HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14833, 26 November 1913, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tpesdat, November 25,

AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. HOSPITAL BILL. The Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act x\uiendment Bill was introduced by Governor's Message. The Hon. R. HEATON RHODES explained that tho Bill was mostly of a machinery nature. A penalty was imposed on those Boards which did not send in their return within the specified time. Power was also given to elect a member to a Board, although he did not reside in tl.a district. The Bill was read a first time. "WEST COAST NATIVE RESERVES. The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment Bill was also intnv duced by Governor's Message. Mr ELL protested against the introduction of a highly contentious Bill at this stage of the session. The Hon. W. H. HERRIES o*enied that there was anything contentious in the Bill. Its provisions had been agreed upon by the parties concerned. The Bill ouly. referred to the 1881 leases, which had to be dealt with this session. It proposed to extend the leases for ten years, After that the land would go back to the Natives. He proposed to refer the Bill to the Native Affairs Committee, and he was. certain that the committee would not allow an improper measure to go through. The Bill was read a first time and referred to the Native Affairs Committee.. , PUBLIC REVENUES BILL. ; - >The Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's Message. The Hon. JAMES ALLEN explained that it provided, amongst other things, power to issue Treasury bills in London in anticipation of a public works loan. Sir JOSEPH WARD said the question was of so much importance that it ought to have been referred to the Public Accounts Committee. Thero were gilt-edged securities to the extent, of £800,000 kept in London for raising money temporarily, and now the Government was proposing to take additional power to issue Treasury Bills to the extent of a proposed public works loan. Mr ALLEN said there was a limit of half a million. Sir JOSEPH WARD said that put a different complexion on the question. Still, it was such an important departure that it could be discussed- more safely in the Public Accounts Committee. Mr G. W. RUSSELL characterised the Bill as another of the many borrowing schemes of the non-borrowing Government. The Government was eimply a lot of amateurs playing with the finances of the country. Mr ALLEN, in reply, accused Mr Russell of want of patriotism. There was nothing particularly new in the Bill, for the power to issne Treasury bills in London was in existence now. All that was wanted was authority to delegate this power to the High Commissioner. He was prepared to refer the Bill to the Pnblic Accounts Committee for the fullest investigation. The Bill was read a first time and referred to the Public Accounts Committee to report within one week.