RENT RESTRICTION CONTINUED

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 74, 31 July 1929, Page 5

RENT RESTRICTION CONTINUED

BILL BEFORE HOUSE. PROTECTION OF TENANTS. MINISTERS ANSWER QUESTIONS WEUiINGTON, Last Night. Replying to Mr J. O'Brien in the House of Representatives to-day, the Hon, J.. G. Oobbe stated there was no evidence that United States timber was beirig imported to New Zealand tinder conditions such as a subsidy from the. United States Government. No inquiiy had yet been made into, the position of Canadian timber imported into New Zealand, but if it were found action was necessary to protect the industry in New Zealand such action would be taken. Mr A. E. Holland asked whether; immediate steps would be taken to restore road, access to the Millet-ton. and Stockton mines. He mentioned that'there had been a serious accident in the, : Stockton mine and it had been, with the greatest difficulty that the man had been removed for treatment. There, was always the possibility of accident at these mines, and the trouble might be accentuated by difficulties of access. The Hon. W. A. Veitch replied that he would b<i ■ glad to re-open consideration Qf the whole question..

LATE MR J. F. ARNOLD. On the motion of the. Prime Minister, seconded by Mr J. G. Coates, the House, recorded its high sense of appreciation of the services to New Zealand: by the, late Mr J. F, Arnold-, a former Dunedin' member, and a motion of sympathy with the-relat-ives was passed. The Auckland Electric Power Board Amendment Bill and the Preferential Voting Bill were introduced iand read a first time. The Rent Restriction Continuance Bill (No.. 2) was read a second time. The Hon. W, A. Veitch saidl the Bill was merely td provide the continuance of the law passed last year. The report of the; officers of the Department of Labour had shown that under present conditions failure to renew the legislation would impose hardship. It was indicated that the pressure existed principally in the four main centres and more in Wellington than elsewhere. BILL ACCORDED URGENTLY. The Bill was accorded urgency. In the committee stage Mr P. Eraser s.aidl he .-would have preferred a, Bill of a more comprehensive nature, but as. thisi one had been introduced oy the Government he would he pleased, to support it as it undoubtedly would give some protection to tenants. It was weaker than he had desired, but it was better than noticing. Mr W: D. Stewart sa'J, the Bill was designed to protect tenants from 1 exploitation, but care should be. taken that the. people who had invested their small capital, representing life savings, in property should suffer as. little hardship as possible. Mr Veitch replied! that the interests of both parties were considered and the Bill was designed to impose no hardship on either side. . < Mr J, G, Coates said that 'while he was not opposed to the Bill in practice* he. considered it was wrong in principle. He hoped the time would come when such legislation would be unnecessary and that there womfl 'therefore he greater inducement for capitalists, to invest money in this sphere.

Mr P. Fraser contende.d that every man who was willing fc.o work for a living was entitled to a house to live in-and that some? restrictions were necessary to protect him- from exploitation. In a humanitarian conntry it should not be possible to/ throw the poorer famines out. into the street and for that reason ho welcomed the legislation.. The Bill was put through, the remaining stages and passed. Sir Joseph Ward, moved tra 'adjournment out of respect for the late Mr. Arnold, and] the House rose at'3.so p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.