PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2509, 12 October 1915, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

THE END. IN SIGHT

SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES PASSED LEASEHOLDS PROBLEM TO SUIT BOTH SIDES. \ . : /' The Legislative Council met at 8 p.m. V The amendment to the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill was agreed to.- . ■ ■!'' . The amendments to the "Washing- ■ up" Bill, dealing with valuation of . leases, was agreed' to .. DEFENCE AMENDMENT BILL. The Defence Amendment Bill was received from the House and read a first time. ■ The Bill was read a second time, put through Committee, read'a third time and passed. • ».• GAMING AMENDMENT BILL. The amendments of His Excellency the Governor to the Gaming Amendment Bill were considered. ; The amendment allows a longer period for racing clubs to make up lost days through their property being taken .by the Defence Department. The Hons. J. T. Paul and'J. Banboth spoke against' the consideration shown to racing at this time of strife.' : The Hon. SIR FRANCIS BELIt said, that it was quite possible that ; they should have to occupy many racecourses during the coming year, and the Government desired to b<} in a position to ' do this .with fairness. ■, On a division the amendment was agreed to by 12 votes to 6, the "noes": being, the Hons. Aitken, Paul, Barr, Fisher, flail-Jones, -.and'.MacGibbon'.,. BILLS PASSED. The Railways Improvement Authorisation Amendment Bill, the Public Service Classification and) • Superannuation Amendment Bill (No.; 2), the Rating Amendment Bill, tho Shops and Offices ■ Amendment Bill, and the Legislative Council Amendment Bill, were put through all stages and; passed. • ■ ■ Tho Council rose at 11.35 p.m: till 11 a.m.. to-day. • . ! . THE HOUSE The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. -■ \ ..The Hon. W. H. HERRIES (Minister of Railways) moved thei second read-, ing of the Railways Improvement Authorisation Bill,- and explained the ef- - feet of it. . The Bill-was read a second time, put : through Committee, read a ffird time, and passed. i • , DEFENCE AMENDMENT BILL. ' PAYMENT OF PENSIONS. . The Hon; J. ALLEN moved the occond readingofthe Defence Amendment Bill. Ho said that the main purpose of tho Bill was to provide .pensions for men injured in training camps, or for the dependents of men who have died in , training camps; The other purpose of the Bill was to give recognition to tho National Reserve. The other provisions in the Bill were purely technical. Mr. Alien : said ■ that' the • pensions were to tra the same as for men on activo service, but one clause iri : the Bill'instructed the board to take into consid- . eration:- the -fact' that : the-men ' on account of whom pensions were claimed had not left New Zealand on active service.' - ■ -A'

Mr. J. M'COMBS (Lyt'telton) described this hint to the board as evidence of niggardliness, and ho hoped the House in Committee .would insist, upon modifying it. .' ■ ••.. _•' Mr. ; JW. H. FIELD (Otaki) thought tlio .clause might with advantage bo struck cut. Sir. P. C. 'WEBB (Grey) and Mr. J. PAYNE--(Grey; Lynn) also objected to it.

Mr. C. J. PARE (Eden) urged the Minister to consider the advisafiility of relaxing the general rule that pensions are not payable to dependents resident outside New Zealand. " "

■Mr: T. A. H. FIELD. (Nelson) congratulated tlie Government on having introduced .the BUI, but ho hoped the objectionable clause would Be dropped. The saving it.mij*ht make to;' New. Zea-' land would'be infinitesimal.

Mr. J. A. YOUNG (Waikato) said that if the Government could not enter into some reciprocal, arrangement with ithe: Home Country and other Dominions: theGovornment should pay pensions to wives and other dependents resident'abroad of soldiers in the New Zealand Army. .

