In Parliament

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 October 1915, Page 2

In Parliament

TOUAI 'S SITIING. [l'lilt I'JUiSS ASSOCIATION.] W elluigton, Tins Day. ■Sir Joseph Ward, in replying oil The Cost ol Living liili deuate, said tiliat most ol die critics ol the bill had dis played ignorance ol what was on the Statute Rook. All power required f u make the bill effective already existed. As a matter of lact, when the bill was passed we would have tne most advanced lan in the world. lie quoted tb<! Kogulatiun of 'lrade and Commerce Ao* !o snow that the Government could now fix maximum and niimnuini prices or could commandeer produce during tiino of war. \\ ben this bill was passed (inquiry could be made and then the scheme of control could be made complete. lie had been asked to state in plain language how the individual exploiter could l;e got at hero. The board had power to itivo.,u<jate transactions, and when that ,ma lion had. been secured there was' power underMlic 'Commercial Tn.>.i .Vet lo prosecute any corporation <<r individual suspected ol cxploitaiinn. Ihis bill had been drafted having regard to the existing law. but that fact had been overlooked, Avitli the result that many critics had been misled, because they did not know what the law was. The bill was being criticised because the board had no power to prosecute without reference to the Government Such power had not been given to any board, even under the Labour Government in Australia. That was his answer to the charge that tho Government was weak and vacillating, lie denied that the Government taxation proposals put any uurden on the workers. The policy of the Government was to keep interest rates do>vi, and this they were doing under fie Lili. Great powers were given to locul bodies to establish municipal enterprise in the interest of the people. it weie not used to regulate prices by cum petition, then they would ue forccil to the conclusion that those local bodies woi'e not sincere in the requests made to those in power. lie proposed (when the bill was in committee) to move an amendment giving local authorities power to purchase trawlors lor the purpose of dealing in lisli as a lood .supply. The second reading was carried oil the voices, and the House went into committee on the bill. On the motion of the Minister, the number of members of the lioard was increased to three Ministers. lie also moved the following motion as an additional power to bo given local authorities lishment. equipment and maintenance bv borough councils ol trawlers lor the purpose of engaging in lishing and car rving on by such councils ol the business of dealing in lishing. ' The clause was agreed to and the bill was reported, as amended. LAXD LAWS. The 11 ouse went into committee, on the Laud Laws Amendment Bill. Clause IS "Prohibition tor Acquisition of the. fee Simple ol CVowil Lands in Milling Districts.'" was opposed by the leaseholders. hut was retained by 32 votes to 7. Clase 20 was withdrawn by the I'l-emier. (This clause dealt wit Mining Leases at To Arolia, and proposal to uraiit leaseholders the freehold), lhe bill was reported.

THIRD READINGS. 1 lie Cos I 01 Lnmg JL»IU Hits read a uuid time ami parsed, without Uiscus-.-,.<11. I jie Land Laws Amendment Oiil \>a.j lead a tiutd tune, alter -Hco .ms nitty, Webb and .mstcy had enu led a piolest- against clause lei. s:L. IMYbUSITV. J.tie A./;, liiiversity Dill wa.s received lrom tlie Legislative vouncil and read a lust time. ' I'LVS'LS AND TELEGRAI'IIS. Tiie Tost and Telegiaph Amendment Bill, providing lor lixed deposits in the i'ust Ollice (Savings uank was put through all (stages. LAW RILVCTITIONER.S. The Hon. A. L. iierdman moved that amendments made in the Law I'racLitioiiern' JJill be disagreed with, and that managers be appointed to nieeL representatives oi the Legislative (Joiint-il. This was agreed to. SHOPS AND OFKICJiS. 'J'lu.' R. Hon. W. F. Massey introdueed the Shops and Offices Amendinellt Jlill which wars read a lirst time. T-lio House rose ill i.lu it.lit. to 11 a.m.