PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 23379, 23 September 1939, Page 22

PARLIAMENT

END OF WEEK'S PROGRAMME [Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 22. When the House resumed at • 2.30 p.m., the Wages Protection and Contractors’ Liens Bill and also the Patents, Design, and Trade Marks Amendment Bill passed the committee stages, were given their third reading, and passed within a few minutes. The greater part of the afternoon was devoted to discussion on the Local Legislation Bill, exception being taken by several Opposition members to the inclusion of at least two clauses affecting Wairoa Aerodrome, and validating the Tutikaramea Rabbit Board rate, on the ground that they should have been dealt with in local Bills, 1 Mr Fraser quoted a number of precedents to show that this validating measure had previously been utilised in this way, although ho admitted that the Wairoa Aerodrome was a borderline ease. The need, however, for an aerodrome at Wairoa was urgent. The Bill passed all stages without division, and the House _ rose at 4.55 p.m. until

2.30 p.m. oa Tuesday. Provision for advances to farmers for the erection of dwellings for themselves or their employees is contained in the Rural Housing Rill, which was introduced by Governor-General’s Message in the House to-day. The Bill was read a first time. It empowers | the State Advances Corporation to make loans out of the Housing Account to county councils, borough councils, or town boards, which may lend sums up to £750 to farmers for the erection of dwellings. Provision is made for the repayment of these sums to local bodies as rates. Kxplaining the Bill on its introduction, the Slinister of Housing, Mr Armstrong, said that the scheme outlined in the Bill was more likely to bo taken advantage of than any other method of providing rural housing that existed at present. The local bodies concerned would be able to borrow from the State Advances Corporation without taking d poll of ratepayers, and the repayments would probably bo spread over 25 years at the ordinary lending rate of interest. Provision was made for the lessors or mortagecs to bo notified before any advance was made to farmers, and if they objected, and suitable arrangements could not be made, it would not be possible to proceed. It would be possible for loans of up to 100 per cent, of security to bo made. 1 am not very keen on the £750 limit,’’ Mr Armstrong added. “ Tbo

State Advances Department can deal with every case on its merits, and it should be possible to have a good check in that way.” The leader of the Opposition, Mr Hamilton; Does not the security come in ahead of the mortgagee? “ Yes,” replied Mr Armstrong, “ but only with the consent of the mortgagee.” The redrafting of the Pharmacy Bill, which was introduced a week or two ago, was also introduced by GovernorGeneral’s Message. The Bill was read a second time, pro forma, and referred to the Health i Committee. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, said that in its new form the Bill had the unanimous approval of all interested parties, and represented the viewpoint of all those affected. He assured the House that nothing new had been put into it. The Bill was referred to the Health Committee.