PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160794, 30 October 1920, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

legislative council. (Per United Press Association.) t WELLINGTON, October 29. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. PROGRESS OF BILLS. Imprest Supply Bill (No. 15) was received from the House, put through all stages, and passed. The Councils Bill was committed and reported with minor amendments, which included new clauses giving Councils the power to contribute towards the cost of approved war memorials erected by any other local bodv or oy public subscription.—The Bill was passed. « HOUSING BILL. Sir Francis Bell moved the second reading of the Housing Bill, dwelling briefly on tho main provisions of the measure. He said l an important amendment was to be made to the clause which empowered a magistrate to increase the standard rent so as to allow a net income of 7 per cent, on the capital value. The clause, as it appeared in the Bill, spoke' of capital value as existing to-day, but should have been the capital value as at August 3rd, 1914. The rent restriction, he reminded members, applied! only to tenancies existing at the outbreak of the war. The Hon. Geddes said it was unfortunate that it was not generally known that rent restrictions did not apply to new buildings. The Hon. Samuel regretted there was no provision to meet the requirements of Harbour Boards. Sir Francis Bell: I think that is intended in some other Act. _ The Hen. Samuel added that considering the difficulties, the Bill was an admirable one. The Hon. Cohen urged the Minister to find some way of assisting Harbour Boards to house employees. The Hon. Barr said local bodies seemed not to be doing anything under the Act. They contented themselves with passing resolutions calling on the Government to do the work. It would be better if England’s plan was adopted and more responsibility was thrown’ on local authorities. The latter, for a start, should have a census of the re* quirements of their own districts. The extending of assistance to utility of society was a chance for unions to show they were something more than political associations. The Hon. Alison welcomed the netf provisions regarding rent restrictions, which had been too harsh in the past. The lion. Michel, while supporting the Bill, said he did not think the measure would do any great good. The Hon Nerheny said the Bill was a step in the right direction, though he was doubtful about it carrying out all it promised. He thought the clause governing the rent of rooms might be harmful. The real remedy lay in each man owning his own home. Sir Wm. Hall-.teiicf- 1 bought the Bill provided all the machinery as far as the Government could provide it, but that was useless unless labour was available. The Bill was committed with the amendment as outlined by Sir Francis Bell in moving the second reading. This Bill was reported and read a third time. The Council rose at 5.8 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ’Hie House met at 2.30 p.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Dr Newman, who said local bodies found they could not borrow money at per cent., Mr Massey said if it was found that the wants of local bodies could not he satisfied at the present rate of interest, the Government would consider the wisdom of increasing it. Replying to Mr Cralgie, the Hon. Nosworthy said that all the reports lift had received showed there was plenty of accommodation for arjiving in New Zealand. He did not pretend to say they were all getting houses, but so far as he knew they were being provided for. NEW BILLS. The District Railways Amendment Bill was, on the motion of the Hon Co ate .3, read a first time. Tho Hon. Rhodes gave notice of intention to introduce an Aviation Act, 1918, Amendment Bill. SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL. In bringing down the report of tho Labour Bills Committee on the Government’s Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, Mr Luke (chairman) said the Committee had come to the conclusion that the time has arrived when the 48-houi week should be made applicable to workers in hotels and large private hotels, and he'hoped that the Ministei would bring down legislation next session dealing with this matter. SUPERANNUATED PUBLIC SERVANTS. Lengthy discussion ensued on the report of tfie M to Z Petitions Committea on a petition of superannuated publio servants, who asked for some consideration in view ctf the increased cost, oi living 'The Committee reported that as the request was a matter of policy, they nad no recommendation to make. Many members expressed sympathy with Ihe petitioners, and hoepd .that the Government would give the matter favourable consideration. Mr Massey stated that the widows of superannuated civil servants would participate in the =£loo,ooo which tho Government proposed to vote to meet the necessities of the case. MARRIAGE AMENDMENT BILL. On the motion of Mr Downie Stewart tho report and evidence on the Marriage Amendment Bill was ordered to be printed and circulated, though not

