PARLIAMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 301, 21 December 1933, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

THE FINAL STAGES FINANCE BILL PASSED. [ Per Press Association. J WELLINGTON, Dec. 20. Final reports were presented by the I various Select Committees. I Amendments tG the Finance Bill £ (No. 2) were introduced by Governor- ( General’s message and referred to the t committee on the Bill. c The Land and Income Tax Amend- £ ment Bill was introduced by Governor- 1 General’g message and read a first time. Urgency was obtained for the pas- f sage of the following Bills, on which I the House went into committee: Finance 1 Bill (No. 2), Finance Bill, Motor Spirits ( (regulation of prices) Bill, Education c Law Amendment Bill, Poor Prisoners’ Defence Bill, Land Transfer (Hawke’s Bay) Amendment Bill, Card Tournaments Regulation Bill, Valuation of Land Amendment Bill, and Auckland Metropolitan Milk Bill. Tn committee on the Finance Bill (No. 2) Labour members called for a division on the clause validating pen* sion reductions as from April 1, 1932, but it was retained by 34 to 27. Mr. Savage asked regarding a clause removing tobacco from the schedule of the Commercial Trusts Act, whether the would give an assurance that the public would be protected from exploitation in the direction of price fixation at too high a level. Hon. J. G. Coates said if prices rose to an unreasonable level the Government would not hesitate to invoke the Board of Trade Act with a view to protecting the public. The Bill was put through committee with amendments introduced by Gover-nor-General’s message. Discussion of the Finance Bill was proceeding when the House adjourned at 1 p.m. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. In committee on the Finance Bill, a division was taken on the clause relating to the payment of interest in sterling on local body loans raised in London. The clause was retained by 35 votes to 22 and the Bill was put through the remaining stages and passed. The Finance Bill (No. 2) was_read a third time and passed. The Auckland Metropolitan Milk Bill was put through committee with amendments. Petrol Price Regulation. “This is one of the simplest and most desirable Bills we have had this session,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. M. J. Savage), when the committe stage of the Motor Spirits (regulation of prices) Bill was commenced. “The only question is whether motor spirits are being sold at an economic price or not, and a committee of this House has reported that they are not being sold at an economic price, and that some control is necessary.” Mr. A. E. Jull (Government. Walpawa), said there was a possibility of the purpose of the Bill being defeated by some companies giving concessions on the sales of other articles, for instance tyres. Mr. Forbes said the. Bill gave the Government power to issue regulations to control prices if this were necessary in the public interest. It already had such power under the Board of Trade Act, but as petrol played such an important part in the economic life of the Dominion it had ben considered fair to submit the question to Parliament in the form of a Bill. Provision had been made to meet evasions of the nature suggested by Mr. Jull. Mr. Forbes pointed out that if such an attempt were made by wholesalers it would easily be detected, while in the case of retailer the profit per gallon was so small that it was unlikely to be practicable. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour, Avon) also expressed approval of the Bill, which he said was necessary to protect consumers. He predicted that unless the Bill passed this session it would be found by next session that the independent company would not be in existence, and the price of petrol would have been raised. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. Bills Passed. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The following Bills were put through the remaining stages and passed:— Motor Spirits (regulation of prices) Bill, Education Law Amendment Bill, Poor Prisoners’ Defence Bill, Land ' Trnasfer (Hawke’s Bay) Bill, Card ■ Tournaments Bill, Valuation of Land Amendment Bill, and the Auckland ; Metropolitan Milk Bill. The Supplementary Estimates and the Small Farms (Relief of Unemployment) Amendment Bill, were introduced ! by Governor-General’s message. 1 Hon.. E. A. Ransom said the Small ■ Farms Amendment Bill contained no policy matters, but it included several 1 provisions which would facilitate the working of the scheme. Urgency was accorded the passage of • 12 Government Bills, including two measures introduced to-day.