PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1922, Page 1

PARLIAMENT

[by TELEGRAPH—PEE PREtoS ASSOCIATION*

WELLINGTON, Oct 12. THE COUNCIL. Tho Legislative Council met to-din at 2.30. A minor amendment to the Pharmacy Amendment Bill was agreed to. and the Bill passed. The Electric Power Board’s amendment Bill was put through its final stages and passed, with an amendment providing that- dealings in land with a Board would not disqualify a ratepayer from becoming a member of the Board. The following Bills were passed :—lncorporated Societies Amendment Bill, and tho Hutt River Improvement ' Reclamation. The Council adjourned at 3.30.

THE HOUSE. The House met at 2.30 p.m. In tho House the following Bills were introduced and read a. first time-. Housing Amendment (Hon W. Fraseri, Fencing Amendment (Hon Stawart), Stamp and Other Duties (Hon Massey); National Park (Hon Guthrie), Legislature (Hon Nosworthy. The House went into Committee on tho AVorkers’ Compensation Bill. After a lengtliv debate they passed the first clause, ' when progress was reported. Tho House rose mt 11.40 p.m.

Ministers gave the following replies among others to questions on the Order Paper. That it is not possible at present owing to the many demands made on the funds of the State Advances Department to increase the amount that may be lent to a local authority in any or.e financial year. That as a strong reserve has now been built up in connexion with tho Government Accident Insurance branch it is proposed in future to apply tho profits towards bonuses for policy-hold-ers. The next triennial period, however, does not end until December 1923 and the matter will then be attended to. That enquiries are being made into alleged excessive interest charges on small loans on furniture and chattels and when reports have been received the introduction of legislation to deal with the position will be considered. That the Government has no intention of placing under the Public Service Commissioners the control of the Railway Department’s employees, and those of all other departments not at present under that control. In reply to a question whether he could devise any system by which residents in this Dominion and the Commonwealth could pay reciprocal visits at more reasonable passenger rates than prevailed at present, the Minister of Marine said this was a matter in which the Government could not interfere. The Shipping Companies trading between the Dominion and Australia, doubtless gave full consideration to the cost of the services provided, and the amount of business offering when fixing the passenger rates.