PARLIAMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18651, 21 August 1930, Page 10

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 20. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. Sir George Hunter. The Leader of the Council, Sir T. K Sidey, moved a motion expressing appreciation of the services of the late Sir George Hunter. This was seconded by Sir F. D. Bell, and carried. The Council adjourned, as a mark of respect, till 3.30. Bills Passed. On resuming, the Council passed the Presbyterian Church Property Amendment Bill, the Managers of St. Pauls Presbyterian Congregation (Oamaru) Bill, the Law Practitioners Act Amendment Bill, the New Zealand University Act Amendment Bill, the Judicature Act Amendment Bill, the Prevention of Crime (Borstal Institutions Establishment) Act Amendment Bill, and the Coroners Act Amendment Bill. Finance Bill. The Finance Bill was received from the House and accorded urgency. Speaking on the third reading,. Sir F. D. Bell said that if it had not been for unusual circumstances, some opposition would have been shown to the proposals, all of which he detested. The Bill was passed, and the Council adjourned at 5.25 till 3.30 to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 20. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 to-day. Power Boards Bill. Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston North) gave notice of intention to introduce an Electric Power Boards and Electric Supply Associations Bill. Shearers’ Bill. The Shearers Accommodation Act Amendment Bill (Mr F. Langstone) was introduced and read a first time. Late Sir G. Hunter. The Prime Minister moved that the House express its high sense of appreciation of the devoted services rendered to New Zealand by the late Sir George Hunter, and tender its sincere sympathy to his relatives. Mr Forbes said Sir George Hunter had always been very fair and just, and had he.d the respect of all who had known him. He had been kindly and courteous, and at the same time had always undertaken his duties in a very thorough way. Because of his interest in racing, Sir George had had to take charge of numerous Bills bearing on sport, and although he had often been faced with great difficulties, he had met them in a most friendly spirit. The Hon. J. G. Coates said Sir G. Hunter had been one of many worthy pioneers who could be named as an example to the youth of the Dominion. He had been a stock-breeder of note, and his interest in racing had always been characterised by sportsmanship. He had also taken a keen interest in all forms of healthy sport. His personality had won him the greatest esteem. He had been kindly, courteous, and honourable, and always willing to help. He would be sadly missed in the district to which he belonged, and would leave a gap it would be hard to fill.

The Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (Mr M. J. Savage) endorsed the tributes paid by previous speakers. Sir George Hunter had been one of the most popular members who had occupied a seat in the House in recent years. He had scarcely seemed to have belonged to any party, but had first, last and always been a man. The Hon. E. A. Ransom said he had known Sir George Hunter personally and intimately for over forty years. There was no man with whom one could work more congenially. Mr H. M. Campbell stated that he also had known Sir George Hunter for approximately forty years. He had never made an enemy, and his loss would be a severe one to Hawke’s Bay. Additional tributes were paid by Messrs Field, Sullivan, Fraser, and Mason.

The House adjourned at 3.10 till 7.30, as a mark of respect to the memory of Sir George Hunter. The House resumed at 7.30. Unemployment BUI. The Prime Minister suggested that the House should deal, during the evening, with the report from the Unemployment Committee. The House had had a number of late sessions recently and he thought they might have a preliminary discussion on the report, and adjourn at 10 p.m. The Hon. J. G. Coates contended that the Prime Minister’s proposals seemed to him somewhat like rush tactics. He had no objection to the report being tabled, and discussion held over till later. His side of the House was only too willing to join in and pass legislation which would be a credit to the country, but he did suggest discussion on the report should be postponed to allow members to consider the matter. Mr Forbes stated that the alterations made by the Committee were comparatively minor ones, and he thought the discussion could be concluded by ten o’clock. If this were done, they could reserve to-morrow (Thursday) for the Land and Income Tax Bill.

Subsequently the House agreed to the Prime Minister’s suggestion. The report was laid on the table, and members proceeded with the discussion.

Mr M. J. Savage stated that the report was practically the same as when it left the House, and he would take no responsibility for it. Mr R. A. Wright said the report was most disappointing. He considered that if the Unemployment Bill passed, it would encourage unemployed from all over the world to come to the Dominion for the benefit of the subsidy. The Hon. S. G. Smith (Minister of Labour) said the Soldiers’ Rehabilitation Commission’s recommendations could not be carried out under the machinery of the Unemployment Bill. There were three main features of the Bill, namely, a flat tax of 30/- on males over the age of twenty years; personnel of the Board; and payment of sustenance. The object of the Board, said the Minister, would be to co-operate with all Government Departments to find work for unemployed. With regard to the personnel of the Board, he did not wish to see that body split into different sections, each fighting for supremacy. He wanted a Board which would work together, and if it would do so, he believed a great deal could be done with the unemployment problem within six months. Referring to the subject of non-payment of sustenance to females, the Minister said the Government had given this matter very considerable consideration. The Government, however, had come to the conclusion that the amount of unemployment amongst women was not so acute as to warrant payment of sustenance. Even though no sustenance would be paid to women, the Board’s duty would be to find work for all needing it, including women. Mr A. W. Hall said that sustenance

was put down as one of the main functions of the Bill, but he did not think that was right. The 30/- levy was ’ not a good measure, and he thought the measures which had been passed would bring in sufficient revenue without a levy. It was regrettable that the Government was endeavouring to put its responsibilities on to a Committee.

