PARLIAMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 288, 6 December 1933, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

MANY LOCAL BILLS RELIEF WORKERS' CHRISTMAS. L i’er Press Association, i WELLINGTON, Dec. 5. j The House of Representatives met at 2.39 p.m. I Mr. P. C. Webb (Buller) was formally sworn in, Messrs. 1... J. Howard and R. Semple acting as sponA private Bill, the New Zealand Branch of the British Red Cross and the Older of St. John Empowering Bill, was introduced by the Minister of Health (Hon. .1. A. Young) and was accorded the same privileges as a public Bill, except iu regard to the payment of Air. Young said that the object ol | the Bill was to enable the transfer of 1 some of the property of the New Zea { land branch of the British Red Cross i to the New Zealand Red Cross Society, j which was the New Zealand peace-time society. He added that all the parties were in agreement as to the measure. Mr. M. J. Savage (Leader of the Opposition) said he had discussed the matter with the Minister, and so far as he could see, there was no legitimate excuse for raising any objection to treating the Bill on tie lines suggested by Mr. Young. The Bill was read a first, time. Mr. W. P. Endean gave notice of intention to introduce the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Bill. Mr. Webb asked the Prime Minister whether the Government, when appointing a successor to the Under-Secretary for Mines, would appoint some person who had some knowledge of the mining industry. Hon. G. W. Forbes said that the ap- ; pointment would be made by the Public j [Service Commissioner in accordance l 'with, the terms of the Public Service i Act. Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland I Central), drawing attention to a Press cable from Australia, asked whether the Government would make similar provision for the unemployed at Christ mas time as was proposed by Mr. Stevens, Premier of New South Wales. He said that Mr. Stevens had stated that tho Government would allocate £lO,OOO for Christmas expenditure on eggs, oranges, honey, cheese and vegetables for needy families. Mr. Forbes said that the Unemployment Board, in its first year, had made a contribution of £lO,OOO at Christmas time, and in its second year had contributed £15,0U0. Last year it had paid a full allowance for two weeks without calling upon relief workers to perform any work, and it was proposed to make the same provision this year. He pointed out that this involved an expenditure of £lOO,OOO this year, and he regretted that the fund would not permit any additional help. The Whakatane Harbour Board Vesting Bill was reported from the Local Bills Committee. The same committee, reporting on the Local Government Officers’ Bill, stated that in view of the representations by tho Municipal Association, the committee was of opinion that the Municipal Association, Institute of Town Clerks, and Institute of County Clerks should confer, with the object of redrafting tho Bill for submission to the Government, and in these circumstances the committee recommended that tho Bill bo not allowed to proced this session. The Waimakiriri River Improvement Amendment Bill was reported from the Lands Committee without amendment. Tho Harbours Amendment Bill was reported from the Lands Committee with amendments. The Canterbury University College Bill and Victoria University College Bill were introduced by GovernorGeneral’s message and read a first lime. Mr. Forbes explained that the Bills were consolidating measures with a few minor amendments. Tho Mines Amendment Bill was also ■ introduced by Governor-General’s message and read a first time. Hon. E. C. ( Macmillan said that- the object of the ' Bill was to adjust the anomaly under which, it was possible that a coal mine might be leased from the State for 40 to 60 years, whereas the right of access was obtained for only 21 years. This had happened in the case of the MacDonald Aline. The Bill proposed to make the period of the lease of the land and the period of access rights , coterminous. The Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Lands Committee, the Minister intimating that he would later refer it to the Alines Committee. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. Poultry-Runs Registration. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. and went into committee on tho PoultryRuns Registration Bill. Further opposition was encountered and a lengthy discussion took place on the short title. Progress was reported nt 10 p.m. to enable introduction of the, Transport Amendment Bill and the Finance Bill No. 1 by Governor-General’s message. * Air. Howard inquired whether the former Bill had anything to do with tho Christchurch trams. Hon. J. G. Coates: No. There is i nothing suspicious about it. Mr. Howard: What we have, we’ll ! hold. Mr. Coates said that the main fea j ture of the Bill was that it proposed to replace the Appeal Board with a transport co-ordination board. The new board would have considerably wider duties than the present, which was purely an appeal board. The co-ordina-tion board, in addition to hearing appeals, would make recommendations to the Government as to various phases and general developments in transport, and what, in its opinion would be necessary for an improvement in the control of transport. The Government would consider these recommendations with a view to adopting the most, workable system for New Zealand. Power was given for a central licensing authority to consist of one person. The general tendency would be for the ■ existing local authorities lo carry on * Ihe licensing of transport in their districts, but so far as the central author 1 ily was concerned, the spade work had I been finished and it was now neces- I sary fur only one person to carry out ! flic duties of the central licensing authority. Appeals against, Ills rccojnmandations would go to tho Co-ordina-tion Board. The effect would be to reduce, overhead costs. Rev. Clyde Carr (Labour, Timaru): Is a member of a transport company eligible for membership on the board. Mr. Coates: I. think the constitution will remain very much as at. present. lh(; Co-ordination Board will con- ■ sist of three members, the same mini- j her as al present on the Appeal | The Bill was road a first time. 1