PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 287, 30 August 1919, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

MORTGAGES EXTENSION ■ A TEMPORARY EXPEDIENT , TRIBUTES TO DECEASED LEGISLATORS ,/ " , -, i v... . " The Legislative Council .-met at- 2.30 ' p.m. yesterday. .- • / 'FIRST READINGS. I

The Mortgages Extension Bill, tho . Public Authorities (Party Wall) Ernp&w- - ering Bill, the Official Documents and. Appointments Bill, and the Chattels .Transfer' Amendment Bill were intror diiced, read a first time, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee: • • v ' Sir Francis-Bell stated .that lie would move'motions relating to decease-d legis- ■ I latore'on Tuesday nest ■ THE PEACE TREATY. - ' Sir FRANCIS BELL said'that he hopedto bring down on Tuesday a resolution of I the Council approving of-'.the ratification by His Majesty the King of such treaty as His Majesty might have been pleased to arrange through his plenipotentiaiies at Versailles. Tli resolution would be moved simultaneously in the other Cham. •Sir William Hall-Jones: Will that include the convention between Britain and France?. Sir Francis Bell:/ No. It will cover the Treaty with Germany, and the ' League. °* Nations Covenant, which forms a part of the Treaty. The Treaty confers power on the League to create a manijatory with regard to any special colony of Germany in favour/Of, any. nation or dependency. The ratification of tho Treaty does not involve anything more thari) tlife oreation of mandatories.. EXPIRING LAWS. The Expiring Laws Continuance; Bill was received from the House of-Repre-sentative&. ' • SIR FRANCIS BELL stated that the law officers of the Crown had advised that the moratorium, would definitely expire on August 31 unless it were extended by legislation. ,■ - - • The Biil was put through all its stages : and passed. ;.-,- ' The Council adjourned at 8.15 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. oh Tuesday. THE HOUSE, The' House : of. Represehtetives mfit at 2.30-p.m. ' Mr". T. IC. Sidey (Dunedin South) gave notice of the Definition of Time Bill. . '■ - Mr. J..V. Brown. (Napier.) gave notice ■ of the Registration-of Business Names ■ Bill.' V --.Mr. T. M. Wilford (Hutt) .gave notice of the Payment of, Jurors Bill. _ ■ Mr. H.' E. Holland'.Grey) , gave notice of the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill. ... . ; FIRST READINGS; ; "trams on hutt, road. Mr. T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) introduced tie Hutt-Railway-and Road Improvement.Bill. He explained that the purpose of the Bill was to repeal the clause in the principal Act prohibiting the running of electric or other trams on the road. The lack of such easier, com--1 munications had,' he said, been the cause of great inconvenience to the people of the Hutt district during the period of curtailed- railway services. If easier com- ■ munications • could' be provided by tho local bodies, large areas of land would be available for 'housing, and there _ were easily obtainable materials for building permanent'houses. He asked the'Minis-' ter of Railways to put on the Hutt line the motor trains formerly used on the . Manawatu line. / Mr. J. P. LUKE (Wellington North) v said that not only did the local bodies maintain the road, but they had to provide the capital cost. He would ,support the Bill, which.would be of supreme ■ ■ importance.to the city, of- Wellington. Mr. R,: A., WRIGHT (Wellington Sub- . • ' urbs) said that-he. also • would support • the Bill. It was very unfair, he said, -. -, that this special,'restriction .should be 1 .'! put on the running of trams in competition: with- the railway in Wellington. • He also appealed to the Minister to' re- . store the'running of the motor trains, formerly used on the. Manawatu line. ' The Bill was introduced and read a first time. WOMEN'S PARLIAMENTARY RIGHTS ; The' Women's Parliamentary Rights Extension Bill (the;Rt.'H°n. .W.' was introduced and read a first time. Several local Billi and, private members' ;Bills, of. which notice had 'been given the previous day, were introduced . and read a first time. ' ' TO EXTEND MORTGAGES. A "ONE-CLAHSE BILL.' The Expiring-'Laws Continuance Bill .. ■was introduced by Message from the Governor-General; '. The Right Hon. W'. : F. Massey (Prime Minister) said that the Bill provided for the extension of the Mortgages Extension Act,- but in " the -meantime legislation was 1 being prepared to amend the Act. 'This extension in; the mean- ' -tiine'-was only : "a safeguard."' SIR - JOSEPH WARD (Awarua) said '"that in his opinion people were entitled ■: to a considerable time before they were called upon to- pay up their, mortgages; : He would hot hesitate to'allow,two years or' more, and if the Government' made' a ,: proposal\to'tlus. effect he would'support .it. .If people-iwere not'given this long , extension-'very many mortgagor's would be placed in'the greatest of difficulties.', Mr.'T. M.-WILFORD (Hutt) said , the present position was that practically all the' mortgages'in'the country would become due if the moratorium were lifted. If all this money became due within a iieriod of- six months enormous difficulty Avould ensue, since a great • deal, of ■■ the Dominion's money was invested in War Loans. -The Government should be careful to . arrange,'that the suspended mort'■4 gages should terminate over a period and not all at the same time. f' ■ Mr. G. V.-PEARCE (Patea) suggested, that the mortgages should be allowed to terminate in rotation. The present position- -was.'very unsatisfactory. - The suspension of. the'repayment of mortgages was sending up the price of land, since , money .that nave been used to , pay off mortgages was used, to buy land already bearing mortgages. The great increaso in tho price of land was a very y' serious evil. It. would be unwise to as- - sume that tho' financial position would bo better two year's hence than it was to-day. Mr. J. M'COMBS (Lyttelton) protest- -. Ed that the Bill, which was being rushed through the House, did not deal solely with the.moratorium. It proposed to extend into, a time of pence various restrictions on the freedom.of speech and other rights of the people in li.ine of war. The Prime Minister said the Bill did not affect the freedom of speech at all. Mr; M'Combs: War Legislation Amendment? Mr. Massey: "That wtion ''en's sol el v with soldier's' houses." The Prime Minuter added that the Bi-M. re-enacted certain clauses and amendments that had been allowed to elapse or were about to elapse. Every clau=e in the Bill was necessary. He wnnted it put through all its stages that day. because it. was required to extend the -Mortgages Exten- . sion Act. , • ■ Mr. C. E. STATHAM (Dnnedin Central) said a big principle was involved, and the House ought to have an opportunity to consider the mortgage question ' in detail. \ »Mr. Massev explained that the Bill was merely « temporary expedient, to keen- ■ the Mortgages Extension An alive until other legislation could be brought forwnni. Mr. A. M: MYERS (Auckland East) s.aid I hat tli e matt«r was of such impiirtance that'the House should have an - importunity of dealimr with it fully. Would the other Bill come down this session? , Mr. Ma=sey: I give my .assurance as Prime Minister that the Bill will be presented to Parliament within fourteen dn<'s. An lion, member: Whv not make the extension three months? Mr. Massev: Supposing the' Bill does not pass?' Suwnosing' fOUlet.hing occurs which makes if impossible to go. on -with it' ..

