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PARLIAMENT

A NIGHT ON SMALL BILLS PROBLEMS OF THE PUMICE COUNTRY QUESTION OF DEVELOPMENT Tho House of Representatives met at 7.30 p.m. NAURU ISLAND. The Primo Minister gave notico lo move 011 next sitting day that tho House agree to the ratification of the agreement between the Governments of Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand relating to the control of Nuuru Island and the mining of the phosphate deposits. MARRIAGE AMENDMENT. Tho Hon. J. B. Hine (Minister of Internal Affairs) gavo notice to introduce the Marriage Amondment Bill. PUMICE LANDS. A DEVELOPMENT SCHEME. The Hon. A. T. NGATA (Eastern Maori) introduced the Pumice Lands Development Bill. Ho spoke of the urgency in the interests of the country of tlui development of waste lands, and he said that tho policy being followed in tho settlement of returned soldiers was not likely to achieve this object. It would merely displace one class of settler to nyjke way for another set of men. What was really required for the development of the pumice lands and all other waste lands was such concentration upon them as had made such a success of the llauraki Plains venture. A special organisation should be created for the lask, and public works should be pressed 011 to make settlement possible. Thero was no doubt about the productivity of the pumice lands under good treatment, but they would havo to be held in rather small farms. The settlers must have chenp manures,' and he hoped that the. phosphates from Nauru, supplied chiefly to tho settlers, would make fertile the Taupo country, an area of five million acres. Within the district wero two sources of hydro-electric power—lLukiv Falls and Aratiatia Rapids. The Government had chosen Arapuni as the scheino to be adopted, but it also would serve the district. This power might he needed for tho district tor irrigation. And tiho country would bo very easy for road nnd railway-building. He' suggested that a composite board should be set up representative of tlio several Departments concerned in the work to be done, and •representative also of the local people, including two Maori representatives, lo tnko charge of the enterprise. The board should lie clothed witin tho fullest powers, and should be interfered with as little ns possible. The staff ou"ht to be absolutely under tho control of tue board, so that civil servants acting as officers of the board should his outside of tfco control of the Public Service Commissioner. Ho detailed his proposals for the control of the board. The proposals involved tho establishment of this board r.s the Public Works authority for tho pumice lands. If. was an ambitious suggestion, perhaps, but it would be necessary for the success of the scheme. He believed that a light railway would snjlico for tho district for many years to come. He advocated also tho delegation to the board of full rating powers. In order to get the host energy and brains'for the works to be done he suggested prior right of selection of farm lands, either for nothing or on easy terms. Nothing could bo done in election year, but he would urge that a commission or Parliamentary committee or a tour of members of Parliament might be arranged during tho recess. Well Worth Whils. Mr. W. T. JENNINGS (Taumarunui) said that tlhe pumice lands had already been proved to bo valuable, and some real ell'ort should bo mado to settle them. Ho hoped the Government would give consideration to tho representations of tho member for Eastern Maori. ' Mr. J. A. YOUNG (Waikato) said tlm ho represented a considerable area of socalled pumice lauds, and he knew that they could bo worked successfully. They could bo reduced to a productive state much more speedily than any other virgin lands of this country. Not only would tho pumice lands grow good root crops, but they would grow clovers extremely well, as well as white crops. It was possible that there was a future for clover seed production in tho Taupo district. Tho solution of tho problem would be roading and communications. The Government should break in the country, and then make it available for settlement. Poor men would not make a success of tho lands if settled thero without roading. Be supported the proposal that n Parliamentary Committee be set up to investigate the problems of tho pumice country Mr., G. FORBES (Hurunui) urged the Government to adopt a vigorous policy of development in tho pumice country. Tho land needed communications in order that manures might bo delivered. A witness before the Industries Committee had suggested testing for artesian water. The enormous price of good laud had directed attention to the poor lands which ought not to bo neglected. The pumice land was 11011 worth much now. Mr. Mnssey: We had a lot of it valued the other day at ss. The Bill was read a first time. NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND™ Tho National Provident Fund Amendment Bill was introduced by GovernorGeneral's Message, and read a first time. OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS. The Official Appointments and Documents Bill was re-committed. Tho HOll. J. B. Iline (Minister of Internal Affairs) moved a new clause providing that the official Gazette notice of an appointment should be sufficient evidence of the appointment unless tho contrary was proved. The amendment was adopted, and tho Bill was read a third time and passed. CHATTELS SECURITIES. The Chattels Transfer Amendment Bill, proposing some technical amendments in the law relating to chattels transfer, was considered in Committee. Mr. Wilford said tlhe Bill proposed to sweep away the present legal necessity for a statement of the state of the account at the time of the renewal of .» mortgage. Tho Hon. J. B. Hine said the amendment was based on the fact that the stakof an account would depend in many cases on tho date. Accounts as between a bank and a merohnnt fluctuated, aim a statement at a particular date wouM not reveal tho true position. The Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. publkThealth HOURS OF PICTURE SHOWS. AND EPIDEMIC PRECAUTIONS. The PRIME MINISTER moved the second reading of the Public Health Amendment Bill. He said that the Bill was a machinery measure giving thb Health Department powers that had been shown to be necessary during the recenl epidemic. The Department was being given power to requisition land, build; nigs, drugs, nnd other necessaries for the purpose of coping with an epidemic, nnd lo closo places of entertainment and hotels, and to prohibit meetings. Local authorities were given power to make by-laws dealing with matters of public health. The Bill was road a second tinio. Jll Committee on thC"Bill, Mr. J. P. Luke expresses! regret that tho municipal governments in the lour cities were not in the Bill constituted public health authorities within their boundaries, He cited tile case of the epidemic, mentioning that there had been overlapping. Mr. U. A. Wright said he regretted that there was no provision in tho Bill to give the Health Department power to pull down old insanitary buildings, condemned as unfit for habitation. There were many such buildings in the cities, They could not bo used, and they rcniuiiicd standing a danger to other property by fire, and a menace to tho health of the community by their liability to bocoine rat-infested.