Mr W. J. Poison considered the allocation of taxation under the Unemployment Bill would be satisfactory to taxpayers, when the provisions were made clear to them. There had been some misunderstanding concerning the flat rate of payment, the worker paying 30/- as well as the employer. It must be remembered, however, that the employer was paying more through the Consolidated Fund and increased taxation. Moreover. the employer did not derive benefit from the Bill. Mr E. J. Howard stressed the fact that the discussion had wandered away from the Committee's report to the Unemployment Bill. He thought the House would have asked the Committee why amendments had been made, and what would be the effect of them. Concerning the work of the Committee itself, on many occasions there was a division between the two Labour members and other members of the Committee. Labour was decidedly not satisfied with the Bill, and he hoped in the Committee stage he would be able to make suggestions which might meet with the approval of other parties in the House, and thus be able to produce a Bill which would meet with general approval. The Prime Minister impressed on members the serious nature of the unemployment problem. The problem still was an unsatisfactory one. and methods brought down to deal with it must necessarily be of an unsatisfactory nature. The question of sustenance, said Mr Forbes, had to be forced. If we could not find work for a man, we could not let him starve. In setting up a Board it was the intention that that body should provide work for , men with whom it had to deal. It I would be a poor compliment to the House of such a Bill as the Unemployment Bill could go through without improvement, and he felt sure that j when the Committee stage was reached, improvements would be made j in reference to the thirty shillings levy. Mr Forbes said that until this measure I could be seen in operation they could I not say if it would be satisfactory, but it was certainly worth a trial. He thought the suggestion that the payj ment of sustenance would attract j unemployed to the Dominion from i other countries could be met by a j clause in the Bill specifying that an individual should have resided in the country a certain time before sustenance was available for him. I Mr Forbes continued that to ensure immediate working of the Bill as soon as it had been passed by the House, a clause would be brought down by Governor-General’s message providing for the appropriation of £IOO,OOO. Mr Clyde Carr expressed pleasure at the Committee’s recommendation that special provision should be made to deal with the rehabilitation of returned men.

Mr W. D. Lysnar contended that arbitration awards aggravated the unemployment position. A great deal of unemployment could be avoided if loans were given farmers at a reasonable rate of interest, enabling them to carry out work which they were unable to finance at the present time.

Mr Walter Nash said that an entirely independent board should deal with the rehabilitation of returned soldiers. Mr G. C. Munns stated that the Committee had dealt with the matter on very broad lines, and had done the very best they could under the circumstances. He urged that every section of the community should combine to assist in solving the unemployment problem. He dealt with the measures set out in the Bill, and said that the inclusion of females and youths would be too great a burden on the funds. He was not satisfied with the flat rate levy, and he was in favour of a residential clause to prevent outsiders flocking into the country with a view of profiting by the provisions of the measure. The amendments which the Committee had made were to exclude co-opted experts becoming members of the Unemployment Board, and providing for maximum fines of £IOO and £2O, respectively, for offences under the Bill. The Unemployment Bill was set down for committal. Taxation Bills. The Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill, the Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill, and amendments to the Finance Bill were introduced by Go-vernor-General’s message, and were referred to the Committee of the whole House. The Prime Minister very briefly outlined the proposals of the measures, chief of which were the repeal of the super-tax on land of unimproved value of £14,500, and over farmers holding land of a value of £7500 and over, because liable for income tax. and provision was made for five per cent, exemption on unimproved value land and income tax.

Mr Forbes explained that under the Land and Income Tax Annual Bill, the amount of income tax would be left as in the Budget, namely ten per cent. He had stated previously that he might have to increase the amount because of the abolition of the 2d tax on 1/6 amusement tickets, but after consulting the Treasury, he had decided to take a sporting chance on the renewal. A clause was brought down by Governor’s message carrying out the Prime Minister’s promise to revert to the system of paying eight per cent, of the net petrol tax revenue on April Ist, 1931; also his promise relating to the payment of Main Highways funds expiring on August 31st next year. All three Bills were read a first time, and the House adjourned at 10 p.m.