PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1923, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEVERAL NEW BILLS. DEBATE ON STATE ADVANCES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time: —The Local Legislation Bill (Hon. W. D. Stewart), the Immigration Restriction Amendment Bill (Hon. W. D. Stewart), the Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill (Hon. J. G. Coates), the Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill (Hon. W. Nosworthy), the Companies Special Empowering Bill (Hon. W. Nosworthy), the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill No. 2 (Hon. C. J. Parr), the Industrial and Provident Societies Amendment Bill (Hon. R. F. Bollard). STATE ADVANCES. DEBATE ON. THE BILL. The adjourned debate on the State Advances Amendment Bill was resumed by Mr. P. A. de la Perrelle (Awarua) who supported the Bill and hoped the Government would not neglect to have ample money available for farmers when the moratorium expired. Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) drew attention to the fact that a number of the largest lending firms in the Dominion were controlled from Australia and sometimes the Australian directors, without very much notice, called in as much money as possible from investments in New Zealand for investment in Australia. This was calculated to place many New Zealand settlers in difficulties, and he thought the Government should consider whether some steps could be taken to stop that sort of thing. Mr. L. Mcllvride (Napier) said the first step in solving the housing problem was to house that section of society, who, by the smallness of their wages, were not able to pay down a deposit or pay a high rent. To these people 95 per cent, was of no use, and the Government ought to advance them a hundred per cent, of the cost of a home. Mr. R. Masters (Stratford) said the Liberals would welcome anything done to assist the farming community. The Advances Department, though well managed, could never meet all the demands of farmers, and an agricultural bank was f bound to come. All the same he wanted I to see this Bill get a good run and he wanted to see the Government put more “ginger” into its administration than they did into the Act of 1919. The debate was adjourned till next sitting day. The House rose at 9.15 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. A BRIEF SITTING. The Legislative Council sat to-day at 2.30 p.m. The Acts Interpretation Bill was received from the Statutes Revision Committee without amendment and read a second time. The Hon. W. J. Geddis gave notice to ask whether the Government might not utilise the unemployed to cut back overhanging banks on the route of the Main Trunk railway. The Animals Protection and Game Amendment Bill, which proposes that instead of the Governor deciding what birds shall be protected the decision will lie with the Legislature, was read a second time. At 3.45 p.m. the Council adjourned till 2.30 p.m. on Thursday.