PARLIAMENT" AT WORK

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 24, 23 October 1920, Page 10

PARLIAMENT" AT WORK

" COUNCIL OBJECTS TO TOTALISATOS • INCREASES

MORE ABOUT THE MEAT TRUST

THE LAND BILL DEBATED

The legislative Council amended-, the Gaming Bill .yesterday by deleting the , provision that the- Government should , luivo power to issue totalisator permits on the recommendation of the proposed commission. Tho Bill as it now stands authorises tho appointment of a commission to consider tho distribution of totnlisator permits, but leaves unchanged iho existing restriction on the total number of permits. Tho Council's amendments will require to be submitted to "Iho llouso of Representatives. .'.Tho Meat Trust was under discussion in the House during tho afternoon. • : Thp.report-of the Stock Committee, endorsing tho refusal of the Government to issue a meat export license to Armour hud Company of Australasia, was further debated, and was again "talked out." 'the discussion shoved that country mem-' bers from tho South Island tended to legard the American linn with favour. Northern, members were virtually unanimous in supporting the action of Hie. Government. i - The Minister of Public Works pre; en ted his annual Statement''and Estimates to tho House in tho evening. The House then proceeded with the consideration of tho Land Bill in Commihec. A proposal that South African veterans should bs included with members.of the Expeditionary Force in the preference group at land ballots was defeated by 32 votes to 2(i after considerable debate. The clauso of the Bill proposing the salo of some of>fche national endowment lands was enforced by 37 votes to 20. .Ministers indicated that some, amendments would'.be made later in this clause, including a new provision that money received by tho Government from the sales should bo reinvested by trustees in other land, probably in tho neighbourhood-of tho towns. The pro-' posal to revive the right of lease-in-perpetuity tenants to acquire tho freehold was endorsed by 39 votes to 11. Tho Sill was reported with minor amendments and passed.

GAMING BILL, NO. 2 AMENDED BY THE COUNCIL POWER TO INCREASE PERMITS TAKEN AWAY Sir Francis Bell yesterday moved, in tho Council tho second reading the Gaining Amendment Bill (No. 2). The measure provides for the setting up of a commission to consider whether more totalisator permits should be issued in each year, and whether there should be .a, redistribution of permits'. It'also grants to the hunt clubs of the Dominion eight more permits per annum. -.•The-Eon.. J. Barr said that tho real function of the commission was to bring forward arguments that would induce Parliament to increase the number' of permits. The question of redistribution was a side issu'o. The supporters of the Bill were' proposing—while they advocated production and still more production—that on a greater number of days than at present the producers should be taken away from production to attend race meetings. This was ono of the things that were going to call attention to the pitch that had been reached by this sport that was no longer a sport, but was becoming an evil." The Hon. T. Mac Gibbon thought that tlus was no time. to' suggest anything that-would tend to increase the amount of racing in the country. He would have supported tho Bill had it contained nothing more than a proposal.to have the question of redistributing permits considered. The Hon. E. Mitchelson said that the previous speakers appeared to have misunderstood the Bill. It did not meau that the number of permits was going to be increased. At present the distribution of permits was quite inequitable. He hoped thaC the Bill would be passed, and that the commission would be. given an opportunity of bringing up ■ its report, which he believed would be in favour of a readjustment rather than an increase. Personally, he did not favour an increase in the total number of racing days. Both Houses . would have an opportunity of reversing the decision made by tho commission, it', that decision led to an increase that members considered unjustified. The. Hon. W. Eanishaw was sure that the commission would favour an inciea.so. Ho believed that gambling destroyed moro working men's homes than drinking. He would oppose the Bill. The Hon. H. L,. Michel hoped that when the question of reallottdng the permits was decided,. some of the smaller districts would receive justice.

■The-Hon>C. H. Izard objected to tlie ■ Bill. • It was only a Bill to assist gen--tlenien. who owned horses, and to bring in revenue. He would support nothing that meant another day's racing. In 1 cflinmittee he would inova to prevent the Government having power to inereasti the number of permits upon thol » commission's recommendation^

The Hon. 0. Samuel appealed for *vmpathetic consideration for the hunt clubs'. These clubs had to obtain nioro rev-enue-or, give up the sport. At present club had a. permit in every two years. The Bill would givo to caco club a permit in every year. The Hon. 11. Cohen claimed that there was ail-insistent public demand that the number of racing days in the veur should not bo increased.

