PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2572, 21 September 1915, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

LOCAL BILLS

CONTROL OF PATRIOTIC FUNDS IMPREST SUPPLY BILL Tho House of Hcprescntalivos met at 7.30 p.m. Four (lavs' leave of nbsonco was granted to Jlr. G. Forbes (llununii). Members did not avail themselves of tlio opportunity <.f discussing Ministers' replies to questions, and the House proceeded to deal with Local Bills. LOCAL BILLS. Tho Panakura Beach Vesting Bill (tho Higlit Hon. W. F. Massey), tlio Wellington and Karori Sanitation and Water "Supply AiuoiHluieni, Bill (Jlr. 11. A. Wright), tho Christchurcli Klcdtrical Supply limpowci'ini: Ainciulinent Bill (Jlr. L. Jl. Isitt), tho Wyndliani .liccreation Kesorvo Amendment Bill (Jlr. C; J. Anderson), and tlio Tokomaru Bay Harbour Bill (tlio llou. W. J). S. JlacDonald), woro put through committoo in livo minutes without a word of debate, read a third time, and passed. Tlio Bluff Harbour Imnrovomont Bill (Sir Joseph Ward) waS put through all stages and passed.

SUBDIVIDING A COUNTY. AN' OPPOSED BILL. Jlr. .1. It. 11 INK (Stratford) moved tho second reading ol tho Jloa County Bill. Ho said that tho Bill had been ndvorsoly rep'jrted iijxjii by tlio Local Bills Coinmitteu, whicii had como to tlio conclusion that no other counties should bo subdivided. This, ho thought, was a question about which tho Local Bills Committee ought to concern itself. Tho area of tho proposed now county constituted about a third of tho present TariinaUi County. It was now administered by tho Jloa lioad Board, but this board controlled only the by-roads, leaving tlio main roads to bo administered by tho county. All that tlio peoplo of tho Jloa district, who wero dissatisfied with tho present position, asked for now was that they should havq complete control of all tho i'oadsj and that their district should ho constituted a county. Tho reques was a. reasonable one, especially as there wero 35 or 40 counties in New Zealand which were of less capital value-than tho proposed'Jloa County. . The Hon. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) said ho was sorry the Chairman of tho Local Bills Committee was not present to defend the committee, which had como to its decision after hours of careful thought. ILo strongly opposed tho Bill, on the general ground that it was not wise to subdivido counties to croato smaller counties which couid wt have ass Aired finance. As a county this Jloa district would get bigger subsidies from the Government than as a road district, and Parliament ought not to allow any further inroads uyon tho Trea»sry.

Jlr. H. J. H. OKEY (Taranaki) also opposed the Bill on-tlie ground that tho taking away 'of this territory would seriously - hamper the .Taranaki County, which had an up-to-date plant, and which had the best roads in the Dominion. Furthermore tho roads in tho Jloa district were not well maintained. The' Right Hoir. W. F. JIASSEY (Prime Jlinister) suggested that _it would not be wiso to take a division iii-a thin House, and that the second reading should bo given. The real division could then bo taken on the short titlo of the Bill in Committee, when there was a better attendanco of members. This .suggestion was accepted by the member in cliargo of tho Bill. Tho Bill was read a second time on tie voices.

MINOR BILLS. The Savings Banks Amendment Bill (Sir Joseph Ward), the Fruit Preserving Industry Amendment Bill (the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald), and tlio Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey), tho Swamp Drainage Bill (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey),'and the National Provident Fund Amendment Bill (the Hon. A. M. Myers), all were road a second time. Only one, the Swamp Drainage Bill, was at all important. It proposed to give the Government power to drain any swamp lands in tho same way as it has drained the Hauraki Plains and other areas; without asking tho authority of Parliament for every separate undertaking. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. 'A QUICKPASSAGE. The Imprest Supply Bill (No; 4) was introduced by Governor's Mcssago. Tho Right Hon. SIR JOSEPH WARD (Minister of Finance) informed the House that it was. necessary that an Imprest. Supply Bill should be put through the House that night. Urgency was claimed for: the Bill, and it was pu£ through remaining stages and passed without further discission. . •

WAR FUNDS BILL. CONTROL OF PATRIOTIC nFUNDS. The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN (Attor-ney-General) moved the secoud reading of the War Funds Bill. lie said 1 that tho first object of tho Bill was to deline what war. funds consisted of, and then to make some provision for tho administration and control of those funds. Clause 2 defined war funds, and then it was proposed to constitute a National "War Funds Council. In defining that council to control war funds, the Government did not intend to interfere with private individuals who desired to administer war funds which they had raised for war purposes- There would ■ bo no obligation for anyone to transfer funds, but if any body desired to do so then tlio National War Fluids Council constituted tho means by which that could bo done. Personally' he thought that it would bo highly desirablo if some unification of war funds should take place. Tho Bill also dealt with supervisioh of tho funds, for it was thought that the State should exerciso some sort of supervision over funds controlled by private individuals. lor that Tcason Clause !) stated that the Government should be furnished with a written statement regarding tho funds under their control. Particulars had also to bo furnished as to tho expenditure of funds, to prevent any duplication.' lie promised to go into cach clauso in detail in Committee. The Bill'was read a second timo. Tho Jlouso roso at 0.-iu p.m. till -.30 p.m. to-day. I . ... __i ~«<vnU