THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3888, 18 September 1928, Page 27

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, September 11. The Council met at 2.30 pan.. PROPERTY LAW AMENDMENT BILL. The property Law Amendment Bill was reported from,, the Statutes Revision Committee with technical amendments, and put through its final stages and passed. THE NEW BANK. Moving tiie second reading of the London and New Zealand Bank Limited' Bill, Mr V. H. Reed pointed out that it would be necessary to refer it to a special committee, and he therefore suggested that discussion should be deferred until it- had come back. The Leader of the Council (Sir Francis Beil) submitted that surely the question should be considered by the Council as® to what should be the subject matter of the inquiry before the committee. It was the Council’s duty to inquire whether the setting up of a new bank was in the public interest. Personally, and not speaking on behalf of the Government, he questioned whether it was in the public interest. Was there any necessity dr real advantage in the establishment of a new bank ; He wanted to be sure that relevant issues would be considered Cau tioi. should be exercised in granting authority for adding to the circulation of promissory notes. It was not apparent that further banking facilities were needed in the Dominion. In conclusion, he emphasised that there was. nothing so dangerous to the community as a weak bank, and added that unless very differ ent evidence were adduced before the Council committee from what had been given before the committee of the House he would vote against the measure.

Sir James Allen endorsed Sir Francis Beil’s observations, and remarked on the Council’s serious responsibility in the matter. He believed there were sufficient banking facilities already, considering the population of the Dominion.

Mr E. Newman declared that it was not unreasonable that more financial institutions should be set up- to assist in the development of the country as its trade and population increased. He believed that the bank would find a splendid opening if it issued long-dated loans. Mr G "J. Garland said he would supEort the Bill if the bank was shown to e necessary. Sir William Hall-Jones said that every Safeguard should be provided to ensure that the business of the bank was conducted on a sound basis. , The Bill was read a second time and referred to a Committee of. Selection. SECOND READINGS. The Public Works Amendment Bill and the Post and Telegraph Bill were read a second time. The Council rose 4.45 p.m.

- WELLINGTON, September 12. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE. The Magistrates Courts Bill and Statutory Land Charges Registration Bi 1 1 were reported from the Statutes Revision Committee with amendments. BILLS PASSED. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, the Post and Bill, and the Magistrates Courts Bill were put through their final fetages and passed. The Council adjourned at 3.45 p.m. WELLINGTON, September 13. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. STATUTORY LAND CHARGES. The Statutory Land Charges Registration Bill was put through its final stages and passed with amendments made by the Statutes Revision Committee. _ REFERRED TO COMMITTEES. The Diyorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill and the Auctioneers Bill were rebeived from the House, read a first time and a second time pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee and the Stock Committee respectively. LOCAL BILLS. After giving a number of Local Bills their second reading the Council adjourned at 3.8 p.m. ,

WELLINGTON, September 14. I The Council met at 2.30 p.m. INSPECTION OF MACHINERY BILL. The Inspection of Machinery Bill was fceported from the Labour Bills Committee with amendments. LOCAL BILLS. The Council dealt in committee with 14 local Bills, which wqre passed. The Council adjourned at 3.30 p.m. until Wednesday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON, September 11. The* House met at 2.30 p.m. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. The Prime Minister laid on the table the annual Railways Statement and to meet the wishes of members the debate was postponed for a few days. A similar course was adopted with regard to the report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. The House then resumed the adjourned Jjebate ’on the report of the Education Department.

Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central), urged .that ample money should be placed at the disposal of the Ministry with which to replace old schools by new buildings Mr G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) drew attention to what he called the inadequacy of the boarding allowance made to country children attending town schools.

Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) asked the Minister to say what line of policy he proposed to adopt with regard to the large number of children being turned out annually from our technical schools. Mr D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) complained that too many amateur experts were being allowed to interfere with the edu cation system. There were, he said, too many fads and fancies, one of the most stupid of which was the recent movement to teach children 11 years of age secondary subjects. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) objected to the power given to the Minister to make regulations which overrode the statute law of the country. _ The Minister (Mr R. A. Wright), in reply, admitted that the classes in New Zealand were too large. He was striving to get them down to 40 scholars. When he had done that it might be possible to work for the ideal of 30 mentioned by Mr Fraser. Bound up with that was the remodelling of many of the schools. These buildings had very large rooms, and these rooms had to be made more suitable for smaller 'Classes. This was a work which he had in hand and he was pushing it on as fast as possible. So far as the junior high schools were concerned, he thought they provided an ideal system. The only question was one of cost. That had been the difficulty in the past, and it was a . difficulty still, as he was not going to launch out into a system unless the money was provided, because that simply meant that some other branch would have to be started. He was considering the recommendations of the Syllabus Revision Committee, which, if they were given effect to, would cost £BOO,OOO. Cabinet would be asked whether that sum could be provided. He reminded the member for Hurunui that the grant towards country children attending town scfiools was only a grant-in-aid and was not intended to cover the whole cost. He had not given much attention to the question as to what was to be done with boys and girls leaving school. He was mainly concerned with giving them the best possible education while they were at school. The other was, however, a live question, and he hoped with the evident improvement in trade and business that there would be less difficulty in placing young people after they had left school than had been the case during the last few years. The Minister justified the power to make drastic regulations as being a measure to meet an emergency. The Education Act, he said, was sometimes difficult to understand, and it sadly needed overhauling. He hoped to have done it this session, but had found it too big a task. He hoped it next session. In the meantime he did not entirely agree with the power to make such regulations, but in the present state of the Act it could not very well be avoided. When the House resumed in the evening Sir Joseph Ward took his seat for the first time this session. THE LICENSING BILL.

By Governor-General’s Message the Licensing Bill was brought down and read a first time. LOCAL SUMMER TIME. Mr E. P. Lee (Oamaru) brought up the report of the Special Committee on the Summer Time Bill. Eventually the report on. the Bill was adopted witfiout opposition, and the House rose at 1.9 a.m. WELLINGTON, September 12. The House met at 2.30 p.m. SUBSIDY TO PIG INDUSTRY. Replying to a question by Mr J. G. Eliott (Oroua), the Minister of Agriculture (Mr O. J. Hawken) said the question of the .pig subsidy and its distribu tion was under consideration, and so soon as a decision was arrived at he would make a statement to the House. PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

The Prime Minister laid on the table the aunual report of the Public Trust Office, which provoked a discussion lasting practically the whole of the afternoon. Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland East) said the institution was playing- no mean part in the development of the country as far as private mortgages were concerned. It was doing more for the primary industries than any other institution. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) devoted his attention to discussing what is known as “ the 1918 committee.” He said this body, which was a type of welfare league, had made attacks upon the Public Trrst Office, and was endeavouring to limit the activities of that office in business. The Prime Minister had attended a private meeting of the committee in March, and had expressed himself in favour of private enterprise in business. Mr Holland said this body had arranged for attacks on the Public Trust Office in the newspapers.

Other speakers were eulogistic of the work done by the Public Trust Office. The Prime Minister, in reply, said the 1918 Committee was composed of men who were not necessarily .Reform supporters. They were quite entitled to meet and consider -their position. They were also entitled to bring before f ,the Government grievances, if grievances existed. Personally, he was very glad

to have suggestions made to him, and he always welcomed “ them. The whole policy of the Labour Party was based on Socialism, and it was at that point the member of that party fell out with the 1918 committee. The best answer to the critics of the Public Trust Office were the figures published in the report,, which showed a marvellous increase in the business done. He paid a tribute to the energy of the Public Trustee, who had brought the office right up to date, so that it could render the public the best possible service. STATE ADVANCES DEPARTMENT.

The annual report of the State Advances Department was laid on the table, and was being discussed by .Mr M. J. Savage (Auckland West), who was arguing that the department was being starved, when the House rose at 5.30 p.m. MATRIMONIAL CAUSES BILL. Resuming at 7.30 p.m. the House went into committee on the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill as amended by the Statutes Revision Committee.--. As the Bill was a consolidating measure and involved little change in the law the clauses were passed without discussion. Mr H. G. R. Mason (Eden) asked if any relief could be given to a New Zealand girl who was married tc an American sailor when the American fleet was here and who promptly deserted her.

The Minister said that he was familiar with the case, but in it was involved the much larger question of the nationality of the wife which was not being dealt with in this Bill, and he could not see how anything could be done to relieve the hardship, of the case.

The remainder of the clauses were then agreed to.

AUCTIONEERS’ BILL. The Auctioneers’ Bill was next taken in its committee stage. This is also a consolidating measure, and it was passed unamended up to clause 31, which was struck out of the original Act by the Statutes Revision Committee. This clause provided 'that at sales of fruit, fish and vegetables every lot must be sold to the highest bidder, and an auctioneer could not refuse to accept any bid. At a meeting of the Statutes Revision Committee the auctioneers gave evidence that this clause was not operative. It had no value and was a dead letter, and for that reason the Statutes Revision Committee agreed to delete it from the Act.

