PARLIAMENT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19168, 26 November 1927, Page 16

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. PROGRESS WITH BILLS. (PRBSS ASSOCIATION TELEORAM.) WELLINGTON, November H, When tho House of Eepresentativcs met to-day the debate on the rcpoTt on the Education Bill was resumed. Sir Apirana Ngata asked the Minister if he would make provision in the Bill for the election of a Maori representative on the Board of the JRotorua High School. The natives had contributed liberally to the establishment of the school, and were entitled to some recognition in the matter. Mr Hoekly (Rotorua) supported the request. The report was laid on the rablc. Education Reserves. The Minister for Lands moved the second reading of. tl.t Education Reserves Amendment Bill, which, he said, was intended to give a better tenure to the holders of leases of education reserves, and so it was hoped it would improve the settlement of this class of laud. There were some two thousand persons scattered all over the country affected by tho Bill. These people would be given an opportunity of surrendering their present leases, and under the Bill they would receive a tenure of greater uniformity for 21 years, with a perpetual right of renewal, at such rents as might be deemed equitable, with full protection at the termination of these new leases for any improvement effected by the lessees. Provision was also made whereby the proceeds from education reserves, sold under special circumstances, or exchanged for other lands, might be invested upon first mortgages in freehold lands, or in Government or municipal securities for the benefit of the endowment, when such course was deemed expedient. As the law now stood such moneys could be invested only in the purchase of other lands for education purposes, and suitable investments by .way of such purchases were not always immediately practicable or expedient. The Bill also contained a clause regarding tho powers of trustees of High Schools,' with respect to the method of granting leases of lauds vested in them. These powers wero considerably extended. Provision was also made whereby leases offered might be balloted for among suitable applicants. Power was given to accept surrenders of existing leases of pastoral land, and to grant in lieu thereof fresh leases for a term not exceeding 35 years. Mr Forbeß (Hurunui) said he felt sure the Bill would be welcomed by those holding education leases. He thought, however, that it was a mistake to allow the Minister for Education to administer the Act, which was really a Land Act. That should be done by the Ministry for Lands. Mr Howard (Christchurch South) said he could not congratulate the Minister on this Bill, introduced at the eleventh hour. On his reading of the Bill it appeared that tho leases of two Canterbury Colleges could be disposed of, and he had to protest. The Minister for Lands said the Bill did not affect either college. Mr Buddo (Kaiapoi) said he was sorry that any power was being taken out of the hands of Education Boards to deal with reserve When power was taken from local Boards, it meant that progress was being made towards centralisation, which was to be deplored. The principle of the Bill was security of tenure, and that was deserving of everybody's approval. Mr Walter (Stratford) said the Minister for Lands had made many splendid, speeches in favour of the freehold, and, therefore, ho regretted that when the chance came, the Minister had not availed himself of it. The Bill would give relief in many respects, but the one thing leaseholders wanted was the freehold. The Bill was read a second time. Native "Washing-Up" Bill. The Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill. He said that one of tho greatest problems in connexion with native land was the question of rates. Much of the land was now carrying such a load of rates that if sold r the land would not pay those rates. A scheme of consolidation of overdue rates was therefore proposed. To this end an examination of the position was necessary. It would neces'sarily take some time to ascertain what native lands should pay rates, and when this has been done the Native Land Rating Act would apply- ■ Mr Savage (Auckland West) commended Clause 9 under which provision was made for several areas of land to ho farmed and dealt with conjointly. This was a step in the right direction enabling better use to be made of native land. He thought similar provision might well be applied to some European land. Mr Uru (Southern Maori) expressed: disappointment that, the Bill contained no fulfilment of the promise to adjust the Ngaitahu claim in the South Island, but expressed the hope that the fair-minded Pakeha would redeem that' promise so soon as circumstances wduld permit. The Bill was read a second time. Railways"" Bill. The Prime Minister- then moved the committal of the Government Railways Amendment Bill, which, he said, made no difference in administration. So far as transfers and promotions wero concerned the Bill followed the recommendations of the Committee set up to investigate this phase of the service. With these recommendations Cabinet did not agree entirely, but after consideration it was thought best to givo full effect to the Committee's suggestions. For the future all appointments would be provisional and would not be made final until all chance of appeal was removed. Eegrading would take place every five years. He next dealt with tho constitution of the Appeal Board of seven members, five of whom would be elected. He made the point that they wanted a Board that would hold the balance fairly between the men on the one hand,-and the public on the other. The chairman, he thought, should be a Magistrate, unless there was someone else satisfactory to both parties. He made it clear that it was not the intention to bring outsiders into the Department if there was anyone in the Department capable of doing the work. He thought the Appeal Board would work out satisfactorily, and that the Railway Associations were not justified in their alarm. Mr 11. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, said he understood there would be no appeal in the case of a position to which the salaries attached exceeded £7GS per annum, and he did not think that would be satisfactory. He believed the service desired the present ('.;• man (a Magistrate) of the Appeal Board to remain, nnd he saw no reason why it should not be laid down' in the Act that the chairman should be a Magistrate. The Prime Minister said that was the understanding. "Then," said Mr Holland, "I take it that if the Service wants a Magis-

trate, the Prime Minister will agree?" | The Prime Minister: Yes, i Sir George Hunter (Waipawa) approved of the Bill, particularly of the •housing clauses. Sir Joseph Ward (Invercargill) urged that the "plums" of the Service should j not go to outsiders, The Bill was com- j mitted. Bills in Committee. ' The Education Eeserves Bill, the Lands "Washing-Up" Bill, the Native Land Bill, and the Government Railways Bill were then put through Committee stage, read a third time, and passed. On the third reading of the Railway Bill, Sir Joseph Ward congratulated the Prime Minister on having moved the following new clause in Committee, having for* its object the prevention of the appointment of outsiders to "plums" of the Service: "No person other than a member of the Department shall be appointed to any position or office therein unless in the opinion of the appointing authority no member then in the service of the Department, and available for appointing to that position or office, is fully qualified for appointment to. that position or office, and capable of efficiently carrying out the duties thereof," . The Prime Minister announced that the House would meet at 10.30 in the morning and sit till 1 p.m. The House rose at 1.10 a.m. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (PBEaS ASSOCIATION TELXGBAM.) WELLINGTON, November 25. In the Legislative .Council to-day .the Public Service Amendment BUI was reported from the Statutes Revision Committee without amendment, and put through its final stages and passed. The Waimakariri River Improvement Amendment Bill, and the Stamp Duties Amendment Bill, were received .from the House and read a first time The Hon. Mr Clark asked whether, when Government was revising the recently published motor regulations, it would consider the question of prohibiting the practice of some taxicab owners of locking their cars while occupied by their fares, and thus prevent the risk of serious accident. Sir Francis Bell replied that _ the, Government would consider the point. Tho Rent Restriction Continuance Bill was passed with amendments l made by the Labour Bills Committee,and a further Government Amendment I protecting orders of the Court, made I since the expiration of the old Act last August. The Council adjourned at 4.55 p.m.-