LOCAL BILLS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21449, 13 September 1939, Page 12

LOCAL BILLS

Consideration by House Harbour Measures Meet Opposition Bp Telegraph —Press Association WELLINGTON, September 12. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, the Transfer Amendment Bill, with several amendments, was received back from the Legislative Council, the House agreeing to the amendments which had been made. The Adhesive Stamps Bill was read a second time. Moving the second reading of the Napier Harbour Board Loan Amendment Bill. Mr E. L. Cullen (Labour, Hawke’s Bay), on behalf of Mr Speaker (Hon. W. E. Barnard), explained that the measure was designed to provide funds to complete works which had already been commenced. The cost of the work had risen in the meantime and further funds were required. The Board's objective was to make Napier a port at which deep sea vessels could call. Mr A. E. Jull (National, Waipawa) raised strong objection to a further sum being authorised without the consent of the ratepayers by loan poll. He considered that the Board's conduct of the matter had bee: unbusinesslike. Mr W. J. Polson (National, Stratford) supported Mr Jull in his opposition to the measure unless provision for a loan poll of the ratepayers was included in the Bill. Mr Polson contended that the harbour would cost the people of Napier and surrounding districts more than £1,000,000 before it was finished. Mr D. W. Coleman (Labour, Gisborne) said it had been contended by Messrs Jull and Polson that local bodies did not support the measure, but this was not the case. Moreover, not one Government Department had opposed the Bill. The Bill passed its second readir and entered the Committee stage. In Committee. Mr Jull moved > postpone consideration for viiree months to enable provision to be made for a ratepayers’ poll. Th Chairman of Committees, Mr R. ruled this out of order as it amounted to an appropriation. MT Jull thereupon moved that the Bill be adjourned for three months. The Chairman also ruled out of order Mr Jull’s second amendment on the ground that it was a direct negative to the Bill. The measure was eventually put through its Committee stages, given its third reading and passed. The Emergency Regulations Bill and the Legal Aid 8.1 l were introduced Governor-General’s Message. The Wanganui Harbour District and Empowering Bill also met with steady opposition when it came up for its “second reading, and when the House rose at 10.30 p.m. the committee stages were not completed. Mr Cotterill, who is in charge of the measure, said it was proposed to amend the Bill to reduce the overdraft authority to £6OOO to allow the necessary work to be carried on until the loan poll was taken. Mr Polson and the Hon. J. G. Cobbe criticised the Bill on the same lines as when the Bill was previously before the Here,