PARLIAMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18411, 1 November 1929, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. xsy Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 31. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 n.m. to-day. Leave of Absence. Leave of absence for the remainder of the session was granted to the Hon. E. W. Alison, on account of illness. Customs Bill. Speaking on the second reading of the Customs Amendment Bill, confirming the increase in primage duty, the Hon. W. W. Snodgrass said it was extremely unfortunate that the Government had chosen taxation. One effect of the increase had already been that wholesalers had reduced their monthly discount by 11 per cent. It was satisfactory that certain articles had been exempted from the extra duty, but he regretted that remissions had been made in respect of articles which were made in New Zealand, thus giving the outside trader advantage. The Leader of the Council (Hon. T. K. Sidey), said that so far as could be ascertained, the extra tax had not been passed on to the average householder. The Bill was put through its final stages, and passed without amendment. Patents Bill. The Patents, Designs and Trade Marks Amendment Bill was put through its final stages and passed unamended. The Council adjourned at 3 p.m. till to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Elsie Walker Case. The Hon. A. J. Stallworthy presented a petition containing over * fifteen thousand signatures, praying that legislation be introduced to enable the reopening of inquest proceedings, and that the inquiry into the death of Elsie Walker be re-opened. New Bills. The Minister of Health gave notice of intention to introduce a Nurses and Midwives Registration Amendment Bill. The Hon. G. W. Forbes gave notice to introduce the Products Export Amendment Bill. Police Force Replying to Mr J. A. Nash, the Hon. T. M. Wilford said he hoped to be able to state definitely on Monday whether legislation would be introduced this session in connection with police superannuation. Leave of Absence. Mr Tau Henare was granted four days leave of absence on the ground I of urgent public business. Rural Credits. The Rural Intermediate Credit Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor-General’s message. The Hon. G. W. Forbes stated that the Bill provided for raising the limit of the advance to any one applicant from £IOOO to £2OOO. The Bill was read a first time. Land Bill. Amendments to the Land Laws Amendment Bill were also introduced by Governor-General’s message. The Minister stated that the main item met a wish that had been expressed by the House, by providing that one other person should be appointed to the Lands Development Board, thereby permitting the inclusion of a man with farming experience. The amendments were agreed to. Town Planning. The Town Planning Amendment Bill (Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle), was introduced and read a first time. Saturday Sitting. Replying to a question, the Hon. G. W. Forbes stated that it was intended that the House should sit on Saturday morning. Premiers’ Portraits. Mr Forbes informed the House that the following telegram had been received by the Prime Minister from the i High Commissioner in London:—“Have 1 viewed at London Museum to-day collection contemporary mezzotint portraits of Prime Ministers of Great Britain from Walpole to the present day, which Mr Ernest Makower, chairman of Makower Mcßeath and Company, New Zealand, is giving to the House of Representatives. This collection is identical with those he has given to the London Museum, and the House of Parliament at Canberra. I propose to forward the collection forthwith, and cannot speak in high enough terms of its interest and beauty.”

Hospitals Bill. The House then went into committee on the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill. Mr J. A. Nash asked what was being done to rectify the shortage of house surgeons. / The Minister of Health (Hon. A. J. Stall worthy) replied that it was hoped to overcome the shortage by this time next year. Mr A. M. Samuel and Mr H. M. Campbell, raised the question of improving nurses’ conditions and hours, and asked the Minister to give assurance that something would be done. Mr H. Harris asked what remuneration would be paid to certificated nurses who went to St. Helen’s Hospital to train as maternity nurses. At present they received nothing. The Minister stated that the first consideration in connection with nurses’ conditions rested with the hospital boards. It might be possible to adopt by-laws which would make it to improve conditions. He had done his best to indicate to all Hospital Boards what his policy and mind was on this subject, and in some instances he had had the pleasure of authorising expenditure on improved accommodation for nurses. It was impossible to bring about all desired reforms in a few short months. Mr Stallworthy said he was considering a scheme to be tried out in one hospital under which nurses would work eight hours a day, and have one day off each week. He was desirous of improving the hours and conditions of all nurses. The Bill was put through all stages, and passed. Its only effect is to amalgamate the Wairau and Picton Boards. Lawyers Bill. The Law Practitioners Amendment (Solicitors Fidelity Guarantee Fund) Bill was discussed on a motion to go into committee. The Minister of Justice (Hon. T. M. Wilford) explained that it was a Eill to provide means whereby people who have been deprived of money through the dishonesty of solicitors might be reimbursed. The Bill was promoted; voluntarily by the Law Society, and there was no liability on anyone outside the legal profession. The foundation principle of the Bill and the spirit behind it was that the honour of the legal profession was bound up in the honour and integrity of each member of