Mr. Myers said that his own opinion was thati the Legislature should conserve the' interests of mortgagees as well as those of mortgagors, and that they should adopt the Australia^ 1 method to ensure, that all existing mortgages should not fall in ori the same date. Mr. W, A. VEITCH (Wauganui) mentioned tho case of,.mortgages on leases. A, lease was a vanishing asset, but mort'giigors, under protection of the Mortgages Extension Act, had held the money of mortgagees uiitil there was, no asset .to secure the money. He hoped this matter would have consideration 'when the amending Bill was being drafted. Mr? H. E. HOLLAND (Grey) said,that as the only part of the Bill, requiring urgency was the Mortgages Extension clause,, it would, be better practice if the Prime Minister would agree to the withdrawal 'of all'.other ' clauses. Further,! he would ask that the extension of the Mortgages' Extension Act should be extended meantime for one month only. -• .SIB JOHN FINDLAY (Hawke's Bay) said that the proposal being made was hot unusual. If'thero slfould be a suggestion, that, evSn 'within three' months, borrowers would have to find the large sums of money due in three months, a condition' approaching to panic would be-created. He also thought the Government niiglit well consider to what classes of mortgages the.extension should apply. This should be consideied in the amending legislation. The ' Right Hon. W. P. Massey said • lie,- would agree to- delete all portions of the Bill except that dealing, with the Mortgages Extension Act. ' Mr. IL M'CALLUM pointed out that ,to extend the period as nowproposed might create a vested interest, and there were borrowers deserving.of no. consideration whatever. Mr. J. V. BROWN (Napier) said that 'he hoped the. extension Would be for twelve months',' The House was "pretty ■evenly divided,", and there was some risk of a sharp ending to the session .delaying the promised" o.mending Bill. Urgency was claimed for the Bill, and' it was advanced through succeeding stages. •

In Committee on the,Bill tho amendments promised by the' Prime Minister were made.) All the clauses except those dealing with the ' Mortgages Extension Act were deleted. „ The Bill was reported with these read a third time, a.nd passed. ..■■"'' TRIBUTES TO THE DEAD. ' LEGISLATORS OF OTHER DATS.The Right Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister) said that lie had unfortunately to refer to the death of exmembers of the Legislature, who had died since the last sitting of the House. Although the time had been short the number was larger than usual.

