IN THE HOUSE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 938, 7 December 1933, Page 15

IN THE HOUSE.

Notes and Comments From Parliament. NEW BRIGHTON UNEMPLOYED. (’Star” Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, December 6. There is no possibility of reinstatement of the former scale of ration allowances to New Brighten unemployed, according to a reply which Mr Sullivan (Avon> has received from the lion A. Hamilton in response to representations recently made. In a letter to Mr Sullivan Mr Hamilton states that New Brighton is or. the city scale of relief, which has not been altered since. November 1 of last year, although allocations in the majority of the country centres have recently been reduced. The Minister admits that there recently has been a curtailment of sustenance rations, but states that for (financial reasons this could not be I j voided. Compared w ith other centres .Yew Brighton is receiving liberal treatment. Poultry Bill Passed. | After a somewhat chequered career the Poultry Runs Registration Bill was passed by the House at midnight to-nightand unless rejected by the Legislative Council, will become law’. Mr Kyle made two attempts to have amendments inserted, one designed to delay the operation of the scheme until a poll of poultry keepers wished it to begin, being defeated on a division by 38 votes to 15, and another, designed toj raise the number of birds essential for registration from twenty-five to forty, being beaten by 38 votes to 30. To-morrow the day will be devoted to Mr Healy’s Gaming Amendment Bill, the Prime Minister’s announcement to this effect being greeted jeeringly by opponents of the measure. Tomato Gardens Registration. The only alteration which has been made by the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee of the House in the Tomato Gardens Registration Bill is with regard to fees payable in respect of gardens entirely within glasshouses. Under the Bill as originally introduced it was provided that a fee of 5s per annum was to be paid in respect of gardens with an area not exceeding 500 square feet, but this now has been altered to provide for payment of a fee on areas not exceeding 250 square feet. Areas between 250 and 1500 square feet will involve payment of a fee of 10s a year. Libel Law.

The scope of the law of Libel Amendment Bill introduced by the Hon J. G. Cobbe has been considerably restricted by the Statutes Revision Committee, which reported on the measure in the House this afternoon. It originally was intended to give qualified privilege to reports of proceedings of any society or body of persons for the control of any athletic exercises. The committee's amendment confines its application to any conference or club established for the control of racing. Customs Surtax to Go.

The total eventual abolition of the Customs surtax was foreshadowed by Mr Coates in a statement in the House to-night. The Minister said it was the general policy of the Government to simplify the tariff as much as possible in order to reduce work on the part of traders and the Customs -Department. The present system of levying surtax on duties complicated calculations, and as soon as possible that system would be abolished, either by arranging trade agreements with other countries or in some other way, and surtax also would be abolished in respect of Belgian goods enumerated in the schedule resolutions before the House. It also was proposed to abolish primage duty altogether on sheet glass for bevelling or silvering and vegetable parchment paper. Government and Sales Tax.

Legislation to validate the payment of sales tax by Government departments on goods purchased by them is to come down this session. Reference to the existing situation is contained in the annual report of the Controller and Auditor-General, who points out that the Sales Tax Act does not bind the Crown, and consequently no sales tax is legally payable on purchases made by the Crown. After the passing of the Act vouchers were received containing claims which included sales tax against the Crown, but as the terms of the legislation did not enable the vendor to impose the liability the claims were disallowed by the Audit Office. Representations were made to the Government as to the difficulties which were being experienced by suppliers consequent on claims being disallowed. and the payments were then passed by the Audit Office on receiving an assurance from the Prime Minister that the necessary validating legislation would be introduced during the next ensuing session.