that profession. Lawyers desired that those who trusted them with money should have an assurance of protection every Law Society and District Society stood behind this Bill. Lawyers would be called on to pay £5 to £lO a year, thus creating a fund at the rate of £7500 annually. No lawyer would pay more than £SO into the fund during his whole practice, and when any contributor went out of practice he would get his contributions back. Mr W. J. Broadfoot, speaking as a member of the legal profession, said lawyers wanted the principle of a fidelity fund to be written into the Statute Book. Mr H. E. Holland (Buffer) asked what was the reason for limiting the fund to £IOO,OOO. Mr H. G. R. Mason said solicitors did not desire any more than other people to go on paying contributions, once a sufficient guarantee fund had been created. He considered the main principle of the Bill was so important that comparatively unimportant imperfections should not be allowed to imperie its passage. This view was endorsed by Mr Barnard, while Messrs Stewart and Lynsnar also spoke in favour of the measure. The Bill was then put through the Committee stage without amendment. Pacific Cable. The Pacific Cable Sale Authorisation Bill was considered in Committee. Replying to the Hon. J. G. Coates, the Hon. J. B. Donald said that personally, as a business man, he would have bought the Pacific Cable for New Zealand at the price at which it bad been sold to the Merger Company, even at the risk of losing a hundred thousand sterling a year. Mr Coates said a hundred thousand a year would not have covered loss. It would have been hopeless for the Pacific Cable to have coped with competition from other services. Mr Donld said he was only expressing his own opinion, not that of the Government, but he stiff thought New Zealand would have been well advised to have taken over the Pacific Cable. The Bill went through Committee unamended. The House adjourned at 5.30 The House resumed at 7.30. Bills Passed. The Pacific Cable Sale Authorisation Bill was read a third time, after a fairly lengthy debate, and was then passed. The Law Practitioners Amendment (Solicitors’ Fidelity Guarantee Fund) Bill was recommitted to permit of consideration of amendments by the Statutes Revision Committee. The amendments were passed. The Arms Act. In moving the second reading of the Arms Amendment Biff, the Hon. T. M. Wilford stated that the measure was designed to relax the severity of regulations affecting fire-arms. There would be no necessity in future to register ordinary sporting guns, and members of Rifle Clubs would not have to register their rifles. On the other hand, dealers would be required to keep a register of all sales, and this could be inspected by the police. The Minister added that he could not see the necessity for anyone in New Zealand to have a revolver or automatic pistol, and there would be no change in the regulations so far as these weapons were concerned. If it were shown, between now and next session, that the pea-rifle should be declared an unlawful weapon, a clause to that effect could later be included. He did not say, however, that such course would be necessary. Mr Wilford stated that restrictions of the use of powder for blasting were also relaxed. In future a dealer would be required to keep a register of the sales of powder in the same way as applied to sporting weapons. Mr J. A. Young said the Biff would be appreciated by sportsmen and riflemen throughout the country. Mr T. W. McDonald, who congratulated the Minister on the introduction of this legislation, said it was astonishing how much the administration of the Arms Act had cost the country. Mr W. E. Parry described the Arms Act as an absurd piece of legislation, and welcomed the changes embodied in the Biff. Mr R. A. Wright expressed appreciation that the restriction relating to revolvers and pistols had been retained. He asked the Minister whether anything would be done to obviate the necessity for observance of so many regulations in cases of rifles and pistols kept as souvenirs of war. Mr Wilford: On application of the owner, I shall have power to sign a printed form which will free him further interference. Replying to Mr H. H. S. Kyle, the Minister stated that a similar permit could be obtained to retain antiquated weapons, etc. Mr W. E. Barnard said he thonght the Bill would be popular. He agreed that it was wise to retain the restrictions relating to revolvers and automatic pistols. The Bill was read a second time without division, and was then put through Committee with a minor

amendment, read a third time, and passed. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland Empowering Biff was read a second time, put through the remaining stages unamended, and passed. Homes for Destitute. In moving the second reading of the Destitute Persons Rest Homes Amendment Biff, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy said it was intended to provide rest homes of the most congenial type. Provision would be made for maintenance of destitute persons, who, by reason of age and infirmity, were unable to take care of themselves. Another important aspect of the Bill was that it would do wonderful work for people, who, under the present law, were incarcerated within bare walls for manufactured offences involving vagrancy. They would be admitted to rest homes, where, in pleasant environment, they would enjoy a much happier existence. People detained in mental hospitals on account of mental infirmity arising from age might also be transferred to rest homes. Provision would be made for the establishment of State rest homes on areas which might be acquired for the purpose, and the Minister would be empowered to declare institutions established by private organisations to be rest homes for the purposes of the Act. The debate was interrupted when the House rose at 10.30 p.m.