■Mr. Massey spoke first of tho death of the- Hon. A. L. D. Eraser, making special references to his good work for the Native race. He moved that, the House record its sense of the faithful service . rendered to the country by Mr. leaser, and express sympathy with his, relatives in their bereavement.- :

The motion was supported by Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier), the. Hon. W, H. Herries (Native ■ Minister), Sir John Findlay (Hawke's Bay), Mr. G. Hunter (Waipawa), Sir Joseph Ward ; (Awarua), and Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki), and all of them spoke in praise of -Mr. Fraser.'s great kindness of heart and genial manners, and especially of his good sctt vice, to the Native race.

The resolution-ivas carried. Mr. Massey moved with reference to the late Mr. Donald ■ Reid, ex-member for Taieri in the House, -and, an exMinister in the Stafford Government. He said that Mr. Reid had been a native of Scotland, with the best characteristics of his race. He had been-one,-of the most highly-res«cted citizens of . New Zealand, and had passed away after a long and honourable public career. SIR . JOSEPH WARD (Awarua) .said that the late Mr. Reid had been one of the best citizens of Otago. and he had Jrft an' honourable record in public life. Mr. W. D. STEWART (Dunedin West) mentioned that Mr. Reid'had been tho first'''public man to recognise the principle of, deferred, paymont-in the sale of Crown lands.. He had been "Tho Grand Old Man" of 4 Otago.. The motion was supported by Mr. J. S.- Dickson; (Chalmers), and carried. ■ The Prime Minister referred next to' 'the death of the late Hon, Thomas Thompson, who represented Auckland seats in the House, for many years, was-a member of the Government from 1896 to 1899, and subsequently sat in tho Legislative Council. The motion ' was supported by air Joseph Ward (Awarua) and Hon. A. M; Myers (Auckland East), and carried. The Prime Minister submitted . a similar resolution regarding the late Mr. Jackson Palmer, until recently Chief Judge of the Native tand Court and a former member of the House of Repre- ■ sentatives. 'Mr. Massey said that Mr. Jackson Palmer, had been a keen polinot allow political animosities to lead to personal acerbities in-social life. The. motion ' Was supported by Sir JjDseph Ward, the-Hon. W. H- Herries (Native Minister), and Mr. J. Y. Brown (Napier). ' - The Prime Minister • moved similarly regarding the late Mr.. -Richard Molesworth Taylor. who died quite recently in Wellington. ' Formerly Mr. Taylor hadbeen member for a Christchurch constituency.

The motion was supported by Sir Joseph Wai'd (Awarua) and carried. • - Mr. Massey referred' to the - services rendered to,.the settlers of Can; terburv by : the late Mr. S.. Buxton, a former member of the House.

He moved, also, with reference to the late Mr. W. J.. Speight, who sat in the House from 1879' to 1881, and was manager, of the Government Life Insurance Department in Auckland for twenty-one vears; - and the late Captain W. H. Tuc« ker. -who took a prominent part in 'the Native.wars, and sat subsequently in the Legislative Council.. . The motions, were supported by other members and carried. The Prime Minister moved, with reference to the death., of the late Mr. Hamilton Gilmer, ex-member of the, Leg-/ islative Council. He said that Mr. Gilmer had been an earnest worker and an able and kindly business man. Sir Joseph Ward said that Mr. Gilmer had come to-New Zealand.as a young man -without means or influence, and ho had carved out for himself aivery successful eureer. ,- He lia\l Ijeen an enterprising business man and a good sport. The motion was supported by Mr. J. •V.'-Brovfri (Napier), Captain T. Seddon. (Westland). Mr. .T. Colvin (Buller), and. Mr. J.'P. Luke (Wellington North), and carried. -The House adjourned, at 5.18 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.'