T'lie Hon. J. B. Gow said that tho Bill did. not deal with sport, but with what was a very undesirable adjunct to sportllo had been glad to hear from Jlv Mitchelson that there was not a general desire- on the part of the racing community for an increase in tho number of ipermits. If this was so, why hail the question of increasing the number of permits been left open? He would not object to tho passage of the Bill, provided that the power to grant more permits' was removed.

SH-'Walter Buchanan believed that tho Bill would not have been introduced had it not been for tho present unfair distribution of permits. He was ciuita f>uro that tlio public sentiment was not' in favour of an iucreaw in tho number of permits. (Hear, hear) Ho would voto for the'second reading because Jia thought, that in. the -circumstances it would be a mistake if the second reading wero r not carried. The advent of the motor-car had made it more necessarj -rthan ever to encourage the breeding of the best class of hoiw, A Councillor; But'not racehorses; not thin-legged horsiw. . . Kir Walter Buchanan: That shows thai the hon. g(shtleman has never had to test the value of .the thin-legged horse! He doesn't know what finality is in a horso when'ho uses' such language as that. For over sixty years I havo had experience of tho value of good horses, and I am satisfied that wcro it •not for-ruciug—l put gambling on ouo side—Great Britain would not hold tho position sho has held for centuries. She has been largely indebted for her placo in the world to the fostering of'valuablo horses . . .Whatever change is mnrto b.v the Bill, it should not bo in thu direction, of increasing tha 'number of permits. Sir Francis Bell asked tho Conn'oll to "exercise 6omo common souse," and not be led away by the "too-goods." The existing clubs should not bo deprived of their present revenue. Either there must be a mere redistribution.of existing permits in order to give permits to the places that ought to have them, or there must be an increase to give the places in question a reasonable number of permits without taking away revenue from : -any club. It was unfair trt.ask.a, club to give up what it had for a long time been entitled to\ Hi* had been asked to accept an amendment (hat would mean mem redistribution. That would, in his opinion, be unjust. 'The supporters of tho amendment asked that what belonged to A should bo taken away ntod givon to B.

The second reading was carried by 20 votes to 1G Tho division list was:— Ayes':' Bell, Alison, Buchanan, Clarka, ( Collins,' .'Fraser, Geddis, Grimmond, Hawke. MacGregor, Michel. Mitchelson, Nerheny, Patuki, Samuel. Scott, Simpson, Sinclair, Stewart, Tnkino. Noes: Barr, Cohan, Earnshaw. Fisher, Fleming. Garland/" Gow. Hall-Jones, Hardy. Izard, .Tones, AlaflGibbon. Moore, Smith, Thomson, Triggs.

The Bill Committod. The Bill was committed forthwith, The Hon. J. Barr moved an amehflment providing that the commission 6houid not have the power to recommend an' increase in the number of permits at present authorised, i Tho amendment was oarric,d by 18 to IG. For: Bavr Cohen, Earnshaw, Fisher, Fleming, Garland, Gow, HallJones, Hardy, Izard, .Tones, Mac Gibbon, MacGregor, Moore, .Simpson, Smith, Thomson, Triggs Against: Eoll, Alison, Buchanan, Clarke, Coljins, I'raser, Geddis, Grinunond, Hawk" Michel, Mitohol. am, Nerheuy,. Patuki Scott, Sinclair, Stewart.

Mr. Barr feared that the clause giving more permits to hunt clubs was open to abuse. It'seemed to him that there was a good deal of camouflage about it, and he wished to sec it struck out.

