PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1928, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

THIC CO UNCI I

.BASSES finance: bill

(By Telegraph - Tress Association)

WFLLIXGTON. Dec. 11. The. Legislative Council met at II a.m. to-day. The Finance Bill was received from the House by the Speaker. On the second reading, flic Leader of the Coiimil, Mr T. K. Sidev, referred particularly 1.0 the rotif restriction clause pointing out ii applied only to premises concerning which orders were made by ■Magistrates, and enabling ieiiants to apply for relief until the first of August next as tin- extended date. Ibis Would (■liable the new Adminisl rat ion to deal with the question during the ordinary session of Bariiamenl next year. Sir .Robert Stout objected to the lights of. landlords being restricted lor a further period, and asked if it, was right to throw upon poor men, who owned premises, the responsibility ol providing neremmudal ion for ot hers. If was unfair to lay down tiiui nroiiiniodafion should In* provided by certain individuals al a certain rental, while there was no ,-ueh provision in regard to olhers. lion. Kurnshaw opposed the extension, which, he said, would only he a step until a further extension, which lie anl ii ipate-l next year. lie also condemned the proposed increase in tin* unemployment relief rale on tlm ground that, it: raised the vagabondage labour to award rates, and would tend to intensely unemployment rattier than to relieve it. The moment they departed from the principle of paying a man what he was worth, they were treading nn dangerous ground. !i was merely an extension of the dob* system, payings man for what lie did mu give in ret urn.

Sir F. I). Ikd! iuslied the rent restriction proposal as lhe only means available to the Government of dealing with the question in the short space ol time available, before ihe opportunity cl fully considering the matter in a proper working session. Hon. Barr deprecated the releren e to vagabondage labour, and said it might he taken to apply to persons who arrived footsore and (oof hare alter padding the bool from one centre to another in search of work, not, neresssrilv at relief rates.

lion. Shailer Weston commended to the Government the recommendations of the Industrial Conferi nee in relation to unemployment, and the Hon. 'I. K. Sidey said he would bring the matter before I he (lovernmeiit.’s not ice.

The Bill was passed, and the ( oiiueit id joii rued at I-. Ib p.m.