PARLIAMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20896, 27 November 1937, Page 22

PARLIAMENT

THE LOWER HOUSE MINING AMENDMENT BILL Bv Telegraph—Pres. c Association WELLINGTON, November 26. The House of Representatives resumed at 10.30 a.m. Mr W. J. Polson gave notice to ask the Minister of Marketing whether he is aware that the average equalised price of butter-fat for the Australian season was 126/8.57, equal to a pay out of 1/1 to 1/2 per lb, not U.25d as had been stated by the Minister. Would he take steps to remove the impression created by the returns from Australian factories, that the New Zealand pay out of 12.66 d was higher than the Australian, whereas the reverse was the case. The Minister of Marketing (Hon. W. Nash) denied that he had stated that the Australian average pay out was 11.25 d. Mr Polson pointed out that he had not said in the question that the Minister had actually made the statement. He merely wished the Minister to correct the impression which had been created. Mr Speaker: I think that is sufficient. The matter was then allowed to drop. Air Port Bill. An amendment to the Whangarei Airport Bill was introduced from the Legislative Council. Mr J. G. Barclay stated that legal advice was that the amendment would prevent the Airport Board from coopting experts as members of the special committees. He would ask that the amendment be disagreed with. The motion was carried, and three representatives of the House were appointed to formulate reasons for disagreement with the amendment. These reasons were later presented to the House, which decided to transmit them to the Council forthwith. Mining Bill. The Mining Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor’s message. The Minister of Mines (Hon. P. C. Webb) explaining the measure, said it w" a Consolidating Bill, that contained four or five new provisions, adopted as a result of a conference between the Mines Department and those engaged in the mining industry. Steps had been taken to safeguard the health of the men, and the age limitations of youths engaged in quartz mines had been advanced to 18 years, but youths of 16 would be allowed to work in alluvial mines, as the dust menace did not exist there. The Bill provided for the medical

examination of men before they were allowed underground. Provision was also made for the examination of en-gine-drivers once a year. Much mining phthisis had been traced to the early entry to the working face of a blast, said the Minister, and he proposed to make it compulsory for miners to stay away from the face for 30 minutes after blasting. During that time the face was to be sprayed with water to lay the dust. Another proposal, said the Minister, was to make it a criminal offence to “salt” a mine. The Bill was read a first time and also a second time, pro forma, and was referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee. The Bill itself stated that any person who deliberately “salts” an area is liable to imprisonment for live years, or a fine of £5OO. The Bill contains 42 clauses. One amendment allows a little more latitude in regard to applications for licenses, by requiring intention to apply for new license to be given not less than three days, instead of seven, before the expiry of the old license. The Bill clarifies the procedure in connection with the acquisition and transfer of water rights, and another provision overcomes the difficulties regarding the registration of transfers.

In the section of the Bill dealing with considerations of personal safety, it is laid down that a mine manager shall exercise daily personal supervision of the mine, and that the battery superintendent shall likewise supervise the battery. No person engaged in trucking and timbering of winning ore is to work alone on a level, the object being so that in the event of a man meeting with an accident there shall be another man at hand to give the call for assistance. At present all revenue derived from mining licenses is paid to local bodies, in order to cover the cost of collection. The State is in future to receive a commission of 10 per cent. Electric Power Bill. Moving the committal of the Auckland Electric Power Board Amendment Bill, the main provision of which is to extend the municipal franchise to the Board’s elections, the AttorneyGeneral (Hon. H. G. R. Mason) said the Auckland Power Board’s franchise was different from that of the remainder of the boards throughout the Dominion. It was antiquated, inadequate, and belonged to times of the past. The Leader of the Opposition (Hon. A. Hamilton) said he thought the provision would tend to give the Auckland City Council an almost over-riding power over the outside smaller authorities. Nothing had been said to show that there was any necessity for the change. Mr J. A. Lee said the small domestic consumer got a lower deal than the larger consumer in Auckland, and he thought he paid a higher rate for electricity than Wellington or Christ-

church. The large consumer, however, was well catered for. The Bill was put through all its stages and passed. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, November 26. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Hon. W. Perry, the Hon. T. Bloodworth, and the Hon. B. Martin were appointed to meet the Managers of the House to discuss the disagreement on the Whangarei Airport Bill. The second reading of the Finance Bill was moved by the Hon. M. Fagan, who argued that the Government’s policy was one of single ownership to be attained through the Railway Department. The Hon. T. Brindle said that he disagreed. The Government’s policy was not one of single ownership, but of proper organisation. The debate was adjourned. Mr Martin reported that the Council’s Managers had decided to adhere to the amendment made to the Whangarei Airport Bill.