The 'Hon. J.. ALLEN, in reply, asked the House to accept Clause 2, to which so much exception, was taken. • The clause still /left it open to the Pensions Board to grait the; full pension to men injured in New Zealand, but there were cases which would require'very, careful inquiry. Some men had. been sent liome from camp because of weaknesses discovered in oamp which they had concealed from the oxamining doctors. Others had been discharged from camp ■unfit because of their own fault, lie Government might have to face claims for full pensions on behalf of. these men, which would be unfair. He admitted, that the law relating to pensions. to dependents not domiciled in New Zealand was unsatisfactory, and he •hoped later to have it amended. In the meantime every case would be brought before Cabinet and dealt with separately. In Committee Clause 2 was amended by the substitution of "may" for "shall," making it discretionary instead of mandatory. Tljeßill was reported, with amendments, read a third time, and passed. ■UNIVERSITY AMENDMENT. The New Zealand University Amendment' Bill (Hon. J. A. Hanan) was read a second time without discussion, put through. Committee without amendment, road a third time, and' passed. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL" BILL. ' The Right Hon. W. T. MASSEY (Prime Minister) moved the second reading of the .Legislative Council Amendment Bill, and reminded members that last session he promised them an opportunity to consider a revision of the Bill before it came finally into operation. There, had not been an opportunity this session for that revision. The amendment proposed,did not alter the main Act, but postponed itfc nominal coming into operation from January nozt till September, .1917. That was election year, and they would have time to deal with the proportional eleotion system by then. The Bill kept open the elective system to the Council, and was in accordance with part of the arrangement made when the National Government was constituted. The Bill, was read a second time, put through Committee, read a third time, and passed. 1 THE PUBLIC SERVICE. The Hon. G. W. RUSSELL (Minister of Internal Aifairs) moved the second reading of the Public Service Classification and Superannuation .Amendment Bill. He pointed out this was not tho original Bill, but a second one, confined 6imply. to the investment clauses, beginning at Clauso 17. . 31e Bill .was read a second tin;e, r>ut/

through Committee, read a third time, and passed.

RATING AMENDMENT. •The Hon. G.W. RUSSELL (Minister of Internal Affairs) moved the second reading of tho Rating Amendment Bill, which restores tho law concerning tlio rating of property held by local bodies in adjoining districts to the position it was iu prior to 1913. An injustice done by tho amendment of 1913 is thereby removed. Mr. W. H. FIELD (Otaki) said that it was only right that the position of 1913 should bo again brought into operation. Many small local bodies wero entitled , to rates on property held by other local bodies. He instanced tlio caso of the Wellington abattoirs; whidh did not pay ,rates to the local body whose roads were used.' • Mr. R. A. WRIGHT (Wellington Suburbs) agreed that trading concerns should pay rates. Ho pointed out that the saving of £50 rates per annum on the abattoirs since 1913 had hot benefited the City Council, for the profits were divided up amongst the butchers. There was some opposition to the amendment,' it being contended that One local bodies should be heard before the . measure was passed. Tho Minister, in reply, said that he had the assurance of those concerned that the clause of 1913 was never intended to be inserted. The Bill was read a second time, put through Committee, read a third time, and passed. BILLS TO BE DROPPED. When tho' Factories Amendment Bill (which was held up o,n Friday night) was called on, The- Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY said that the arguments raised'against this Bill had/convinced him that it would : be improper to proceed with it without first sending it to tho Labour Bills Committee. .The same applied to another Bill on tho order paper (tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill). SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL. The Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY moved the second reading of the Shops and Offices. Amendment Bill, which he said was purely a Departmental measure. One clause made it obligatory for. all shops selling boots-to close at the same hour. At.present boot shops closed at a certain hour, while mercers and other traders who. sold boots could remain open later. . The BiU . was put through all stages and passed. VALUATION OF LEASEHOLDS. . QUESTION OF ARBITRATION. Tha adjourned debate on the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill was resumed. The debate was adjourned on an; amendment proposed by the Gov-: ernor, providing'that a .clause relating to' arbitration " proceedings on leases should not come into operation until January 1, 1917. The Hon. G: W. RUSSELL (Minister of Internal Affairs) isaid that he now proposed to omit the clause altogether, by amending the amendment. With a View to meeting the position of both parties, it was proposed to add tui .'entirely new clause to the "Washing-up" Bill, to provide that all the leases that ore. ooming in should be held over until January 1, 1917; There would be no valuations, in: the meantime, and leases falling in would be extended at the same rental. During the recess the Government would consider the desirability of bringing down amending legislation dfcahng with f|he whjole quostio'n of valuation of properties and leaseholds, and leases of local authorities, with a view to placing the matter on a broader footing altogether. In his opinion, it was desirable that something in the nature of a court :should be established. TJi(j difficulty, tJhat had ocpurred' in Wellington had shown that there was a necessity for 6ome reform, because tho-information; that had; reached the Government was that a great deal depended upon the gentleman who happened to be the third valuer. There seemed to be" the necossity for a court entirely free from local influence, to do justice both to the tenants and. to the local authorities. After valuation in 1917 under tho proposed new legislation, if there was any increase in-rent, it would be payable from the time the lease fell in. That, he considered, was only fair. He had been waited on by tho Mayor of Wellington, Councillor A. R. Atkinson, and tlie City Solicitor, fnd they ' had expressed' their entire . approval of the proposal he submitted to the House.

