POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21409, 27 February 1935, Page 10

POLITICAL NOTES

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, February 26. Broadcasting Control After a fortnight on the subject of mortgage finance, it was refreshing to hear members in the House of Representatives to-day discussing something rather less financial and rather more entertaining—the virtues and vices of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board, and the manner in which broadcasting in New Zealand should be developed. The opportunity was provided by the introduction of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill; but as the bill itself was not discussed a still more lively debate is expected when the bjll comes down for second reading. But after an hour on broadcasting, the House in committee returned to the Mortgage Corporation Bill, and talked about it willingly until the adjournment at 10.30 p.m. Little progress was made, and only one clause —the short title —had been approved when the House rose. That approval was the result of a division in which the Government was successful by 33 votes to 25.

Opposition to Bill Opposition to the Government's Mortgage Corporation plan was attributed by Mr J. Connolly (Ind. C., Mid-Canterbury), in the House tonight, to a fear that the shareholders were going to make substantial profits out of the undertaking. He thought that a limit of 4£ per cent, on dividends was well worth consideration, as he believed that the corporation would actually make large profits. Any excess of profits above the 4h per cent, dividend should be paid to the Consolidated Fund, after ample reserves had been set aside. This, said Mr Connolly, would set many minds at rest.

Tasman Shipping Trade A report that the Union Steam Ship Company intended paying off the crews of the Marama and the Maheno, because of inability to compete in the trade between Australia and New Zealand against subsidised foreign shipping, was referred to in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr H. T. Armstrong (Lab., Christchurch East). He asked the Prime Minister how much longer the Government was going to tolerate this "unfair competition, which was bringing ruin on the shipping trade, and having such a disastrous effect on seamen and others employed." Would the Government take immediate action to protect the Dominion's intercolonial ' shipping service from foreign competition of this kind? Tourist Traffic A statement of the Government's policy as to tourist traffic in New Zealand was sought by Mr A. S. Richards (Lab., Roskill) in an urgent question to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) in the House to-day. Mr Richards referred to a statement by Mr H. H. Sterling, chairman of the Railways Board, when addressing the Press Conference in Rotorua last week, that nothing definite had been done by the Government to give effect to the recommendations made to it last August after a conference on matters affecting tourist traffic. i Replying, Mr Forbes said that the Hon. A. Hamilton, Minister m charge of the Tourist and Publicity Departments, was in Australia, where he was enquiring into tourist traffic affairs. On his return, the question would be dealt with by the Government.

County Elections. A suggestion that the Government should introduce legislation permitting ratepayers who are not more than two years m arrears with their rates to vote at the forthcoming county elections was contained in a question which Mr A. Stuart (C., Rangitikei) asked the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. Sir Alexander Young) in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Stuart stated that similar action was taken by the Government at the last county elections. The Minister explained that the action taken in 1932 was at the express wish of the Counties' Association and other local authorities, i.o request had been received from the association for re-enactment of the provision. He would, however, have the matter considered by the Government.