POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21416, 7 March 1935, Page 12

POLITICAL NOTES

+ [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, March 6. Mori gage Corporation Bill The Mortgage Corporation of New Zealand Bill passed the committee stage in the House of Representatives late to-night, after seven full days' discussion; and the second reading debate on the Broadcasting Amendment Bill was begun. To-day's debate centred on the Mortgage Corporation's partial exemption from local body rates, the appropriate clause in the bill being challenged by members of the Coalition party as well as by the Opposition. The Minister for Finance (the Rt. Her. J. G. Coates) would not admit that the mortgage legislation provided an opportunity for a decision on the whole problem of the Crown's liability for rates; but he promised to investigate the problem of local body rating, and if possible make some provision for assistance in deserving cases when building his next budget.

It is understood that the third reading debate on the Mortgage Bill is to be postponed until after the Rural Mortgagors and Tenants Final Adjustment Bill has been introduced, possibly this week.

Workers' Compensation An amendment to the Workers Compensation Act to provide for compensation payments to relief workers on a weekly rather than on a daily basis was sought by Mr W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central) in the House of Representatives today. Mr Parry asked the Minister for Labour (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) if he intended thii session to bring down the amendment promised last session by the Minister for Public Works. Mr Hamilton stated that the necessary bill was under preparation, and that it would be discussed with the Cabinet shortly, with a view to its possible introduction this session.

Goitre Research The need for the Government to grant assistance in the investigation of the causes and cure of goitre was discussed by Mr W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier), in the House to-day. Mr Barnard referred to the statement made at the medical conference at Dunedin, that progress in this direction was being hampered by the Government's parsimonious attitude, and he asked the Minister for Health (the Hon. Sir Alexander Young) if, in the interests of public health, he would take steps to assist adequately the work of medical investigation of the disease, and also ensure the importation of a sufficient supply of iodised salt. A Labour Attack "A corporation of this kind jvill be nothing but a gang of spielers," declared Mr H. T. Armstrong (Lab., Christchurch East) in the House of Representatives to-night, when the Mortgage Corporation Bill was being discussed. Profits will be its only concern. The only safeguard will be the Minister's right of veto in certain matters; but the Minister is to appoint the directors himself. The Government has appointed a majority of the directors of the Bank of New Zealand, and that institution is run in the interests of the Shylocks of this country. It is only reasonable to believe that the same Minister will appoint the same type of man to 'the Mortgage Corporation."

Non-Payment of Rates Stating that the Government Life Insurance Department was taking up the attitude that it was entitled to the same rights as the State Advances Department, and that it was refusing to pay to the Christchurch City Council and other local bodies overdue rates on properties where the department was the mortgagee, Mr D. G. Sullivan (Lab.. Avon), in an urgent question to the Frime Minister in the House to-day, entered a protest against this procedure. He asked the Minister to rectify the position, and to instruct the Government Life Insurance Commissioners to meet their honourable obligations to local bodies in the same way as other mortgagees must do.

Mr Sullivan explained that the case he referred to concerned arrears of rates amounting to £228 17s, including the 10 per cent, penalty. A mortgage had been arranged with the Government Life Insurance Commissioners; but it was made out to his Majesty the King. The department was taking advantage of this to escape its just obligations, and would only pay the special rates struck before the date of the mortgage—February, 1929. The Prime Minister stated that he had not been able to procure the necessary information at such short notice; but that he would communicate with Mr Sullivan whenever the information was supplied. Insurance Policies

The provision of complete immunity from attachment for debt of life insurance policies, through an amendment to the Acts Interpretation Act, was sought by Mr F. Langstone (Lab., Waimarino) in the House of Representatives to-day, in an urgent question to the Minister for Finance, Mr Coates. Mr Langstone said that, under existing legislation. a State department could claim against any insurance policy for payment of any debt owing to the Crown. In all other instances, life insurance policies were immune from attachment against bankruptcies, debts, and other charges. The Minister stated that it was not intended to amend the act. Life insurance moneys were available, along with the other assets of a debtor, to satisfy debts owing to the Crown. With dead persons' estates, full information was obtained of the financial position of the estate and the relationship of the successors, and decisions were made on the merits of the case. Christchurch Petition

A petition signed by P. S. Turnbull and 502 others, of Christchurch, praying for increased payment for relief workers, was reported back with no recommendation to the House of Representatives to-day by the Public Petitions Committee. The four Christchurch Labour members of Parliament knew nothing of the petition which had been presented last year by Mr H. Holland (C., Christchurch North), and they were momentarily taken aback by the report to the House. Later, however, they found that the petition had originated with business men, and that it did not come, as they thought, from relief workers.

It is probable that such a petition would have initiated a long discussion on unemployment and relief rates; but the report was received by the House in silence.