PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 19966, 4 September 1926, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS

FURTHER MEASURES INTRODUCED GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE ON PRIVATE BILLS. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, September 3. The House of Representatives met at 2.30. The committee which considered the Mildred Elaine Smyth Divorce Bill reported that the Bill be allowed to proceed. During the debate which arose, Mr J. S. Dickson (Parnell) said he was not opposed to the Bill, but he thought lhere should not be exceptional legislation and the right given Mrs Smyth by this B ll should also : e ven to some 200 women who were in a similar position, namely. married to habitual criminals, bu; who might not be able to afford to promote a private Bill in Parliament. He therefore thought the Prime Minister or the Attorney-General should make a statement to he House as to what the policy of the Government was in this important matter. The Prime Minister sa’d every private member had the right to introduce a private Bill into the House, and the House was master of its own actions as to how it dealt with it. The Government policy did not come into the question at all. If the question of Government policy was to be obtruded into private Bills then it would not be much use private members introducing Bills at all. Mr H. Holland: “Generally that is so.’* He could not remember a case in which the Government had interfered with private Bills which were carefully guarded by Standing Orders as to the future policy of the Government. He was free to say he had not given the question mature consideration. He was not well up in legal matters of this kind, but at the same time he would ask his colleagues to go thoroughly into the point raised by the member for Parnell and they would let Mr Dickson and the country know what the Government’s attitude was towards this phase of divorce.

The Bill was then read the third time and passed. The Prime Minister laid on the table the report of the Royal Commission on model Maori villages at Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. Holland) and the Hon. A. T. Ngata welcomed the setting up of the Commission and their recommendation which would result in the preservation of many historic spots and vanishing native customs. The Prime Minister, in reply, paid a tribute to the generosity of the Arawa’s tribe in entertaining the distinguished visitors to Rotorua, their readiness to co-

operate in this way adding greatly to the interest of the thermal regions. Mr G. W. Forbes said the sentiment of the people of New Zealand was in favour of assisting British manufacturers as far

as possible, and preferential duties had been arranged with this object in view. Referring to motor cars, Mr Forbes said it was undoubted that the British car owing to its lower horse-power was not so suitable to colonial requirements as the American car. He understood however that British manufacturers were waking up to the situation and were inclined to meet the needs of colonial car users. Mr Forbes considered New Zealand owed nothing to America in the matter of reciprocity since the United States put heavy duties on British manufactures and had laws of very restrictive character including that governing the conditions under which New Zealand citizens may enter the States. So far as the local motor industry was concerned he hoped everything possible would be done to develop it. Something had been done to give protection to local motor body building. This had not proved altogether

successful, but he believed it coula be established if the assistance suggested in this measure were given to encourage the provision of adequate factory accommodation and the facilities for building bodies. In the past far too much money for cars had been going to America, which took a very small amount of our products. We should buy from the country that was our greatest customer, Britain, even if for a time some little inconvenience had to be endured. It would be appropirate if on the eve of the Prime Minister's departure for the Imperial Conference Parliament made clear its intention to give all the assistance possible through the Customs to British manufacturers. The Hon. D. Buddo said he had hoped the whole question of Customs duties would have been referred to a Parliamentary Committee for review. EVENING SESSION. The Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, Amendment Bill was introduced by GovernorGeneral’s message, and read the first time and referred to the Lands Committee. The House went into committee on the Native Trustee Amendment Bill and on the Maori Arts and Crafts Bill. Explaining the former Bill the Prime Minister said it closely followed the present law as it applied to the public trustee. With regard to the second measure it was desired to encourage the cultivation of the fast disappearing Maori arts and crafts, some of which it was intended to embody in some of our public buildings. The House also went into committee for the Native Land Amendment and Native Law Claims Adjustment Bill, which ratified the arrangement made between the Government and the Tuwheritoa tribe regarding fishing rights at Taupo, under which the bed of Lake Taupo is to be vested in His Majesty the King. This arrangement was attacked by Mr A. M. Samuel, who declared that if it satisfied the Tuwheritoa tribe it was extremely unsatisfactory to the fishermen who patronised the waters of Lake Taupo. Sir Maui Pom are defended the agreement which was nothing but reasonable protection to the Tuwheritoa tribe whose generous gift to the State of the National Park entitled them to every consideration.

All three Native Bills were passed through the Committee stage. In the Native Land Amendment Bill Mr A. M. Samuel moved to fix a fee for an annual fishing license at Taupo for permanent residents of New Zealand at a sum not exceeding £l.

On a division the amendment was lost by 42 to 15.

The Gaming Amendment Bill was read the second time pro forma and referred to A. to L. Committee the Premier indicating this was the polite way of slaughtering it. The House rose at 1 am. till 2.30 pm.