Sir Francis Bell asked the Council to be. satisfied with wlwt it had already done. The Bill was already very differ«nt from what it had been. The eight extra permits wore to so to ousting hunt clubs. . ■ , Sir. Barr moved to strike out tho v.lause His amendment was defeated by 22 votes to 12. For the amendment: Barr, Earnshaw, Fisher, Gcddis. Gow, Hall-Jones, Hardy, Jones, Mac Gibbon, Moore, Smith, Thomson. Against: Bell, Aljson, Buchanan. Clarke, Coheir, Collins, Fleming, Eraser, Garland, Grimmond, Hawke, Izard, MacGregor, Michol, Mitchelson, Nerheny, Patnki, Scott, Simpson, Sinclair, Stewart, Triggs. Sir Francis Bell moved a new clauso validating the issue of totnlisator permits for the meetings held in honour of the 1919 visit of Lord Jellicoe and the visit, of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The clause provides that the issue of iho licenses in question shall not bo deemed to reduce the number qf licenses that may be toned in the Tacing year commenced on August 1, 1920. The clauso was carried without discussion.

Mr. Cohoitf moved an amendment, limiting the number of races to l*e rum on any racing <laj\ He proposed that in summer the limit should 1m eight races, as now, and that in winter it should be seven

The amendment was defeated by 19 vntos to 13.

The Bill was reported -with amendments, and the third rending was sef down for next sitting day.

ANOTHER FORTNIGHT THE WORK OF THE 'SESSION. Tho Priiiio Minister stated in the House of Representatives yesterday, in answer to a question, that ho saw no reason why the' session of Parliament should not end on that day fortnight. Ho intended shortly to commence morri.ing sittings, and he would ask the House to sit next Saturday. He jiroceeded to read the following list ef Bills now in course of preparation:—Housing Amendment, Finnncp, Bank. of New Zealand, Life, Insurance Amendment, Factories Amendment, Education Amendment, Haihvays Amendment, Public Works end Electric Power Loan, Nurses' KegLstrntion. Patents Amendment, Local Bailways, Public Works Amendment. Land Drainage Amendment (Fencing Drains), Seeds Amendment, Orchards and Garden. Diseases. Noxious Weeds Amendment, Babbit Amendment, Hotorua Town Conr trol. Main Roads, Grcymouth Harbour Board, Films Censorship Amendment Stone Quarries Amendment Iron and Steel Industries. Births and Deaths Registration, Inspection of Machinery Amendment, Harbours Amendment, Cook Islands Amendment, Two Washing-up Bills, Appropriation. 'Air. Massey mentioned that he had instructed the Treasury to proceed with the payment of increased allowances to some superannuated Public Servant?. The authority would be taken in the Appropriation Bill. The Finance Bill probably would include clauses dealing with pensions. It would also propose somo additional authority for public work-? finance, but tho extra money would not he required during the present financial year. ■ The Bank of Now Zealand Bill, added the Priiuo Minister, would come „own next week. Banking was always an interesting subject, and in tiio circumstances tliero might -'bo a somewhat lengthy discussion. Bub he did not think there would bo any serious objection to the Bill.

AMERICAN MONEY MR. ITASSEY PRKFEItS TO BORROW LOCALLY. A cablegram from New York, published tins week, stated that loans of <C50.00"!.000 for Australia and .HO.fiOO.OOO for New Zealand' could ho raised in tho United States if flotation was arranged' promptly. Mr.'W. H. Field (Otnki) mentioned this statement in the House of Representatives, and asked, tho J'rimo Minister if'it would not he/well to inquire as to the possibility _ of raising monev at a reasonable rate in America, and conserving local funds.

The Prime Minister said that he knew nothing more tlinn he Ifiul rend in the newspapers on this pint. "In any case, I hope that we shall b?_ (iblc to raise tho money wo rpquire .within our own boundaries," added Mr. Mnssey. "If we are ablo to do that; and I am very confident of it, it will bo much betler. (ban going outside." NELSON HARBOUR SUBSIDY NOT TO.BIO RENEWED The Nelson Harbour Hoard Amendment Bill was reported by the Local Bills Committee to the House of Representative-) ■ yesterday with m recommendation that it should bo allowed to proceed without' amendments. This Bill proposes* to withdraw a subsidy of £"M a year that has l)een paid by the Railway Department to the Nels'in Harbour Board. Mr. Atmoro (Nelson'l-briell.v repented his objections to tho"'"Bill. lie said 'that the .£SOO had been granted to the board when • tho foreshore was taken over by the Government. The Prime Minister had promised that tho subsidy would be paid this year Mr. At more hoped that the matter would then be considered again.

. Mr. Mnssey stated that the pavilion: would'be made for this year. But the Government could not go beyond (hit