Mr J; M'Conibs (Lyttelton) moved to reinstate it, contending that if auctioneers could refuse to accept any bid the vendors were at the mercy of the auctioneers’ ring of buyers. The committee discussed this clause for two hours and at 11 p.m. had arrived at no agreement.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) moved that the clause be reinstated amended as follows:—“At any auction sale of fish, shellfish, fruit, or vegetables, every lot shall, subject to the reserve of the vendor, be sold to the highest bidder, and it shall not be lawful for any auctioneer to refuse to accept a bid from any person present at the sale who is willing, or who states that he is willing, to pay cash for the goods on the fall of the hammer.”

Mr H. Atmore (Nelson) contended that it was impossible to fix a reserve on perishable products like fruit, etc. They must be sold, and only the market price could be got for them, but the grower did not know what the market price was, and could not fix a reserve. It was very difficult to provide a remedy against a dishonest auctioneer. Mr W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) said the amendment was not workable.' Fruit sold to-day was worth money to the grower, but if held till to-morrow the grower might have to pay to cart it away. It was wrong to suppose that auctioneers as a class were dishonest.

Mr J. M'Combs (Lyttelton) urged that the -clause did not compel the vendor to fix a reserve, but if he did it had to be respected. On the amendment being put a division was called, when the amendment was lost by 44 votes to 10. The Bill was then passed with the amendments made by the Statutes Revision Committee. Both Bills were then read a third time and passed. The Methodist Theological College. Edson Trust Extension Bill (Mr J. A. Lee) was read a third time without discussion and passed. DANGEROUS DRUGS. The Minister of Health (Mr J. A. Young) moved the second reading of the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Bill which, he explained, was designed to make more simple the laying of informations against persons accused of the use of dangerous drugs, notably opium, It was, he said, purely a machinery measure. The Bill was read a second time, and the House rose at 0.30 a.m. •

WELLINGTON, September 13. The House met at 2.30 p.m. CASH ON DELIVERY SYSTEM. The Industries and Commerce Committee reported on a number of petitions asking for die abolition of the cash on. delivery system, and recommended that they should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. HEAVY MOTOR VEHICLES TAXATION.

The committee also submitted its report on a number of petitions asking for relief in the matter of taxation on

heavy motor vehicles. The committee recommended that the petitions should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, atd expressed the view that the petitioners were entitled to some relief. Mr F. Waite (Clutha) said he disagreed with the finding of the committee, and had voted agaijist it. He considered that heavy vehicles were responsible for shattering the foundations of our roads, and causing local bodies a great deal of additional expence. Mr J. S. Dickson (Parnell) said he considered that the taxation should be taken off vehicles doing .ommercial work, and if additional money was required it should be obtained by additional taxation from costly motor cars, which did greater damage to the roads, and were used only for the pleasure of their owners. Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland West) contended that those engaged in heavy traffic were entitled to some relief. There was in the Main Highways Account on June 30 last an unexpended balance of nearly a million. If this money was not needed, why was it being collected? If it was collected, why was it not expended in times when there was so much unemployment?

Mr V. H. Potter (Roskill) described as “ most unjust ” the taxation now being levied on heavy traffic vehicles, but maintained that when the heavy traffic fees were imposed it was understood there was to be no petrol tax. Therefore those engaged in heavy traffic were entitled to some relief.

Mr D. Jones (Ellesmere) said that heavy traffic might not do much damage in the cities, but it certainly was doing enormous'' damage in the country districts where the roads were not built tor heavy traffic. If that was to go on, then the local bodies would have to expend millions of money in the reconstruction of their roads.

Mr H. G. R. Mason (Eden) said that the present heavy traffic fees were uneconomic and unfair, because they had no relation to the use made of the road. Mr C. E. Macmillan (Tauranga) disagreed with the finding of the committee. He said that heavy traffic did great damage, and if it did not pay. those engaged in it they would not continue in

it. Mr D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) contended that the time was approaching when there must be a limit on speed as well as on weight on country roads, which were suffering considerably as a result of all classes of motor traffic. Mr A. Harris (Waitemata) contended that local ratepayers paid mostly for the roads. Townspeople were making their own roads and were taxed 32 per cent, for the benefit of the country people on account of roads they rarely used. He objected to any section being singled out for special taxation. -Mr F. R. Bartram (Grey Lynn) stated that the motor vehicle owners put forward a very strong case which convinced him that they were taxed out of all proportion. The roading policy should not be a local matter, as it was of national concern.

