PARLIAMENT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19155, 11 November 1927, Page 9

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. MAIN HIGHWAYS BILL. (PHBSS AS9OCTATIOK TELSQIUM.) WELLINGTON, November'lo. In the House of Representatives today the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill ("Washing-up" Bill) was, on the motion of the Miuister for Lands, read a second time. The Minister lor Public Works moved the second reading of the Main Highways Amendment Bill. He said the Bill was intended to facilitate the working of the Main Highways Board with local bodies. It provided for the Board doing experimental work at its own expense. Tho money transferred from the revenue fund to tho eonstruction fund could be repaid. Further, if a local bodiy failed to carry out its delegated powers, the Board could withhold from it money which otherwise it would receive. Boroughs with main highways running through them could be assisted at the discretion of the Board, and in a case of emergency a local body was empowered to borrow money for tho reconstruction of a bridge without taking a poll of ratepayers. Mr Sullivan (Avon) said he thought the time had arrived when the motorists of the Dominion should! hayo greater representation on the Main Highways Board. They were, in view of other legislation, going .to find a great part of tho Board's revenue, and on principle there should bo no taxation without representation. They should have at least one more representative on the Board.

Mr J. R. Hamilton (Awarua) urged more generous treatment for small boroughs with main highways running through them. At present these boroughs did not know what revenue they were going to get, but tho system was to blame, not the Minister. Mr Forbes (Hurunui) put in a pica for better representation for motorists on the Board, and a better system of tho allocation of money between the North and South Islands.

Mr Rhodes (Thames) said the Bill was good so far as it went, but it was too indefinite in its reference to the treatment of small boroughs. Mr Wilford (Hutt) said tho Bill in this respect was just about as vague as it could well be, but the Minister, had given him an assurance that boroughs would be fairly treated, and he was prepared to accept the Minister's assurance. The Minister, in reply, said he would consult his colleagues on the question of giving greater representation to motorists on the Board, and it necessary would amend tho Bill in Committee. With regard to assistance to boroughs, he wished to be fair, but he did not think it wise too definitely to allocate monies, because he wanted to bo in a position to spend money where it was most necessary, whether in tho North or the South Boroughs would bo treated in the same way as counties, and they would have opportunities of obtaining further grants where necessary. The Bill was read a second time.

Valuation of Land. The Minister for Lands moved the second reading of the Valuation or Land Amendment Bill. Mr Fraser approved of the proposal to have landowners represented on the Assessment Court, but he did not think the local body should be altogether eliminated from the Court Botn should be represented. Generally speaking, he thought valuations made by the Department were fair and equitable, and were based on right principles. ~ , Mr Field (Otaki) did not agree that Government valuations were always fair and equitable. He quoted instances in which he alleged injustice had been done. ... Mr Ransom (Pahiatua) criticised the work of the Department. He said it had one valuation for taxation, and another for loans, which was surely sufficient to shake the confidence of people in its assessments. Mr Lysnar (Gisborne) did not agree with the proposed method of appointing assessors to the Court, He would prefer to give sole power to the Magistrate, who would make his assessments on evidence adduced. The Hon. Mr Buddo (Kaiapoi) said he thought the Bill would simplify the work of the Department, and the Government was to be congratulated on its introduction.

Mr Sullivan (Avon) said he favoured the continuation of local body representation on the Court, side by side with representation of ratepayers. The Minister, in reply, said that in providing for the appointment of *a landowners' assessor on the Board, he was simply giving ratepayers a further opportunity to assert themselves, but he doubted yerv much if they would greatly avail themselves of it. Personally, he thought there was very little to complain of in the, country districts with the existing 'system of appointing assessors Tiy the local bodies. During the recess he intended to appoint a Commission, Departmental or otherwise, to go into the whole question of valuations with a view to getting all outstanding problems settled, and a comprehensive Bill brought down next session. The Bill was read a second time.

Bills in Committee. The House then went into Committee on the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill, the Main Highways Amendment Bill, the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill, and the Valuation of Land Amendment Bill.

Part 1 of the Reserves and Other Lands Bill was passed without amendment, and progress was reported on the Main Highways Bill. The Minister said that money transferred from the revenue fund to the construction fund could be repaid afc the earliest possible moment, but it was not thought advisable to tiehte.i up the clause too much, as the Minister for Finance wanted freedom of action in the matter. He regretted that he had not been able to consult his colleagues with regard to the representation of motorists on the Board, but he would not lose sight of it*. The Bill was reported without amendment. The Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill was next considered in Committee. Progress was reported after the first clause had been passed. The Main Highways Bill was read a third time and passed- The House rose. at 12.15 a.m.