BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1930, Page 9

BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

bounty on iron and steel NATIVE DEPARTMENT'S SUCCESS. COMPANIES AMENDMENT BILLBy Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Introducing the Companies Amen ment Bill in the House of Representatives to-day Mr. W. E. Barnard saidl he had hoped the Government would tins session bring down a new c ° in P a ” Bill altogether, but in this he had bee disappointed. His Bill was designed to remedy the very serious position arising from the evils of sharehawking. - amendment was modelled on a ste io of the Companies Act of Great Britain. The Bill was read a first time. When a return was presented to tne House showing the bounties paid un c the Iroii and Steel Industry Act the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt.A c . J. G. Coates, asked what success had attended the efforts to develop the n - dustry in New Zealand. The Hon. W. A. Veitch said the film at Onakaka had hitherto been hampered by heavy capital expenditure and it was to give it a chance that th® bounty had been paid by the Govern ment. There was every reason to hope that the industry was on the toad TO prosperity. . , Mr. M. J. Savage complained tliat there was a danger of the pig won industry being put to death in New Zealand because of the heavy nfipotts of ore from India, irrespective of the conditioiis under which it was produced, tie suggested the State should take up ie development of areas of iron ore in New Zealand. , The Hon. H. Atmore the industiy was one of the most promising in New Zealand. At The Minister of Mihes, the Hon. A. J. Murdoch, agreed that the industry was now showing a great deal of promise after a struggle against adverse circumstances. NATIVE MINISTER COMMENDED. Referring to the report on the Native Land Courts and other matters under the control of the Native Land- Department both Mr. Coates and Mr. Ransom congratulated Sir Apitana Ngata on the success that had attended the efforts in the direction of the development of Maori lands. Sir Apirana said every endeavour had been made to ensure that the work was being carried out under adequate supeivisidh. It was proposed to commence very active work in the Southland disReform members protested against the land valuation system, Mr. W. H. Field contending that tile men employed as valuers were often incompetent. Mr. IL G. Dickie, however, differed from this opinion. He attributed all difficulties to faults in the system. Mr. R .W. Hawke also _ protested against the method of valuation on the o-round that it was not based on the productive value of the land. He stated that there were many" instances in Canterbury where values placed on land were too high simply because some buyer had paid a price that was not warranted but Was accepted by the Assessment Court as a basis for valuing land in that particular district. Mr. A. W. Hall stated the position as outlined by Mr. Hawke was not confined to Canterbury. Mr. H. M. Rusli worth advocated the adoption of the equitable principles of valuation that were in Use in other pro"ressiVe 'countries. It seeined to him there was no broad principle underIving the system in New Zealand. * Mr. K. S. Williams said the real value bf country land was what it would produce. He did not think there would ever be satisfaction until a basis of this nature Was reached. Speaking on the annual report of the printing and stationery department Mr. C. H. Chapman said the Government printer would shortly retire on superannuation. He urged the Government when considering the appointment of his successor to consider the claims of a practical man rather than those of a man with nothing but accountancy experience. Far too much importance was attached to accountancy nowadays. The Hon. S. G. Smith said this was the first intimation he had had that the resignation of the Government printer was probable. The National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum Bill was referred to the Lands Committee.