Mr T. D. Burnett (Temuka) described the service rendered by a back-country .concern, and urged that it should not be taxed oh the same basis as the services competing directly with the railways. Motors which acted as railway feeders should certainly receive consideration..

Mr H. Atmore (Nelson) pointed out that local authorities had power to protect their roads from excessively heavy vehicles by classifying their roads. Sir John Luke said that the Government should readjust its taxation to relieve heavy vehicle owners without the, necessity of increasing the petrol tax. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr A. D. M’Leod) said there was some evidence given before the committee which he could hardly accept. For instance,it was said that motor taxation in New Zealand was the heaviest in the world. That he doubted. There were other statements made which he did not care to accept as facts without further' investigation. He did not urge hasty changes in connection with motor taxation which was a form of taxation in a state of flux, and would take time to find its level. He was satisfied that the chief difficulty of heavy lorries was not taxation, but was competition with lighter lorries which would always run heavier lorries off if taxed on the same basis. He did not advise any hasty changes. Mr H. Holland (Christchurch North, supported the report of the committee because he thought the bulk of the damage to the roads was done, not by heavy traffic, but by fast motors. Mr R. W. Smith (Waimarino) regretted the speech of the Minister of Industries and Commerce, as from it he feared there was little Chance of any relief being granted to the petitioners. Messrs W. Lee Martin (Raglan), J.

Hamilton- (Awarua), A. Hamilton (Wallace), and H. G. Dickie (Patea) disagreed with the finding of the committee, which was supported by Mr J. Savage (Auckland West). Mr W. J. Girling (Wairau), in reply, justified the committee’s finding, as the evidence heard showed conclusively that heavy vehicles were paying out of all proportion. The report was adopted. THE LICENSING BILL.

When the House resumed at 7.30 p.m. the Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Licensing Amendment Bill. The debate was carried on till 2 a.m., when the second reading was agreed to, and the House then rose.

WELLINGTON, Septebmer 14. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE ESTIMATES. The House immediately went into Committee of Supply to give further consideration to the Estimates. The votes for the Department of Industries and Commerce (£31,650), the Treasury (£38,086), and the Land and Income Tax Department (£62,258) were passed without discussion. The Stamp Duties vote (£94,158) was next considered. Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland East) asked why the Government had decided to issue no further lisanses to sell stamps. He said it was a great public convenience. The Minister of Finance (Air W. Downie Stewart), replying, said it had been found that the granting of a Commission on stamps was too costly. He understood that there would be no objection to people selling stamps, but no commission would be allowed. He agreed ( that it was a public convenience, and lie thought that the additional business it brought to stores and others would induce them to sell stamps without commission. Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) said that only 1 per cent, commission was allowed on the sale of stamps, and no risk to the Government was entailed. People had to pay for the stamps when they obtained them, and actually they were lending the money to the Government till the stamps were sold. He contended that 1 per cent, commission would not be as costly as the overhead expense incurred by the Government in selling the stamps. Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton) also protested against the refusal to grant further licenses.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) asked why a man in his constituency had to provide a bond of £IOO before he was permitted to sell stampe. The Minister of Finance, further replying, said that the position relating to the sale of stamps was under review. He was under the impression that it was considered that the sale of stamps of small denomination w’as uneconomic, and the departments concerned, while considering the granting of a limited number of permits to meet the public convenience, would no longer be able to allow commissions. He added that one of the objections to granting permits was that large firms obtained such licenses only for the purpose of being allowed the commission on stamps bought for their own use. The vote was then passed. The Customs vote (£118,573) was then considered. Mr M. J. Savage (Auckland West) protested against a large rebate in duty of £9OO on certain machinery granted to what he termed “ a powerful Reform journal ” on the ground that such machinery could not be economically produced within the Empire. He named a firm which, he contended, could procure British machinery of the type. Mr Downie Stewart replied that the subject had been investigated, and the very firm which Mr Savage quoted was one which, in a large number of cases, had imported such machinery from outside the Empire. It evidently considered that importing Empire machinery of this type was uneconomic. a The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) said that the firm would import machinery ordered by other firms. The whole position was that the firms wanted to save money, by sacrificing the interests of British industry. After a lengthy discussion, Mr Savage moved an amendment—“ That the Customs Estimate be reduced by £5 as an indication that the committee disapproves of the rebate granted.” On a division the amendment was defeated by 39 votes to 14, and the vote was agreed to. The committee then took into consideration the Education vote of £3.060,462. Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland "East) complained that only £lO had been voted for the purchase of New Zealand ensigns for use in the schools, of which only £1 was spent. “ Twenty shillings worth of patriotism,” was what he called it. The Minister of Education (Mr R. A. Wright), in reply, said that the hon. gentleman’s views on patriotism were quite refreshing, and he had no doubt that every member of the House would rejoice at this sinner who had repented, for there was a time when l.e seemed to have quite other views. The fact was that recently the department had purchased a number of ensigns in order that it might have them in hand, but'it was very seldom indeed it was ever asked for a free flag, as most of the schools bought their own. The discussion was proceeding when the House adjourned. When the House resumed at 7.30 p.m. discussion on the Education Estimates was continued. Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Ontral) complained of the size of school classes, which, he said, were still too large, and he hoped that the Minister would strive to have them reduced as fast as possible. He also "gave “ a great measure of praise ” to the correspondence schools carried on by the Education Department. He had examined the work done by those schools in the interests of die children in the backblocks far beyond the reach of any teacher, and the results were very satisfactory. He also complimented the department on the appointment of Mr Douglas JTayler as head >f the musical branch of our educational system. He had read many of his articles in an educational journal, and better articles “on music he had not read. ' Sir John Luke (Wellington North) anu Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) praised the work done by kindergart n schools, and said if the Minister asked Parlia* ment to increase the vote they felt sura the House would readily agree to it. Mr Wilford said he knew of no better upjft

