PARLIAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22709, 23 October 1935, Page 10

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (Pee United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 22. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. RAIL CARS Replying to Mr Vincent Ward, the Leader of the Council, Mr R. Masters, said that under the Railways Department's rail car proposals it was intended to utilise rail cars between Wellington and Upper Hutt for one return trip each morning, afternoon, and evening in lieu of steam services. No alteration in fares was coutemplated. EXPORT OF TIMBER On the second reading debate on the Products Export Amendment Bill Sir Francis Bell criticised the Government for allowing the export of timber, pointing out that serious effects would follow from the denudation of New Zealand's timber supplies. His remarks did not apply to Southland beech, but to other timbers —rimu, totara, and white pine. Reviewing past history, Sir Francis said that the National Government and the Massey Government adopted the forest conservation policy. No limitation was placed on cutting timber so long as the mills cut for the people of New Zealand. The regulations were repealed in the last days of the Coates Government, and the repeal was a mistake. If the Bill raised the standard of the timber exported it would increase the demand, and he urged the Government to examine the position. Sir James Allen pointed out that export was not prohibited at present, and the passing of the Bill would not prohibit it. The measure provided that timber should be of one grade. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes said he was in sympathy with Sir Francis Bell. Millions of acres of timber had been destroyed, and if there was free export the amount left would be quickly used. Mr D. Buddo favoured the restriction of export of building timber. Mr E. R. Davis said the Bill really provided what Sir Francis Bell was asking for, as it would restrict export. Mr T. Bloodworth also thought the Bill would restrict export. He would like to see timber conserved. Mr G. J. Anderson said that the good work Sir Francis Bell and others had done had been modified to a great extent by the troubles of the slump. No doubt pressure had been brought to bear by millers on the Government to get export renewed. Mr Masters said that £2OOO was on this year's Estimates for the conservation and rejuvenation of the kauri forests. There was not the same necessity to stop the export of Southland beech as to stop the export of other timbers. The export of timber was not prohibited in New Zealand, but- there was power under the Bill to do so by regulation. It was possible that arguments put forward by the Council would carry a certain'amount of weight with the Government in giving consideration as to whether prohibition should take place on the export of certain typeß of timber. The Bill was passed. SMALL FARMS BILL The Small Farms (Relief of Unemployment) Amendment Bill was passed. ALSATIAN DOG BILL Amendments had been made in the Alsatian Dog Bill by the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee. The compulsory sterilisation provisions had been deleted and replaced by a clause making the keeper of an unregistered dog liable to a fine of £SO. The registration fee was altered from £lO to £5. The control of dogs was still left to the local authorities and the muzzling provision was retained. The Council rose at 5.10 p.m. BUSY DAY IN THE HOUSE NINE MEASURES ENACTED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, October 22. There was plenty of variety in the subjects discussed by members of the House of Representatives to-day, when good progress was made with the Order Paper. Nine Bills were put through all their stages and passed. They were the Coal Mines Amendment Bill, the Urban Farm Land Rating Amendment Bill, the Immigration Restriction Amendment Bill, the Administration Amendment Bill, the Rent Restriction Amendment Bill, the Colonial Light Dues Amendment Bill, the Whaling Industry Bill, the Law Practitioners Amendment Bill, and the Judicature Amendment Bill. Two new Bills were introduced by Governor-General's Message at the commencement of the evening sitting, a Public Works Amendment Bill and a Land Laws Amendment Bill. In accordance with the undertaking given when the War Pensions Amendment Bill and the War Veterans' Allowances Bill were in Committee amendments were introduced and agreed to providing that pensions should be payable from the first day of the month m which the application was made instead of the first day of the month in which the application was granted. One amendment permits the payment of an allowance to the wife of a veteran who is living apart from her husband if the War Pensions Board is satisfied that she has good cause for doing so. The House rose at 10.20 p.m.