jones, speaking to the second reading of the Immigration Restriction Amendment Bill, said he would like to see a larger population in the Dominion, especially in view of the fact that halt the population of the world was in Asia. Mr Masters'said the country’s population was giving him concerns He had been particularly impressed by the fact that there would be 6200 fewer children in the schools in two years’ time than there were to-day. , ... - . The Bill was read a second time, put through its remaining stages, and passed. TRUSTEES AMENDMENT BILL. The Trustees Amendment Bill was put through all stages and passed. The Council rose at 4.55 p.m. until tomorrow.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House of Representatives met at 5.30 p.m. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Mr C. L. Carr •(Timaru) was granted three days’ leave o;E absence on account ot V f . MORTGAGORS AND TENANTS RELIEF. >- The Mortgagors and Tenants Relief Bill and the Rating Amendment Bill were introduced by Governor-General's Message and read a first time. The Minister of Justice (Mr J. O. Cdbbe), explaining the former measure, said it was mainly a Consolidating BU*, but it contained some new provisions, the Principal of which dealt with stock niwtgages and made provision for a.pooling system. It had been found in the majority of cases that the stock mortgagees had acted very fairly, but there had been spine instances in which this had not been so, and it was deemed necessary to provide further \ protection for those who had given mdrtgages over their stock. ine Minister ’said, that provision was also made for application to the court to reopen cases in which it could be.shdwn that a mortgagor was in a position to nay, for instance, as ,the result of r ? ce Ing a legacy. '' The Bill extended the existing legislation for two \ years. Continuing, Mr Cobbe said that 6900 cases had been dealt with under the Mortgagors Relief 6 legislation, and it was reasonable /to claim that no other measure in th last 20 or ?0 years had been of as great be Mr fi W. J. Poison (Stratford) said he welcomed" the section dealing -with .stock mortgages, which was .highly desirable 2nd •necessary, but he. considered that power should also be given, for a readjustment of vendor mortgages. The Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

v RATES ON NATIVE LANDS. The Native Minister (Sir Apirana .Ngata), explaining the Rating Amendment Bill, said it gave effect to the report of the Special Committee on Native land rating which hadbeen presented to the House that day. -The most important provision was that which would enable focal bodies to collect some portion of the rates through realisation on, the produce ° f The Bill was read a second time and • referred to' the Native Affairs Committee. • V <:■

AMENDMENTS ACCEPTED. The House agreed to the amendments made by the Legislative Conned m the Transport Law Amendment Bui, the Victoria University College Bill, and the Canterbury University College BUI.

BILLS REPORTED. The following Bills were reported from the Lands Committee without amendment: -—The Coal Mines Amendment Bill; the Whakatane Harbour Board Vesting Bilk the Bluff Harbour Board and Bluff Borough Council Empowering Bill, and the Napier Harbour . Board and Napier Borough Enabling Bill. , The Dairy Industry Amendment Bill was reported from the Agricultural aud Pastoral Committee without amendment. NATIVE LANDS INQUIRY.

Mr J. A Nash (Palmerston) presented the report of the Public Accounts Committee respecting the allegations maqe by the Controller and Auditor-general (Mr G. F. C. Campbell) concerning the administration of the Treasury Department and the Native Department. The text of the report and a summary of the discussion which took place on it will be found elsewhere in this issue. LONDON INTEREST PAYMENTS. The Committee' stage of the Finance Bill was 'commenced, but was held up by opposition to the compulsory provision for payment in sterling of interest on local body securities issued in London. Progress was reported when the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.— EVENING SESSION The whole of the evening session was devoted to a discussion of the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the administration of the Native Affairs 13epartment. The debate was still in progress when the Telegraph Office closed at 2 a.m. .