PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 239, 9 October 1928, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

JOTTINGS FROM THE GALLERY

THE .FINAL RUSH.

BILLS GIVEN QUICK PASSAGE,

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The House of Representatives did a great day's work yesterday, so that the decks would be clearcd for the end of the session. More than a dozen local bills, including the Auckland War Memorial Museum Maintenance Bill, were passed during the afternoon. In the evening the New Zealand University Amendment Bill was put through Committee and passed, the Finance Bill and Supplementary Estimates were introduced, and a number of amendments made to various measures by the Legislative Council dealt with. At one o'clock this morning the House had passed all the Estimates. War Memorial Museum. The Auckland War Memorial Museum Maintenance Bill was passed by the Council without amendment. Validation of a Loan. A loan of £50,000 by the Auckland Savings Bank to the Auckland Harbour Board is validated by a clause in the Finance Bill introduced to-day. The loan was granted in December, 1927, and validation was necessary because the bank's trustees had acted without statutory authority. Tongariro Park Hostel. To facilitate the erection of a hostel at Tongariro National Park there is a clause in the Finance Bill authorising an advance by the Public Trustee to the Tongariro National Park Board of a sum not exceeding £40,000 subject to approval by the Minister of Finance. The Government will guarantee the loan, and the board is authorised to issue debentures for a maximum term of forty years. The board is authorised to lend the whole or any portion of the money borrowed to any incorporated company to which has been granted a lease of land within the park. Any such loan to a company must be secured by mortgage over the company's assets, and with such collateral securities as may be arranged. The Minister of Finance is to approve of the rate of interest and conditions of the loan.

Tomatoes from Cook Islands. It was alleged by Mr. McCombs (Lyttelton) in a question in the House today, that while New Zealand hot-house tomatoes are marked in Wellington shops at 3/ a lb, other shops have ticketed Cook Island tomatoes as hothouse and charge 1/ a lb for them. He asked the Minister in charge of the Board of Trade if steps would be taken to prevent this misrepresentation. The Hon. A. D. McLeod replied that his Department had informed him that the matter did not come under the Board of Trade regulations, and there was nothing to indicate the necessity for making any regulation. Anyone suffering as a result of misrepresentation had a right of action against the seller, and purchaser was responsible to see that he secured the goods he desired. Mr. McCombs: Cannot you do something to protect them? The Minister did not reply. Rent Restriction. It was mentioned by the Hon. R. A. Wright, Minister of Labour, to-day, that the Government had decided not to reenact the rent restriction law this session. He did not think there was likely to be any serious position over rents in future. If there was any difficulty it was worse in Wellington.

"Still Going Strong." The veteran politician, Sir Joseph | Ward, Leader of the United party, wa9 amused when he received the following telegram from Mr. G. McKay, United candidate for the Hawke's Bay seat yesterday afternoon: "A report is current in Hastings to-day of your death. Opening campaign to-night. Reply important." With alacrity Sir Joseph sent off his reply: "I am glad to be able to reply I am very much alive and in excellent health, as my friends will realise next week. My regards and good luck." Early Morning Business. The House sat till 4.25 a.m. in order to pass the Finance Bill and the Religious, Charitable and Educational Trusts Amendment Bill. The short title of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment was passed, and progress was reported before the House adjourned. ,Mr. H. Atmore (Nelson) congratulated Sir Joseph Ward on the fight he had put up on the Finance Bill to protect the interests of the rank and file concerning public service superannuation. Mr. Atmore I said it was peculiarly fitting that Sir Joseph should have been instrumental in having it withdrawn, since he had been the originator of the superanuation schemes. The House adjourned till II a.m. to-day. Taupo Railway. That the first claim for employment on the railway construction between Rotorua and Taupo belonged to those employees of the Public Works Department who had been engaged on the East Coast | line was clearly stated by the Minister j of Public Works, Hon. K. S. Williams, in answer to a question by Mr. F. F. Hockly (Rotorua) in the House of Representatives to-day. The Minister said after the claims of these men had been satisfied consideration would be given to returned soldiers of both races who were in the Rotorua district.