Mr. A. H. HINDMARSH (Wellington South) thought it would have been better to allow the clause to stand, and to have postponed its operation. It might not be possible to bring in- further legislation next session. Mr. C. J. PARR. (Eden) : said he did npt consider that a magistrate was a proper persons to make arbitrations. Magistrates were nowadays young men, welj trained as solicitors, but not experienced in business affairs. He thought the Minister had made a very fair proposal'to suit both parties. . The amendment was. agreed to. The amendment proposed by His Excellency the Governor in the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Publio Bodies' Empowering Bill, relating to Wellington City ' leases, wis received from the Legislative Council. The effect of the clause is to postpone the date of valuations in respect of certain leases granted tyy the Wellington City Council in view of promised amending legislation. ■

Mr. A. H. HINDMARSH (Wellington South) said 1 he thought the Minister ought to' have adhered to his original proposal. He was not sure about the promised legislation. ' Dr. A. K. • NEWMAN (Wellington East) said, he was perfeotly satisfied that the Government really intended to bring in legislation next year, which would get nd of the old unsatisfactory method of. valuing leasehold properties in this City. He did not agree that a resident magistrate was necessarily a proper man to assess values. He hoped that the tribunal to be sot tip would be a permanent ono which would give justice to the City, and which, would not he guilty of inconsistencies which would cause dissatisfaction among lessees. No more iniportant legislation for the City of Wellington could be brought down than that which would deal satisfactorily with these corporation leases. Mr. R. A. WRIGHT (Wellington South) approved of l tho clause, and expressed' a hope that the third arbitrator on the tribunal would be a Judge of tlie Supreme Court. Mr C. E. STATHAM (Duncdm Central) said he thought the Government had dona rightly in refraining from altering the conditions attaching to tlio leases without giving the lessees a right to be heard. •■■'.: , „ Mr. H. G. ELL' (Chnstchurch South) protested against the impugning of the ability or "integrity of senior Magistrates by members of the House.' He thought the House should "stick to • tho Bill as originally brought down by the Minister. . . The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN said that he thought the original clause had been passed by the House under a misapprehension. It might he ■ quiie trus that senior Magistrates in cities were competent to valuo leasholds, but it was by no means so certain that in other smaller towns which iiad leasos the ordinary Stipendiary Magistrates were fit to do the work. These leaseholds ought not to be tampered with hurriedly, and lie thought it would bo wise to wait until a scheme could be devised which would bo fair to the lessees, and to the corporations and other local authorities all over the country. Ho did not kh.v that the wealthy conioanies holding leases should have 'special consideration, but lie did say that alone,with the City Council they. were _. entitled _ to evenhanded justice. ' His' own opinion wa3 that tlie City Council sheuM rew^kg.

i that in a city like Wellington where there was so much leasehold property, the council had in its power the development of the city.- For this reason the council, while asking for a fair rental, should not aim at extracting tho very last farthing out of the pockets of lesseos. The Hon. G. W. RUSSELL, in reply, said lie could not understand the doubt of the member for Wellington South lest a solemn promise given in a clause of a Bill to introduce legislation should hot bo fulfilled. A very great difficulty had been surmounted. The leaseholders' interests were being protected, and the clause was being passed at the request of the Mayor of Wellington. If possible a scheme would be prepared in the recess by which a basis would be fixed for determining the values of. all leases held from local authorities. The amendment was agreed to. | THE GAMING BILL. The Gaming Amendment Bill was returned by His Excellency with an (amendment. The Hon. G. W. RUSSELL said that the last clause of the Bill was that the Act should be deemed to bo repealed on the day of the conclusion of peace at the conclusion of the war, but there were in the Bill two clauses which had no bearing on the war or on war conditions. " It was proposed- by His Excellency's amendment that these permanent clauses should be exempted from the repeal conditioa. The amendment was agreed to. not be fulfilled. A very great difficuty SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. The Supplementary Estimates were introduced by Governor's Message at 8.45 p.m., but as the Printing Office had not been able to supply the printed lists, the House adjourned "until the ringing of the bell," resuming again at 10 p.m. Tho Estimates we,re put through Committee in one hour without amendment, but the resolutions from Committee of Supply wero debated in the House by the Labour members. The Estimates were through at 11.30 p.m., and then tile Prime Minister announced that, it would not bo possible to go on without at' least an hour's delay. Mr. Speaker took the sense of members as to whether the House should adjourn or go on, and the verdict was'for adjournment. The Appropriation Bill will therefore be dealt with to-day.

Tlio House rose at 11.30 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. to-day.