N.Z. PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1933, Page 5

N.Z. PARLIAMENT

BILLS IN HOUSE - r~ DISPOSAL OF OLD RAILWAYS, (Per Press Association Copyright WELLINGTON, March 8. In the Legislative Council yesterday, the Finance Bill (Number 3) was puti through.all stages and passed.

In the House of Representatives dis-» cussion of the Unemployment Board’s report ..was continued until 5-30 p.m., when it was interrupted by the adjournment of the House. .

The Thames Harbour Board Loans Adjustment Bill, containing machinery « to enable the Board'to'put it© finances into a sound, worka'bl e condition, was put through all stages and passed.

T/he Finance Bill (Number 4) was introduced, and read the first time, and the second reading' debate was in progress at midnight. The Government, Railways Amendment Bill was 'introduced by GovernorGeneral’s message, and read the first time. The Bill confabs authority for the disposal - of unprofitable and uncompleted railways, Where'the Railway. Board ceases to operate any railway, the Governor-General may, by order-in-council, remove the railway from the control of the board, and sell or other wish! dispose of • tW* railway to any company willing to take and -work-it, Whore work oh tin* construction ,of any railway has boon suspended or abanv donpd, the Governor-General : may dis* pose of it by sale, Tease, ' or otherwise. FINANCE BILL NUMBER FOUR. SOME IMPORTANT CLAUSES. WELLINGTON, March 8. Numerous important clauses ai'e contained in the Finance Bill (Number ; 4). It is proposed to. tax* vehicles) which do not use motor spirits, 1 -on a mileage basis. The tax will be approximately equivalent to that of :the petrol .tax. The principal vehicles affected are those using kerosene or. heavy oil as fuel, those deriving .power- from) steam, and electrically driven motor vehicles.The Ron. J. G. Csqtes,' after explaining the clause, said . ’that the necessity for ft had been increased in view of the recent increase , in. the petrpl tax., •Another clause empowers the Minister of; Finance to - arrange) wifh th© ; royal mint for the-issue of sp&cial silver and copper coinage for New > Zealand.

Mr Coates said that there had been a drift' of. silver from this country-, - and, since the recent increase in exchange to twenty-five per cent., tlhe position had become even mor© difficult. The Government had decided to arrange for tih-o issue of special coinage because of the difficulty-in making eifeetire at-.

tempts to prohibit the-exportof oOine. - Authority .is given. under' the : Bill for the remission of the ten per c*nt. penalty on unpaid rates for , another A year. '■ ' ' , Hospital beards, owing to heavy, dills - on finances for charitable aid and unemployment Teliel arc, empowered to -• negotiate for excess overdrafts* ( . Another clause makes it' clear that absence from New Zealand on accoim« ■ of service in the naval) military, or nil- force, shall not disqualify a person from receiving the old age pension, . All medical practitioners registered as masseurs, nurses, maternity nurses and mldwives. and opticians, practising in New Zealand, will, in future, be required to obtain .annual practising certificates for whidh a fee will be paid. Th e object, is, to guarantee the expense of administering the various acts under , which these professional people are licensed. Authority is given for the issue of Treasury 'bills to the extent of one half of the estimated expenditure,' instead of one third as at present. Mr Coates said that, until recent years, where a large balanc e had been, carried forward in the consolidated ■fund, it had been unnecessary to utilise to any great extenj provisions dealing, with Treasury bill 6 Owing to the depletion in resources, it; wNp -necessary to rely more extensively on'.. Treasury bills to meet ordinary expenditure until revenue cam ft to hand later in the year. v Tlie Finance Bill (Number. 41, was read a. second time without division at 4.15 o’clock this morning and by 6.3 o’clock its clauses had bgen dealt , with in committee. Progress was'then, reported, Mr Coates stating additional clauses would he brought;.down toMay. . The clause providing for the. annual licensing of mirses, maternity nurses and midwives was -withdrawn. ; ,, The House rose at 6.37 a.m. till 2-30 this afternoon.