FIRST TWO BILLS PASSED

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1932, Page 5

FIRST TWO BILLS PASSED

RENT RESTRICTION MEASURE.

PENSIONS AMENDMENTS BILL.

By Telegraph.—Brea# Association.

(Wellington, Last Night. The Rev. C. L. Carr in the House of Representatives to-day asked whether relief workers who became eligible for the old age pension were compelled to accept the pension in lieu of relief wages.

The Hon. Adam Hamilton replied that the choice rested with the persons themselves.

The Whangarei Harbour Board Vesting Bill was introduced and read a first time.

Urgency was accorded the passage of the Rent Restriction Bill and the Pensions Amendment Bill.

Moving the second reading of the Rent Restriction Bill the Hon. 'Adam Hamilton said the- measure revived the legislation which had been in force for many years and which lapsed at the end of last month. A total of 218 houses had been affected by the legislation last year, so it still had a fairly wide application. Mr. P. Fraser thanked the Minister for bringing the legislation forward. He added that what was heeded was some scheme to enable tenants to pay rents and. this could only be'done by providing sufficient wages. He urged that steps be taken to prevent the summary eviction of tenants and that magistrates be given greater discretionary powers tn dealing with disputes between landlords and tenants.

Mr. W. E. Barnard also expressed the hope that the Government’would modify landlords’ present right of summary eviction.

Mr. R. McKeen suggested the legislation relating to fair rentals should be placed on a permanent basis. The Bill was read a second time.

Moving the second reading of the Pensions Amehdemnt Bill the Hon. J. G. Cobbe said it would place all widows in poor circumstances, irrespective of age, whose husbands had died of miners’ phthisis in the same position as those eligible for old age pension. Sir. A. M. Samuel said he regarded the Bill as an ungenerous compromise. The Leader of the Opposition said the Bill was a step in the right direction.

.The Bill was read a second time. The Rent Restriction Bill and the Pensions Bill were then put through the remaining stages without amendment and passed. The House rose at 11.30, Mr. Forbes stating that further classes of the estimates would be taken to-morrow.