JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 October 1920, Page 1

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

SUGAR SUPPLIES. (Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 27. Are brewers getting the usual supplies of sugar in these days of stress and peril? asked Mr'Craigie (Tinmru), in the house. The member mentioned that the scarcity of sugar was still being fe|t in many parts of New Zealand and that the approach of the fruit season nmcje it very desirahl 6 fhat household supplies should be increased. Hon fee replied that tjiere was plenty of sugar. T|iat_ where (he shortage existed in certain districts, the trouble was one of distribution by shipping. He boiieved that the trouble was fieing overcome. Government was preparing for the jam season by filling stores with refined sugar. The Minister added that the brewer did not get sugar that could he used by the public. Ho did not believe for u moment that the brewers ought to get sugar when the public were not getting ft. HOUSINp AMENDMENTThe Housing Amendment Bill, introduced’in the House to-night, contains a n'unfter of machinery amendments of the' Housing Act, 1919, intended to facilitate operations of the Rousing Board. It contains also so no "’new clauses dealing with rents and tenancies. An important amendment is proposed in the law relating to restriction of rents. The present Jaw provides that t|ie rent of a house shall not- exceed 8 j)er cent of the capital value as‘in'August 1914. The Bill provides that a Magistrate may moiease the reiiLso as''to allow the owner a net return of 7 per cent on tie capita) value- of <a jionse as at the date of application, after taking into consideration, ’ ;tlie landlord’s payments for rates) Insurances and repairs, and also depreciation. A demand "or acceptance of a. bonus in connection witji the letting of house is made an offence, punishable by a 'fine of £IOO. A newspaper may be similarly fined for publishing! an advertisement demanding < i offering'a bonus for’ a'lease of a dwelling bouse. Magistrates are given power to‘ determine the fair rent of rooms or parts of houses sub-let by tenants of the houses. A Magistrate in determining whether an order shall he made fi>r possession of a dwelling shall take into consideration not only the hardship that would he suffered bv the tenant if tho order were made, but al«o the hardship that would be suffered by the owner if the order were refused mining amendment. The House spent to-night on the Mining Amendment Bill, which deals chiefly with machinery amendments of law but provides also for an extension to December 31st. of the period allow cd gold-mining companies for the installation of water drills. Some representatives of the mining districts and mining members object to this extension itn«l protested at length that the companies had not fried to secure the drills in time. The Bill was passed.