PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 18972, 20 June 1923, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY’S SESSION THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 19. The Legislative Council this afternoon placed on record its appreciation of the public service rendered to the country by the late Sir William Herries, Mr A. P. Seymour and the Hon C. H. Mills. A warm tribute was passed by SIR FRANCIS BELL to the memory of Sir William Herries, who had always played his part in- the defence of the rights of the natives. The HON E. NEWMAN gave notice that he would open the Address-in-Reply debate to-morrow. Leave of absence for the remainder of the session was granted to the Hon Dr W. E. Collins on account of urgent public business. The Council adjourned at 3.30 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. STATE BANK BILL. MR VEITCH gave notice of his intention to introduce a State Bank Bill. In reply to Mr Veitch, MR MASSEY said he had made all arrangements for taking up new shares about to be issued by the Bank of New Zealand and to which the State was entitled. The State’s quota would amount to £375,000. THE OTIRA TUNNEL. Replying to Mr O’Brien, the HON J. G. COATES, said he hoped he would be able to announce next week the date of the opening of the Otira Tunnel. PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read for the first time:—Election of Ministers and Party Government Reform, (HON J. A. HANAN); Agricultural Bank Bill (MR WILFORD); Workers’ Compensation for Accident Bill (MR HOWARD) ; Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill (MR WILFORD) ; Unemployed Workers Bill (MR FRASER) ; Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill (MR WILFORD) ; Housing Amendment Bill (MR FRASER). JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. MR WILFORD explained that the amendment to the Justices of the Peace Act introduced by him, provided for the appointment of women as justices of the peace. The House had passed the Bill last session and he hoped it would do so again. HOUSING BILL. MR FRASER mentioned his Housing Amendment Bill which sought to protect occupants against rack renting landlords. MR WILFORD stated that his party would have pleasure in supporting the principle of the Bill. The HON G. J. ANDERSON said he hoped to be in a position in a few days to state the attitude of the Government towards the vexed question, which was open to two arguments, both of which were quite logical. WORK OF SESSION.

MR MASSEY in the course of a Ministerial statement on the work of the session, said that the business was well forward and all necessary preparations had been made by the Government. The estimates of all departments, except one, were practically ready and had been forwarded to the Government for consideration. The Department which had not sent in its estimates, had he believed, had them printed and they would be before Cabinet in the course of a few days and could then be ready to be placed before the House. The financial statement was not quite complete but fourfifths of it was ready, and had been sent on to the printer, so that it would only be a. few days before that important document could be ready for submission to memkiers, if the business of the House permitted his doing so. As to the conduct of business, he desired to say that they could not afford to lose any time that could be saved, if New Zealand was to be represented at the Imperial Conference,and he proposed to ask members to sit on Monday evenings, probably beginning next Monday at 7.30 p.m. He would not attempt to drive the members but under the circumstances it was necessary to transact the business of the country as expeditiously as possible. He had intended to introduce important bills that day, but he had no wish to depart from the well-established precedent that no policy bills be introduced while a noconfidence motion was pending. The Bill to which he referred, was the State Advances Amendment, which for many years provided for total advances to settlers of £lOOO. That limit prevailed all through the war, but last year he was able to increase the amount .to £2OOO. Now, as the result of the improved financial position, he felt justified in again increasing the limit to £3,500. In asking the House to pass the Bill, he was to some extent looking to the time when the Moratoritun would come to an end, which would be at the end of next year. Matters connected with the Moratorium wehe going quite satisfactorily. If the Bill were passed,, settlers would be able to borrow up to £3,500 on first class security, which would ease the position considerably. It was also proposed to increase the basis on which money would be lent from 60 to 75 per cent. MR WILFORD: That, would be no use unless the’method of valuation is altered. MR MASSEY said he supported the general principles on which the Valuation Department worked, but thought the amendment proposed in the Bill would meet the difficulty raised by Mr Wilford. It was also proposed under the Bill to amend the law relating to workers’ homes. At present the worker was compelled to provide land, and the State would advance him 75 per cent, of the value of building. The proposal now was to advance 95 per cent, of the value of the building and land. In this he did not agree with the view that the State was taking too great a risk, as after all character was the big factor in any transaction of this kind. Hon members: When will the Act come into operation? MR MASSEY: If you pass the Bill this week I will guarantee that it will become law a few hours afterwards. Continuing MR MASSEY said that they were not cutting out provision for workers’ dwellings. That being retained to meet extreme cases, but he thought the arrangement as now proposed, would be more satisfactory. In reply to a member MR MASSEY said he had not yet made provision for the Department establishing its own insurance fund, as he did not desire to come too sharply into competition with the existing offices, and he doubted if the benefit made it worth while. It might be a bit cheaper, but that was all. After the transaction of further formal business, MR MASSEY said as it had been agreed that they should not proceed with the debate on the Address-in-Reply, until 7.30 p.m. and as there was no further business to do he would move the House adjourn. The House rose at 3.35 till 7.30 p.m.