PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22709, 23 October 1935, Page 15

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

NOTES FROM PRESS GALLERY iFrom Oue Pabuamentab? Reporter) WELLINGTON, October 22. INVESTMENT EXECUTIVE TRUST ASSETS The reason for the prolonged delay in distributing the assets of the Investment Executive Trust was sought by Mr R. A. Wright ' in an urgent question addressed to the Prime Minister, Mr G. W. Forbes, in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Wright said it was now 17 months since the bondholders had had any return from the money invested, and in consequence they were suffering considerable hardship. Mr Forbes, in reply, said that to ascertain the position of various companies comprised in the group had been a work of great magnitude. The Public Trustee was now in a position to proceed with the liquidation, but as a number of de benture-holders had approached the Supreme Court with a reorganisation scheme, until such action had been dealt with by the court the Public Trustee was unable to proceed with the realisation of the assets. SINGLE MEN AND FARM HOLDINGS The request that single men in developmental camps should be given the same opportunity of acquiring a farm holding as that at present extended to married men, was made by Mr W. J. Broadfoot in a question which he asked the Minister of Lands, Sir Alfred Ran som, in the House of Representatives to-day. Many of the single men, said Mr Broadfoot, had done excellent work and had shown great aptitude. Sir Alfred said that in the camps already established men were engaged on the definite understanding that married men would have preference in the allocation of sections. That undertaking must be carried out. The Small Farms Board, however, was prepared to give single men opportunities of acquiring sections under the extended scheme in the King Country for the salvaging of Cro»vn securities. NEW POST OFFICE Cabinet has approved of the building of a new post office at Queenstowu and a new post office and postmaster's dwelling at Omakau. Advice to this effect was received by Mr W. A. Bodkin to-day from the Postmaster-general, Mr A. Hamilton. The Quecnstown office has been in use since 1895. The post office at Omakau is not an old one but the business with which it is required to deal has grown to such an extent during the past few years that a new building has been found necessary. PENSIONS BILLS Minor amendments to the War Pensions Amendment Bill and the War Veterans Allowance: Bill were introduced in the House of Representatives to-uight and added to the legislation. Their object is to make the pensions and allowances payable on the first day of the month of application instead of on the first day of the month in which the applications are granted. This concession was agreed to by the Minister of Pensions, Mr J. G. Cobbe, when the Bills were before the House. Another amendment to the War Veterans Bill makes provision for the payment of the allowance to the wife of a veteran living apart from her husband provided the Pensions Board is satisfied that she has good reason for doing so. CONVENIENCE OF MOTORISTS The construction of cattle stops in conjunction with gates on roads in sparsely

populated districts or where a road ia difficult to fence will be authorised by the Public Works Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives to-night. The gates will still be available to stock or horse traffic, but motor traffic will be able to use the cattle stops, with added convenience to motorists. JUDICATURE AMENDMENT BILL The making permanent of the appointment of Mr Justice Northcroft as a, judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand is the object of the principal pro-' vision|pf the Judicature Amendment Bill, which was committed and put through its final stages in the House of Representatives to-night. Moving the second reading of the Bill, the Prime Minister, Mr G. W. Forbes, said it was laid down in the principal Act that there should be eight judges and the Chief Justice. The appointment of Mr Justice Johnston to the Court of Review of Mortgagors' Liabilities had made a vacancy on the Supreme Court Bench, and Mr Justice Northcroft had been appointed temporarily to fill that vacancy. It was not desirable, however, that his appoint, ment should be a temporary one any longer than was absolutely necessary, and provision had been made in the Bill to overcome that position. Mr Forbes explained that the Bill provided also for six judges to sit in one of the divisions of the Court of Appeal when available. The Bill was passed without discussion. CONTROL OF AERODROMES The importance of aviation development to New Zealand is recognised in the Public Works Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives to-night and read a first time. The principal section of the Bill authorises the Government and the local authorities to take or otherwise acquire under the provisions of the Public Works Act any area of land required for an aerodrome. The Minister of Public Works or the local authority controlling the aerodrome will be empowered by public notice to fix the maximum height of buildings and trees in the vicinity of aerodromes and to order the removal or lowering of trees and buildings within two months of the service of the notice. The Minister will be authorised to direct the local authority to serve such notice. The term " local authority " as it applies to the Bill will include an aviation authority recognised under the Local Authorities Empowering (Aviation Encouragement) Act of 1929. The owner of a property affected by the Bill will have the right of appeal to a magistrate, and compensation must be paid for losa or damage.