in life than the work done in these schools, and anyone tired with the ceaseless round of things who visited one of these kindergartens and saw what was being done there would get a fresh gleam of hope and outlook which would give him a new start. The Minister, in reply, said the system of exchange teachers with other parts of tae Empire was doing good because it broadened the minds of the teachers, although he understood the teachers found there was not much they could learn from other parts in the practice of their profession. Mr Fraser then commented on the absence of the teachers’ right of appeal against non-appointment, and moved that the vote be reduced by £5 as an indication that this right should be given. On division this amendment was defeated by 29 votes to 12.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) drew’ attention to the fact that while children travelling three miles to school received some concession, those travelling more or less than three miles received no such concession. The vote was then passed., On the Department of Labour vote, £60,295, Mr M. J. Savage (Auckland West) said that there w’ere 800 unemployed in Auckland, and he wanted to know what the Minister was going to do about it. The Minister said he would set inquiries afoot and see what could be done. The vote was passed. The National Provident Fund vote, £25,447, was also passed. The External Affairs vote, £39*,743, was next submitted to a committee. The Leader of the Opposition pointed out that taxation in Samoa had fallen by £15,403. He wanted to know why. He also complained that the whole of the Government printing in Samoa w’as given to the Samoan Times office, when there was another printing office in Apia. Why? When 400 Chinese were repatriated 464 new coolies were indentured. He understod that the policy was to get rid of the Chinese, instead of increasing them. He suggested some conciliatory arrangement should be made with the Samoan people so that the mandate could be readministered in such a way that all the parties would work together amicably. Mr Coates, as Minister of External Affairs, said that, the control of the Government in Samoa was entirely in the hands of the Administrator. He was to use his judgment entirely as to what he was to do. For that reason he supposed that the printing was done at the office of the Samoa Times. It had always been done there, and he had no desire to dictate to the Administrator in such a matter. There were those m Samoa who were opposed to a normal state of Government as it existed, but in his opinion there had been a definite improvement, and he thought the Government . would be able to collect all outstanding taxation. In regard to coolies, he said it was not the policy of the Government to keep Chinese in Samoa for a longer period than six years. In 1914 there were 3500 Chinese in Samoa, in 1922 there, were 946, and in 1928 there were 935. Mr M. J. Savage (Auckland West) raised a question as to the cause of the failure of the refrigerating machinery on the steamer Maui Pomare. Mi Coates said the cause was not yet clear, but two- experts, as well as ordinary engineers, had gone with her on the present trip, and it was not expectea there would be a recurrence of the trouble.

The vote was passed. . nT! 10 Native Land Settlement vote (£ol0o) Native Trust (£13,541), lubhc Trust Office (£242,593), Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement account (£40,000),. and Lands for Settlement account (£3000), were all passed without discussion. Progress was reported and the House rose at 10.15 p.m. til! 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.