PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 125, 23 November 1932, Page 9

PARLIAMENT

TO-DAYS PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m.

. On the motion of the Hon. C. J. Carrington, the Contraceptives Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to a Select Committee consisting of the Hon." Sir James .Allen, the Eight Hon. Sir Francis Bell, the Hon. Dr. W. E. Collins, the Hou. E. Moore, ihe Hon. E. Scott, the Hon. Colonel G. J. Smith, and the mover. The Council adjourned until Friday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met fit 2.30 p.m. to-day.

A petition from Thomas Burton Clark, formerly deputy-superintendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade, asking for an inquiry into his dismissal was presented by Mr. P. Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central.)

: Mr. W, . E., Barnard (Labour, Napier) gave notice of his intention to ask for leave to introduce the Hawkes Bay Eivers Amendment Bill.

TRANSPORT IN HTJTT VALLEY.

' Mr. \C. Nash (Labour, Hutt) asked the ■ Minister of Railways whether he would remove the injustice to the residents of the Hutt Valley whei'eby they "are charged higher railway fares than those operating for like services on the Auckland suburban lines.

Mr. Forbes replied: "I have conferred ■witK the Government Railways' Board with regard to this matter, and tho board has informed me that it regrets being unable to make any reduction in the passenger fares in' the Hutt Valley area at present."

Mr. Nash asked the Minister of > Transport -whether lie would immediately appoint a committee to inquire into " ;tbe; transport system of the Hutt Valley, •'with a view to ensuring the most economical and efficient service. • "The • Hutt Valley central railway runs to a-dead-end at "Waterloo—the route to reconnect with the main line has already been surveyed—and a decision with regard'to the'line is essential to'tiie sound -development of the Hutt Valley, and the road transport in the area can only •be economically, organised after full inquiry into lorry, bus, taxi, and private motor traffic," said Mr. Nash. Mr. Coates replied: "The position regarding this matter lias riot changed since it was last reviewed; As the Government has decided that the work entailed in extending the line beyond Waterloo could not be justified under _■. the conditions now prevailing, it does Bot appear that any good purpose would '-. fee served at the present juncture by . adopting the suggestion made by the ; honourable member." • ACCESS. TO PLIMMERTON. ' •'. . Replying to Mr. W. H. Field (GovV ernment, Otafti),. Mr, Coattes said that , the construction of the.proposed traffic ; bridge and formation of a connecting i-oad with 'Plimmertan ' could not be commenced until the County Council obtained the consent of the Local Govframent Loans Board to the raising, of ' .' a loaii> and a poll of the ratepayers - had been taken;.and the local body lad raised the money. "The County " i P.9. ulJcil proposed to erect a suspension ' bridge which would require a large an- /: niial expenditure on. maintenance seeing - that it would be over salt water, and, "at the suggestion of the Public Works ■: Department, has now had plans pre--'pared .for -air-- Australian ' hardwood -: bridge," said Mr. Coates. "Although the Local Government Loans Board has ■ considered the loan proposal, it has ■not finally d?alt with it, but hopes to ':■ be able to do so at jts next nieet--sng, which will-be held shortly." : MICROPHONE IN PARLIAMENT. Mr. D. McDougall (Government, , Katauia)- asked the '.Postmaster-Gene- ...- ral -whether he will favourably consider ._.. the question of; having a microphone installed in ■ the House, in order that the revenue, of the. Legislative Department may be increased, and also that it may. be the jneans .of. .letting the peopleun'VtKe country', who are' connected by wireless hear what the members of Parliament actually do say, and not what;the.Press state tWt.they say. Mr. Hamilton replied:—"lt is regretted that the request of the honourable member cannot be given favourable consideration." . • ■• -';-•■•■;■ RAILWAY PRIVILEGES. Mr. MeDougall asked the Minister in Charge of the Legislative Department whether he would consider the _.. question of taking away the privilege' of free- passes on the railways to mem- ; bers of the House, and letting them pay .- their own fares for travelling. .. ■■: : Sir Apirana Ngata replied:—"The v railway badge has been so long asso- ■ ; ciated with members of Parliament .- that they would, I think, be loath to .- give it tip. The question of the charge made for the travel facilities granted . . to :inembers is under the consideration - p'f the Government." - T LOCAL POST OFFICES. Mr. C. H. Chapman (Labour, Wellington Xorth)- asked the PostmasterGeneral whether lie would have the Department's proposal to close Tinaikori Eoad Post Office reviewed. He saxd-that the post office served tre convenience of a large number of residents over a, very large district and was cen-trally-situated. ■•' ■.:.;■ The Postmaster-General (the Hon. A. Hamilton) replied that the amalgamation'of the Wellington North and Molosworth Street Post Offices had been , under. consideration for some time. - These, offices were situated less than 2. mile.apart, and the business offering in the district was not sufficient to warrant the continuation of both offices. . A considerable saving -would • be "effected by the replacement of the two offices by a central office.. In view of the small amount of business transacted at the Wellington North office, ' it was considered that the proposed change would cause little inconvenience to residents of the district. Mr. W. Nash (Labour, Hutt) asked the Postmaster-General whether he would during the present year redeem the promise made by the late Sir Joseph Ward-.and 'the ex-Postmaster-General to build the new post-office at Petone. Mr. Nash said that a specific promise to commence the work, of building in 1930 was made by the late Sir Joseph Ward, and the question is of some urgency on account of (a) the unsatisfactory accommodation. in the present building, (b) the unsafe nature of the present structure, which is of brick and liable to collapse at any time under the strain of an earthquake, and1 (c) the desirability" of commencing the i work at the present time, as it would give relief to the Unemployment Fund by providing.productive and necessary Tvork for building craftsmen at present unemployed.