formally laid on the table of the House, The Premier announced that the House would meet to-morrow at 11 a.m. for the transaction of business, also at the same hour on working days of next week. It was agreed that speeches on the Public Works Statement should be limited to 15 minutes. The House adjourned at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. Discussing the Public Works Estimates, Mr Yeitch complained of the unfair allocation of votes in favour of Auckland province. He cited the amount proposed to be spent on public works in road districts, and said that •£789,000 was to bo voted for Whangarei, Auckland,' Tauranga, Gisborne and Tauraarunui Road Districts, compared with £858,000 for the whole of the rest of New Zealand. The proposed expenditure in the same districts on land settlement account was £166,000 out of .£350,000, leaving £BI,OOO for the balance of New Zea t and, He protested that Auckland was receiving altogether 100 great a proportion of public expenditure. All Ministers controlling departments were Aucklanders, which meant that the north had far too strong an influence, which operated unfairly to the detriment of Taranaki and the southern portion of the North Island. He stressed -the urgency of the Paekakariki railway deviation, yet only a small amount appeared for this work. Nothing had been done to survey the line from Eaetihi to Wanganui, which had been nromised for years. The Stratford-Ongaruhe railway should be pushed cm to completion, but these two lines would threaten Auckland business interests, and herein lay the source of influence working against them. Mr Yeitch also complained that Wanganui was r.ot getting fair treatment in the matter provision of hydro-electne power. He hoped the Minister "vvoulo see that more equitable disposition of public expenditure was made. Mr E. W, Smith condemned the proposal to build light and narrow gauge railways, which he raid were quite impracticable over most of New Zealand country. Nothing less than a 3ft. Gin. gauge should ever be laid down. Left sitting. . Continuing the debate on the Puhlie Works Statement and the Estimates after the telegraph closed, Mr Horn put in a plea for the goldfield counties of Otago, which In the past had been the mainstay of the country, hut which are being sadly neglected now. We hear advocated the completion of main lines of railways with subsidiary roads to feed them as the best means of developing the country and Increasing its production. Mr Campbell discussed the proposal to deviate the Rimutaka line while there are so many returned soldiers with neither roads or railways. „ . . , Mr Glenn defended the Minister s policy of concentration on the main lines. Next in importance came the development of lines and roads in the backblocks. Mr Ngata defended the proposed expenditure in the Auckland province, which was only coming into its own. His worst criticism of the estimates was the extent of responsibility the Minister was thrusting on local bodies in the matter of construction and maintenance of roads in his district. Mr Holland deprecated the locality fight which had gone on during the debate. Either the works in Auckland province were necessary or they were not necessary. If they were necessary then the House should join together and vote the money instead of indulging in petty squabbles over parochial differences. Development should come first, and the money should be spent where it was most needed. At 3.15 the Minister rose to reply. He deprecated the suggestion that the method by which public works money should be allocated was per head of population as suggested by Mr Atmore. His idea was to allocate it where it would give the best return, and where it was most needed. The first essential to carrying on a successful public works policy was to secure a capable staff of engineers, efficient organisation, and to put men to work on a basis on which they would be satisfied, and to go to work cheerfully. ' Another factor was the employment of up-to-date machinery, and he was going to have a modern plant as soon as it was possible to get it. _ Discussing work in hand, he said that in March next a few of the lines would be completed, and therefore he would not stop them now. There were three lines on which he intended to stop Avork, and three coal mine lines would also be finished in two years’ time- That, then Avould leave them with the North Auckland Main Trunk line, Orepuki, Waiau and the Waikokopu branch. The completion of these lines would then become the objective of the Department, because they were calculated to give the country the best returns. It was unfortunate, perhaps, that he came from Auckland, but he hoped he had a mind open enough to see matters broadly, and his only anxiety was to make the lines which would promote the greatest development, and help the to pay taxation to meet the country’s needs. Continuing, he gave instances of the increased cost of material necessary for public works, which meant that though there was more money on the Estimates it did not folloAv they were going to get more Avork done. Labour also was an important factor, and in order to complete his programme he required from 700 to 1000 more men within tAvo years, and the Minister of Finance would require to provide three millions yearly to keep pace with the progress of the Avork. To carry out the nydro-electric works contemplated would absorb from seventeen to twenty millions, which would give some idea of the magnitude of the task before them. During the recess he hoped to visit various districts, and judge of the importance of the respective works on the spot. The House went into Committee at 3.45, and the whole of the votes were passed in ten minutes. Mr Massey intimated that the business to be taken to-day would be the Mining Bills, and he also hoped to introduce the Railway Bill at the afternoon sitting. The House rose at 4 a.m. till 2.30 in the afternoon, it being found impossible to meet at 11 a.m. as previously arranged, owing to the late hour of rising.