HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16571, 2 November 1921, Page 11

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON SITTING. Tiie House, met at 3.30 p m. POLICE FORCE. Air Veitcb gave notice of his intension to introduce the Police Force Act) Amendment Bill. LOCAL BODIES’ LOANS The Hon W. Do wine Stewart moved jfhat the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Local Bodies Loans Bill should be agreed to. Air Wilford and Mr Sidcy entered protests against. an amendment in •Jause 5 on the ground that it gave the grovernment power to exploit local Jodies’ sinking funds held by the Public Trustee. The Hon W. Downie Stewart, in reply, deprecated such criticism. The danse had been designed to meet the wishes of local bodies, and was not brought down in the interests of the Government at all. On a division tho amendments were agreed to by 33 to 15, LAND TAX. An amendment to tho Finance Act, in so far as it relates to payment of [and tnrc, was introduced by GovernorGeneral 5 s message. Mr Massey explained that tho Bill established the principle of rebate in connection with payment of land tax. Land tax was due on Monday, and he proposed that if payment were made by November 28 a. rebate of 10 per cent should be allowed. The Bill waa introduced and read a Brst time. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were read a first time :—Tanranga Borough Council Electric Loan (.Sir William Herries), Lnchclutha Road. River and Drainage Act Amendment (Mr Eiclie). MENTAL HOSPITALS. The House spent the remainder of the afternoon sitting discussing the annual report of tho Menial Hospitals Department. The Minister, in reply, intimated that vigorous steps were being taken to remedy overcrowding in tho various institutions. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. LAW OF Id BEL. The Hon E. P. Lee moved the second ,*cading of the Law of Libel Act Amendmeat Bill pro forma, which was agreed to, and the Bill waa referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. EDUCATION BILL. The Hon C. J. Parr moved that the Education Act Amendment Bill should be referred to tho Education Committee. Agreed toHUNTER GIFT. The Hon D. H (Guthrie moved the second reading of the Hunter Gift for Settlement oi Discharged Soldiers Bill. This gift, he a.aid, was one of the most generous, over mode in the interests of returned soldiers. It comprised something over two thousand acres and was valued at £17,600, with improvements valued at £BOS. Its half-yearly rental was £IOO. and already there was an accumulation of something like £Bl2, available for the purposes of the gift, which was to be devoted to the interests of returned soldiers within the Hawke’s Bny land district. This Bill provided machinery for its administration for all time. The administration would be in the hands of a trust hoard, the constitution of which was provided for iri the Bill. After explaining the provisions of the measure, the Minister paid a tribute to the loyalty and generous spirit displayed by Sir George Hunter in connection with returned soldiers, in which generosity he was pleased to say Sir George Hunter did nob stand alone. Colonel Mitchell, as a returned gol dier, thanked Sir George Hunter for his generosity towards returned men. He also mentioned Mr Williams (Bay of Fl eri t. v ), who had taken on great responsibility to help eoldiers in his district. As one who had freely criticised largo land owner?, for tboir want of consideration for soldiers, it gave him special pleasure to welcome such a gift a±; this. Mr Massey, speaking on behalf of the people of the Dominion, thanked Sir Goorge Hunter for his gift, and suggested that th© names of all those who made similar gifts should in some way be perpetuated. Mr Witty, Mr F. Newman (ManavcaDu) and Mr Brown joined iri paying tributes to Sir George Hunter’? generosity. Sir George Hunter briefly replied, and the second reading ua* agreed to on the voices. On the suggestion of the Prime Minister the Bib was taken through all its remaining stages and passed with unimportant amendments. PATENTS BILL.' On the motion to go into committee on the Patents Design* and Trade Marks Bill, the Hon E. P. lee said the Bill had been read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee, and as it stood non it was a consolidation of the law on the suhject, with a view to bringing it into conformity with the law of England. Tho Bill could be more conveniently dealt with in committee than on the motion to go into committee He desired to acknowledge tho assistance given the Statutes Revision Committee by Mr Sidey (Dunedin South), that gentleman having placed at their service hie wide knowledge of the subject. Mr Sidoy entered upon technical criticism of tho Bill, pointing out sev era! cases of divergence from English law, and suggesting amendments, which ho recommended to the Minister. He a bo suggested that when the Bill was before the Legislative Council. ne\ T eral patent agents in practice should be called before the Council’s committee to give evidence on several doubtful points. Mr Young objected to tho provision making solicitors patent agents. The range of knowledge of solicitors was not necessarily wide enough. Every' patent agent should at least have some knowledge of mechanics, and ho instanced a case in which this want of knowledge led to a great deal of trouble and some litigation. The Minister, in reply, defended ftolioitorc: as fit and proper persons to

become patent agents. The qualifications to govern these appointment# would he laid down in tho regulations. The House then went into Committee on the Bill. The ddito of coming into operation of the laiv was altered from July 1 to April 1, 1922, ou the motion of the Minister. At clause 136 the folio wing subclauses were added ou the motion of the Minister <la) :—Every person not registered as a patent agent before the first day of October, 1921. who proves to the satisfaction of tho registrar that he was on that date bona fide practising as a patent agent, whether individually or as a member of a firm or as manager or director of a company, shall bo entitled to bo registered as a patent agent if be makes application for the purpose within six months from the date of commencement of this Act, unless after giving an applicant an opportunity of being heard the registrar is satisfied that ho has, while so practising. been guilty of such misconduct as would have rendered him liable if his name had been on the register of patent, agents to have his name erased therefrom. (lb) Every person enrolled as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand shall he entitled to be registered as a patent agent. Mr Young moved that before solicitors became entitled to be registered as patent agents they should bo required to pass such examination in physical science as prescribed by Order-in-Council. This was lost on the voices. The Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed. The House, rose at 9.80 p.m.