IN PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, 29 July 1925, Page 5

IN PARLIAMENT.

A VARIETY OF TOPICS. STATE ADVANCES. (‘/The Age” Special.) PARLIAMENT HOUSE, July 28 — The state borrower as a new force in polities was mentioned by Mr Veitch as an argument in favour of. organising lending under the agency of co-operative agricultural banks. The number of mortgagors of the State Advances Office, said Mr Veitch, had become very large and only needed to be a little larger to constitute these borrowers a strong political force which, would demand concessions. If the administration was weak these demands might seriously prejudice the country’s finance. It would be l much safer for the state if much of the farmers’ financing was taken out of the State’s hands and organised through agricultural banks.The State could take the risk of giving a guarantee for a few years until the banks could manage t» carry on in their own way. Wood Pigeon a Pest. The Minister of Internal Affairs, questioned regarding the reported liberation of wood pigeons at Lake Hawea, informed the House that no authority had been given, as he understood these birds were detrimental to agriculture in England. When applications were made for the liberatidn of birds in New Zealand he conferred with the Minister of Agriculture, whe took the opinion of the Council of Agriculture. If the latter was unfavourable the application was declined. Investigations were being made into the Hawera report and if wood pigeons had been liberated those responsible would be summarily dealt with. County Council’s Powers. Machinery for the union of counties is contained in the Counties Amendment Bill, which was read a. second time to-day. Counties may be united by proclamation on a special order being passed by each of the County Councils affected or in accordance with the recommendations of a commission. If one Council passes a resolution recommending union with another and the latter does not within three months pass a similar resolution the former may petition the Governor-General, who may then appoint the Commissioner of Crown Lands, a district valuer and one other person to report whether effect should be given to the recommendation of the petitioning council. In the bill County Councils are authorised to sell rabbit-proof wire netting to their ratepayers on repayment by instalments with or without interest and recoverable as a rate.

Every vehicle which is in fact nsed for hire for the carriage of passengers or goods within a county is to be deemed as plying for hire and licensed accordinigly. Old Age Pensions. Some misconception appears to exist as to the intention of the Government foreshadowed in the Budget. The Minister of Pensions (Mr Anderson) explained that the proposal is to establish a minimum of 17/6 a week to all who were previously entitled to 15/. Under the present law an old age pensioner receives 15/ per week if he has not more than £2 per year, £5O in cash and does not possess a house in which he lives worth more than £520. Undr ,the new legislation this pensioner would received 2/6 per week more, making a total of 17/6. If at present he has nothing' more than £6 10/ per year or £25 in cash or, property he receives 17/6 per week. This man would not receive more than 17/6 per week. Those who at present are in receipt of less than 15/ per week pension, their income being more than would entitle them to a full pension, will receive an income proportionate to 2/6 or 15/. Hospital Employes Insurance. From January 1, 1926, hospital boards will be required to make application for the enrolment of all permanent employees as contributors to the National Provident Fund. If they fail to do so the secretary shall be required by the Superintendent of the Fund to give particulars of the employees. This list shall be taken as an application from the hospital board to become a contributor and if the payments are not made they shall be deducted from the state subsidy. The scale of contributions is fixed by the Finance Act 1916 varying from 4 per cent if the contributor’s ago is less than 30 to 9 per cent if the age exceeds 50. Boards will pay the balance of the contributions from their funds.

Agricultural Banks Bill. This bill, introduced by Mr Wilford, was read a first time. In an explanatory speech Mr Veitch said the system of co-operative borrowing and lending by farmers was a proved success in other countries. It should start with a state guarantee for a few years. Lenders were loath to lend to individual farmers but under the system proposed they would have the guarantee of a corporate security, which would result in greaterenee and a lower rate of interest. At June 30 there were sums to the credit of currents accounts in the various banks totalling £30,000,000 not earning interest, but a large proportion of this money could be turned to better account through agricultural banks for safe investment.