PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 19657, 6 October 1922, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October The Legislative Council met to-dif 2.30. COAL MINES BILL The Coal Mines Amendment Bill was reported without amendment, and the standing orders were suspended to allow the measure to pass through all stages, the Leader of the Council remarking that, its provisions were urgently required. Replying to discussion, SIR WILLIAM FRASEa said he felt sure that the Government importation of coal had taught the miners a lesson they would not soon forget. The Bill was passed without amendment. FIRE BLIGHT BILL The Fire Blight Bill was passed with an amendment making it clear that no prosecution should be instituted except by an inspector under the principal Act. SIR WILLIAM FRASER said that half measures were useless in contending with the fire blight menace. Every endeavour • would be made to see that the Act was administered without undue oppression. BILLS PASSED The following Bills were passed: Hauraki Plains Amendment, Canterbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College Amendment.

The second reading of the Auckland City and Hospital Board Empowering Bill and the Invercargill Corporation Empowering Bill was agreed to.. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30. BAPTIST UNION BILL The PREMIER gave notice of his intention to introduce the Baptist Union Incorporation Bill. MONDAY SITTINGS The PREMIER moved that on and after ,Monday and for the remainder of the session the House meet for the transaction of business on Mondays at 7.30. The motion was agreed to. THE SAMOAN REPORT The PREMIER intimated that the business next Monday night would be the discussion on the Samoan report. THE BOARD OF TRADE Replying to Mr R. McCallum (Wairau) the HON. E. P. LEE said he was referring to the Cabinet the question of appointing a successor to Mr W. G. McDonald, who had resigned the position of President of the Board of Trade. LOCAL BILLS The House, after discussing the reports of committees, went into committee on local Bills, considerable discussion taking place on clause 13 of the Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill, which proposes to empower the City Council to make a charge for admission to the Zoo on Sundays. The discussion was proceeding when the House rose at 5.30.

The House resumed at 7.30 in committee on the Wellington City Empowering Bill. The discussion was continued on clause 13, and on a division the clause was carried by 41 to 20. The Bill was reported without amendment. The Wanganui River Trust Amendment Bill and the Christchurch District Drainage Amendment Bill were also put through the committee stage without amendment. All three Bills were tlfbn read the third time and passed.'*

The Hutt River Board Improvement and Reclamation Bill and the Palmerston North Reserves Amendment Bill were put through all stages without amendment and passed. The HON. G. J. ANDERSON, in moving that the House go into committee on the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill, explained that- the cost of running the Marine Department was increasing every year, and it was hoped to get some of that increased cost back by increasing the light dues charged to shipowners. It had been said that these extra dues would be passed on in increased freights and fares, but he understood that this would not be the case.

The House then went into committee on the Bill.

On the motion of the MINISTER a new clause was added altering the amount of £5O to be lodged as security in respect of seamen left on shore from foreign going ships to “such sum as the Superintendent may require as security for the due payment of all amounts for which the owner may be liable in the above connection.” The Bill was reported from committee with this and other minor amendments. AMUSEMENT TAX BILL The House then took the Amusement Tax Bill in committee. In reply to Mr G. Mitchell (Wellington South I the PREMIER said he could not agree to exempt rugby football. He did not think the tax would detrimentally affect the sport as no one would stay away from matches because of the tax. The Premier was immediately bombarded with requests for exemptions of all kinds, but he remained firm, refusing to go beyond the exemptions provided for in the Bill, at the same time reminding members that the Bill was only a temporary measure afhf the tax would be abolished at * the first favourable opportunity. THIRD READINGS The Shipping and Seamen Bill and the Amusement Tax Bill were then read the third time and passed. LAND LAWS BILL The HON. D. H. GUTHRIE moved the second reading of the Land Laws Amendment Bill. He explained that its principal provision dealt with extensions of leases of Crown Lands and generally improving the conditions of leases, the concessions being intended to induce lessees to improve their holdings and keep their land in better heart. MR G. W. FORBES (Hurunui) said they must all be agreed that thus was a time when the man on the land required assistance, and if the Bill would do that for the Crown tenants it would serve a good purpose. MR T. W. RHODES (Thames) commented on the Bill as it affected goldfield districts. MR G. WITTY (Riccarton) said that the Bill might be called “As you like it,” for tenants could take up any form of tenure they pleased. At the same time he was satisfied that the Minister was employing his best, endeavours to assist settlers on the land. About that there was absolutely no doubt. The HON. J. A. HANAN (Invercargilll regretted that the Government had not done more to increase land settlement as., that was the best method of increasing production and so recovering the shrinkage in the national revenue. The Bill did not make more land available for, settlement. It applied only to people who were already on the land, while the prime need of the country was more people on the land. Messrs Jennings, Lysnar, and Horn dealt with the difficulties of backblock settlers and Mr Burnett advocated better conditions for settlers in the high country 7 in South Island. After the MINISTER had briefly 7 replied the Bill was read the second time. The House rose at 12.20 a.m.