. The Postmaster-General (Hon. A., Hamilton) replied: "The- amount •which is to be provided for the erection of post-office buildings during the eurlent year -will be sufficient only to complete work ■which was commenced last year, and to repair the -damage caused the Napier and. Hastings post-office buildings .by the earthquake of 1931. The existing building at Petonc was examined by the Public Works Department in 1931 and pronounced reasonably safe. Although the accommodation Is not altogether satisfactory, no undue Inconvenience is being experienced. It Is not possible at present to say -when the.Beeessary_ funds for the erection-of

a new building at Petone wil.be available." DANGER OF FOGS. Mr. W. H. Field (Government, Otaki) asked the Minister .of Defence whether, having in view the frequency of fog conditions on the hills surrounding Wellington, and the serious resulting danger to travellers by air attempting to reach the -city, two valuable lives having been lost recently from this cause, the Government would favourably consider" the question of establishing a landing-place for aeroplanes on . the extensive foreshore at Porirua. "It is understood that such a landing-place could be provided at a very .moderate cost, and practically all necessary labour could be provided by unemployed," said Mr." Field. " '.

"The foreshore at Porirua already affords a- safe forced landing-ground, particularly at low-water,", replied the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe). "Whilst it Could undoubtedly be improved by means of a stop-bank this is not essential, since iv bad weather conditions (information concerning which is always available to pilots) a landing should be made at Levin Aerodrome. The only advantage of an intermediate landing-ground at Porirua over available areas further north is that it is within more reasonable access to the city and, as such, might be valuable in cases in which urgent flights to Wellington have to be undertaken." . " :

Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labour Napier) asked the Prime Minister: (1) Whether, in reference to the last tenders for the purchase of Samoa bananas from. Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, (a) tenders were not received from all four centres; (b) the tender of Turners and Growers, Ltd., of Auckland (acting for themselves, Radley and Co., Ltd., and A. B. Donald, Ltd.), for the whole of New Zealand was accepted, the reason given being that the Department preferred to deal with' a single purchaser; (c) the price paid by the Auckland tenderers was not less than the averago, price- of the three southern tenderers? (2) If so, what reason was there for tho acceptance of such tender?

The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes) replied that tenders had not been received from all the four centres; (b) the'offer, of Messrs. Turners and Growers, Ltd., was accepted, but not for, the reason advanced by the honourable member; (c) the number of southern tenderers was not three, and. it is not the policy of the Government to disclose the price payable. The offer of Messrs. Turners and Growers, Ltd., was accejjfcecl for the single reason that it was the*t>est obtainable. • •

Mr. W. Nask aske.d the Minister of Employment whether he would make arrangements to abandon the usual qualifying period of fourteen days before further relief employment 'was granted to those who were discharged from working under the No. 4a Scheme after twenty-six weeks' employment. "A person was engaged under the No. la Scheme at 10s, per "week, plus two meals per day," said, Mr. Nash. "This entailed his engaging a room for sleeping and providing his own breakfast. From the. 10s per week Is.was, deducted lor emergency unejnplpynicnt jcharge, leaving .him. a net income of 9s per week, thewhole of which he had to pay for his room, becl,' fand breakfast. He is now advised that- under the.'regulations he must stand down for fourteen days before being qualified to take "any other relief workI.'" ■ ■ , . The Minister of Enfployment (the Eight Hon. J. Gr. Coates) replied that a man on completing twenty-six weeks' continuous employment under the No. 4a Scheme was; required to re-register as unemployed and to fulfil the usual conditions regarding qualification for further relief. It was .regretted that the rule in regard to the qualifying period,to be observed in sucji. a case could not be varied. " '' ■■•■■••.-. ECONOMIC SITUATION. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) asked the Prime Minister whether an-opportunity would be given for a discussion on his motion in connection with economic problems. The Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. G; W. Forbes) said that the matter was being looked into as to whether any good .' purpose would be served by setting-up a Committee. ■mortgaig6;ss^ belief.-, ; : ... The -Mortgagors'?Relief--.Amendment Bill. was.,,..introduced;, by VGoverribfGeneral's Message. ' ■ .-.,- .->-..•■ - , The Minister of Justice (the Hon.'J. G. Cobbe) said that the Bill was an amendment and an. extension of the Act of last session- In the existing Actit had been found'that certain matters were not covered, and the Bill, was intended to give relief.

The amendments in the Bill were very necessary. ■ v (Continued in Stop Press.)"