N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15747, 11 February 1922, Page 9

N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

SESSION NfiARINO- AK END

(Por Press Association)

WELLINGTON, last night. In the House further amendments to the Finance Bill were introduced.

The Hon. Mr Lee reported that the managers from the Hou.se> had failed to agree with the managers from the Legislative Council at a conference on the Divorce Bill. He moved that fresh managers be appointed and another conference bo asked for. This was agreed to.

The Hon. Mr Lee formally moved llio second reading of the Expiring Powers Continuance Bill, which was agreed to on the voices. The Hon. Mr Coates moved the second reading of the Electric Power Boards Amendment Bill, which gave boards authority to exclude from the payment of excess rates areas which, in their discretion, derived no benefit from the reticulation scheme. The Bill also made other machinery amendments of the original Act.

Mr Nash suggested that.' local bodies should he given power to borrow on the London market for the purposes of tho Act. At present it was practically impossible to get money within the. Dominion.

Mr Statharn urged that some form of appeal should he given to areas dissatisfied with the decisions of boards to include them in the rating area.

In his reply, the Minister said that he would go into the question of a consolidated loan for local bodies and, if Cabinet approved, lie would introduce legislation next session. He was under the impression that some form of appeal as suggested by Mr Statharn was provided in the original Act. The Bill was read a second time. In committee Mr Young moved a new clause empowering Electric Power Boards to purchase land to provide housing for employees.

"The Minister said that he was sympathetic and would include such a clause in Iho amending Act next session and, on that assurance, tho clause was withdrawn.

The Bill was reported without amendment, read a third 1 time and passed. The Expiring Powers Continuance Bill was also reported from committee unamended and read a third timo and passed. Mr Veitch advocated something begin done to make kauri timber available to the pcopde immediately. He approved a proposal for limiting pensions under the superanuatinon scheme to £3OO and also the extension of superannuation benefits to public servants who have been retrenchel. He urged a close investigation of effect of clause 35 (increasing rating l powers of town boards) so that no unfair interference -with! their functions should accrue where rating was on unimproved values. Mr Wright urged the reversion of the decision to close the Education Department's stores, believing it false economy to do so. Mr Masters criticised tho amount of money spent in travelling expenses of public servants. Mr McCombs said the fanners could only get assistance through legislation and the House should' not rise till such relief was given, though he feared even legislation would) not save some farmers. He suggested protection to men in difficulties should Iks given for a limited period. Dr. Newman approved power being taken to borrow an additional million, which should be used in aid of public works.

Mr Smith (Taranaki) urged further power should bo taken than was given to prevent mortgages being foreclosed on dairy farmers.

The Premier, in reply, said that ho had been doing his l>est to aid dairy farmer's, but the difficulty was the Government was not able to lend money to these people, nor could he think of any legislation that would relieve them, but what ho intended to do was to set tip a commission to visit the districts affected to find out what was tho best course to pursue. He defended the raising of money by Treasury Bills, because money could bo got cheaply by this means. He had recently raised fundi, that way at from M to 5 per cent. He was not afraid of the finance of this year, but what he had to guard against was the financo of next year. As to loans he had no intention of going anv. where but to Britain for money. He would not go to America for any monev. Returning to the question of expenditure, he said that those who accused the Government of extravagance always/ selected the quarter of the year in which a large number of accounts came to charge and when expenditure necessarily was heavier. But this quarter members would find the Supplementary Estimates had been considerably reduced and would amount only to .about £335,C00 as against over two millions last year. Clause 19 was necessary because there was sure lo be a financial difficulty next year and extra money might be required for various purposes, wheat transactions among others, and as there was likely to be a serious falling off in the income tax this provision was all tho more necessary. The second reading was agreed to and the House went into committee on the Bill. The Premier moved the second reading of the Christchurch Drainage Amendment Bill, which, he explained, was a, local Bill. Several members protested ;> -ninst a local Bill being brought down by this method, which was quite contrary to the Standing Orders and challenged the motion by calling for a division which resulted in the motion being carried by 30 to 15. The Bill was read a second timo and the House went into committee on the measure. Messrs McLeod, Glenn and Hawken protested against the principle contained in the Bill, under which electors, not ratepayers, had a right to vote at the poll for raising loans. The Bill was reported without amendment and was read' a third time and passed and the House rose. FINANCE BILL. Mr Massey moved the second reading of the Finance Bill. He explained that the Bill was largely a machinery Bill, and might be called a financial washingup Bill. He explained the measure clause by clause, the principal provision of which was clause 10, which proposed the exemption from gift duty of certain classes of voluntary discharges of mortgage debts. This was intended to give relief to certain dairy farmers who were able to make adjustments of mortgages with mortgagees. Clause 12 provided that Customs duties collected on motor tyres be paid into the Main Highways account. Clause 27 empowered tho Government to pay into the Samoan Treasury certain sums by way of loan. The position was that the fall in prices of commodities prevented revenue equallin.tr the expenditure .and the Government had to assist temporarily the local Treasury.

Clause 29, dealt with cases of certain civil servants, who were retrenched on the eve of normal retirement and who were entitled to receive superannuation. Section 35 pave increased rating powers to town boards and clause 48 empowered the Senate of the New Zealand University to grant degrees to certain students at Duntroon military college in recognition, of their education attainments'. »

In commenting on the Bill Mr Wilford stroncdy criticised clause 19, giving the, Oovernment power to borrow an additional million on the security of Treasury Hills. He said that in days gone bv the expenditure of £250,000 was most keenly scrutinised ajid watched with the

greatest care, but» to-day, a, million was askeel for in a Most light and any fashion. He personally was ,not going to agree to tho proposal in this clause, unless there was the fullest information regarding the necessity for it. ■Mr Sidey complained' that, members were asked to consider important Bills like this a few minutes alter they were circulated. Members could not do adequate justice to the subjects concerned. Coming to the Bill, he said that our finance was getting tho upper hand of us. We wero running amok and he, in common with the Leader of the Opposition, would contest clause 19. The Hon. Mr lianan said tho lime had arrived when wo should have a clear and comprehensive statement of the finances of tho country.

Mr Statharn said the House was certainly entitled to know more about the circumstances under which the House was asked to give the Government power to raise an additional million pounds.

In committee the House passed the Financo Bill with minor amendments moved by the Premier.

On resuming, tho House agreed to tho amendments.

On the third reading, Mr Wilford referred to the difficulty the Premier must have in mastering every detail of these highly technical Bills, and suggested that some of them might bo handed over to one of tho four legal members* of Cabinet, who were not so overworked as the Premier.

Mr Massey said he accepted the suggestion in a. good spirit, but the difficulty was that ho could not divest himself of the responsibility in connection with the finances of the country. The Bill was read a third time and p a ssed.