PARLIAMENT SUMMONED

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1931, Page 9

PARLIAMENT SUMMONED

MEETING DATE MARCH 11

GOVERNMENT’S BIG PROGRAMME.

TAXATION INCREASES OMITTED.

By Telegraph.—Press Assoeiation.

Wellington, Last Night. By a Gazette Extraordinary issued this evening Parliament has been summoned for the transaction of business on Wednesday, March 11, at 2.30 p.m. The special session is likely to last for many weeks judging by the programme which the Government proposes to submit for consideration. Replying to a question, the Prime Minister said it was proposed to ask Parliament to deal with all the proposals outlined in his statement, with the exception of those relating to taxation. Mr. Forbes stated that the Government did not intend to make any increases in taxation until the normal session in June, as not until then would the exact result of the year’s working be known. “Every other proposal which requires legislation will be submitted to members at the emergency session, however,” he said. “Legislation will be necessary to bring about the reduction of 10 per cent, in the salaries of servants of the State and also to give the Arbitration Court power to review existing awards. “The proposal to place the control of the railways in the hands of a nonpolitical board will also require an amendment of the Railways Act. The suggestion has been made that this change should be deferred until the ordinary session, but the Government believes the alteration to be essential now in order to secure the necessary adjustment of the department’s finances.”

Any doubt as to the attitude which Labour would adopt towards the Govment’s programme has been removed by the statement’issued by Mr. H. E. Holland, and it is considered certain that all the 'Government’s proposals, apart from those in connection with the earthquake disaster, will be bitterly opposed. It is expected that a caucus of the Labour Party .will .be held at Wellington this week, but the secretary of the party, Mr. W. Nash, M.P., stated that no date was yet fixed.

visions of the by-law requiring consumers having water troughs, etc., to also pay water rates on dwellings whether such dwellings be connected or not.

The application of the New Plymouth Aero Club for Inspector Day’s services in marshalling the ears on the aerodrou e on February .28 instant,, was granted. Mr. P. J. Lbvell is to be informed that as, in the opinion of the council the painting white of rear mudguards- u* bicycles is in the interests both of cyclists and motorist, the council cannot sea its way to alter its previous decision to make a-by-law-requiring sudh painting. The borough engineer was authorised to seal the untarred portion of the roadway in Brown Street. Petitioners for the improvement <>f Autere Street were to be informed lh.it the council cannot see its way to seal the metalling in this street or to provide kerbing and " channelling. The borough engineer has been instructed to have the grass -edges and footpaths cleaned up in that street. . The borough engineer was-authoriseo to metal and grout’ 15 chains of the Doralto Road from the bridge to Smith Street at an estimated cost of £4(3 104, the balance of the road to be left un> metalled for the present. _ i The engineer was authorised to seal the gradient in Ridge Lane from Mr. Patrick’s gate to the end of the existing sealing near. Mr; McNeill’s; -v The engineer's report regarding, to laying of watci maihs* by contract was referred to the finance committee with an. intimation that; in the qpiniqn of toe works committee, trenching only and not pipe-laying or, back-filling ' should; be effected by contract. .. , . , . j The East End reserve committee is to be informed'that the-rol-ler is not suitable for haulln_ stone for the purpose of a rubble wall. The cqmmittce is a, be reminded that- the -consent of tue harbour board is necessary before any stone is hauled up from the beaeh or reef. ’ The council approved of the committee’s alternate proposal to continue the retaining wall ip concre.te .on t.ra same plan as was adopted with the existing' wall, subject to a general supervision on the part of the borough engineer. • j Applications for. street lights at - ■ corner of Hobson'Street and Octavius Place and in Ebrhigton Place were referred to the street lighting committee to report upon. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. Mr. Stanley Smith wrote withdrawing his* offer to‘donate £lOO for work m Te Mete Park,, and also his offer of a section of land as an addition to the park. The reason given was that ms conditions had not been accepted. The eliiem inspector reported that dur? ing the “Learn' to'Swim” week at the baths children, learning to swim .were to lie admitted free. ' . .Each child who- learned to swim became a potential season ticket holder, said Councillor -Spence. Permission to use the eastern side ot Liardet Street north of. Devon. Street as- a stand for two cars was sought by a firm of taxi proprietors. Ihe question was referred to the works comm! - tee for a report. '. It was decided that ou the day' of Donqvan-Blay boking match at Western Park, traffic on Morley Street from Barrett Street to Powderham street be restricted to north-bound only. EAST END RETAINING WALL. Requests from the Moturod Ratepayers’ Association for the curbing and channelling df the footpath from Peace Avenue to South Road, and for the shingling of the footpath from bo-; th Road to. the Breakwater, were referred to the works committee; • The committee of the East End batnin® reserve contemplated taking advantage of the No. 5 scheme of the Unemployment Board to complete the retaining wall, stated the secretary of the committee in a letter. The wall was estimated to cost £3OO, labour absorbing £lOO. The committee expected to have £24 10s. in ham} at Uie end of April, but would have fairly heavy ex-penses-to meet in the winter. The-com-mittee asked whether the council could assist it in the matter of funds. The No. 5 scheme would be oyer, as far as his committee knew, by March, said. Mr. Staiutou. At present there was ample work offering to employ the men under the scheme. Unless the East End committee could find the money very soon there would be little chance of gettin* the work done under the scheme. It appeared there was not a great deal of need for the .extension of the wall to prevent erosion. / The council decided that it was not able to finance the work at the present time.