Pleasure or Safety? Mr. G. V. \'eareo protested against Ihe repeal of UlO restrict iim ii|K)ii ihe.hours of picture shows. He said that there were dangers to the people in limes of epidemic disease from tho herding of people in ill-ventilated places of amusement. Mr. Massev said lh.il Iho Hill gave to tho Department power lo make regulations as lo hours, and to give Ihe local authority power to mako by-laws to fix hours of showing, in inner to permit of proper cleansing and ventilation. Mr. Vernon Reed said Unit if the clause was passed in its present form the local body would have no power lo fix hours at. all. They would have first of all to prove that I lie houses needed denning and aerating before they could in any way restrict hours. What would happen would be that these shows would run continuously alio become hotbeds of disease. Dr. iVeivman said I bat he had been informed I hat restrict ion of hours was not necessary in kinc-ma houses where there was efficient mechanical ventilation. Tie asked whether the quarantine provisions would apply to tho Samoaii and Ccok Groups. lie also suggested that there was reason for provision against aeroplane visitors from infected countries. It was only POD miles from Australia to "Westiainl—only a. fivo hours' flight! Ho urged also that the enidemie investigations had shown that the Health authorities ought to have more power to inspect and to clean up interiors of houses as well as exteriors. Mr. Parr supported the Kill, holding that the arbitrary fixing of hours was not necessary. Tll Auckland, and "" doubt in other citics, the effect of the restriction of hours had been that the picture shows emptied at 5 p.m. and complicated the tram traffic problems. Mr. Pea.rce said that the health of the people should be of more concern than the interests of tho picture show proprietors. No doubt some, tiheatres were well ventilated, but many were not. It was said that the local bodies would have power to control them. Hut in somo places the local bodv ran Ihe picture show and "ran it jolly badly." M-r. C. .T. Anderson confessed that he cared rather more for the health of the community than for tho picture shows. Mr. P. Fraser supported the relaxation of hours of picture shows. "Experience 'had shown lliat the epidemic restrictions were not nece-sary. People who wished to go to picture shows had to stand in queues waiting for the doors to ooen, often waiting in stormy or cold weather. Air. T. M. Wilford =aid he supported local option in the waiter of picture show hours. He would support the BiH. ; Mr. JJnssey said fent he was advised by the Attorn«v-Genc.ral that the clause in tho Hill rcMing to t'"> demolition of o'd end insanitary buildings would bo effective. The Hill wi'.s rennrted without amendments, read a third time, and passed! A LITTLE BILL. The Public Authorities (Party Wall) Empowering Bill was put through Committee without amendment ami passed. SOLDIERS' VOTES. Tho PRIME . MINISTER moved the second reading of the Expeditionary Forces Voting Bill, providing lii.nl soldiers may lvcuru I heir votes at tho com. ing general election, lie said that the Bill allowed all returned soldiers to vote. It did not propose to give votes to wives of soldiers recently arrived from England. These women were welcome in New Zenland, but ho did 1101 lini ills, they yet qualified to vote at an election. ' The Bill did not give votes to soldiers outside iNew Zealand. Hwouid not be satisfactory to allow anybody to vote without knowing the names of tho candidates. Practically all the soldiers would be back in New Zealand before the election. Mr. P. ERASER (Wellington Central) asked that provision should bo niado for seamen's votes. Mr. T. M. AVILFORD aMtl asked that at any cost provision should be made for taking tho votes of soldiers at sea. Admittedly the matter was difficult. No arrangements would eullico unless ships were within wireless range, but provision ought to bo made for suck ships as might bo within range. Mr. Masscy: I am quite willing to instruct tho Electoral Department to seo what can lie done. Mr. Witty: That is good enough. Mr. "VV. H. FIELD (Otaki) asked that provision should bo made for taking tho votes of peoplo sick in hospital. The Bill was read a second time, and was forthwith put through remaining stages and passed, Tho House roso at 11.35 p.m.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19191021.2.103

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 22, 21 October 1919, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,973

PARLIAMENT Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 22, 21 October 1919, Page 8

PARLIAMENT Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 22, 21 October 1919, Page 8

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