GREAT RECORD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 12 May 1925, Page 5

GREAT RECORD

LEGISLATIVE MEASURES MASSEY REFORMS EFFECTIVE Under the heading of "A Rig Record,” the Rost- in a- very concise manlier summarise tin: legisltative measures by the three Administrations of which air Massey was Prime Minister:— FIRST REFORM GOVFRNAIENT Public Service Act, establishing nonpolitical control of the general service. Grant, of freehod tenure to Crown tenants, first- of l.i.p. lands, and subsequently of practically all lands held by the Crown. Mineral rights reserved to the State. Measures to restrain reaggregation of lands, including the Crown's right to reacquire -such lands. Establishment of the Board of Agriculture. Local Railways Act. Country Telephone lanes Act. Naval Defence Act, empowering the New Zealand Government to raise naval forces and co-operate with Great Britain. Establishment- of Council of Education. Medical inspection of schools. Inauguration of new system of physical training in schools. Board of Science and Art established. Licensing of land agents. Women tilade eligible for old pensions at sixty years. Removal of disqualifications limiting military pensions. Rociprociy with Australia in old-age pensions* arranged. Defending counsel provided for indigent accused persons. Extension of Shearers’ Accommodation Act to sawmill workers. Arbitration Court empowered to grant weekly half-holiday to assistants i\t hotels and restaurants. Labour Disputes Investigation Act, for tlie settlement of industrial disputes concerning organisations outside the Arbitration Act. Inspection and branding of footwear. Copyright law amended and remodelled. Native land purchase methods altered and re-constitution of Native Land Courts and Boards, followed by accelerated purchase of Native lands. Advances authorised for establishing fruit preserving works. Bonus provided for iron and steel production. Legislative Council Act. for election o. 1 Second Chamber by proportional representation (not yet brought into operation). Municipal bodies empowered to apply proportional representation to their elections. -Mortgages Extension Act. Regulation of Trade and Commerce Act. authorising fixation of maximum prices. Despatch of Expedition to Samoa, and Main expeditionary Force. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT The war work of the National Government is too extensive to be detailed in any way. It covered: The despatch of reinforcements and new units; the enlistment of recruits, first by voluntary methods and then under the Military Service Act; the grant of assistance to dependants of soldiers; war precautionary measures; the first pension schemes; the inauguration of the work of settling and caring for 1 discharged soldiers under the Repatriation, Defence, and Lands Departments; finance by loans within New Zealand and special taxation; control of the cost of living by the establishment of the Board of Trade, with power to conduct investigations and recommend maximum prices; purchase of -sugar output- over seevral years; sale of produce to Imperial Government ; control of coal distribution, also cement and other commodities in short supply; restriction on rent increases; -six o’clock closing of liquor bars; granting wage increases to Government employees, and power given to Arbitration Court, to regulate wages according to movement- of the cost- of living. Arising from the war aiso were the administration of Samoa, for which New Zealand obtained the mandate, and the obtaining for New Zealand of a share in Nauru, and Ocean Islands. Other works carried during the National Government period were:—• Hydro-electric power schemes for Auckland. Wellington, and Eastern districts planned; Lake Coleridge system extended. Electric Power Boards Act.

Benefits of National Provident Fund ii creased andjschcmo extended. Him censorsnip inaugurated. First aviation laws passed. State Forests legislation passed and way prepared for the establishment of the hcrests Department. First Public Health Board established and general reforms in health law initiated. Social Hygiene Act passed. Post and Telegraph removed from the operation of the Public Service Act. Provision made for the licensing of meat export companies. Provision made for establishing probat ion homes for children. Extension of prison reforms, with special reference to the treatment of women and girls. Appointment of organising teachers. 'Licensing legislation providing for special liquor poll in 1919 and subsequent, three-issue polls SECOND REFORM GOVERNMENT Board of Trade Act, establishing Department of Industries and Commerce, and giving wide!' powers for the prevention of profiteering and fostering trade and industry. Housing legislation. Legislation for government of Samoa. Government interest in Bank of New Zealand increased from one-seventh to one-third. Immigration Restriction Laws, allowin'! foreign immigration bv permit only, and requiring oath of allegiance. U nud es ira b 1 e 1m migrants Exclusion Act, preventing tlie entry and aulhorisintr the deportation of disloyal or other undesirable persons. Women given the right of election to Parliament. Gaining Amendment Act. making betting by or with a bookmaker illegal. Increased exemptions from land tax and from income tax in respect of children and widowed mothers. Native Trust Cilice established. Benefits of First Offenders’ Probation Law extended to all classes of offenders, and right of appeal against sentence given. Valuation Law amended, and permanent Assessment Court constituted to hear appeals. New Tariff, with provision against dumping, and faeiiites for concluding reciprocal treaties. War bonus increases in pensions made permanent. Workers’ Compensation Act amended, with increase of benefits. Master and Apprentice Act ametided to facilitate the immigration of lads a.s farm apprentices. Masseurs’ Registration Act. Extension of system of dental inspection and tree'-”:i»l f children.

Extension of school age to 15 (not yet m operation).

l’lshing Industry Promotion Act. Meat Export Control Act, authorising establishment of meat pool. Forest Act, making permanent- provision for the preservation of forests. Teachers in public and private schools required to take tile oath of allegiance. Public Service retrenchment- carried through. Produce Control Boards established. Old Age Pensions increased. Provision for increased advances to farmers and for the acquisition of homes. Taxation reductions effected amounting (o approximately .1:3,000,00 per annum within a two-.vearly period. Appronlieesliii> Act passed providing improved facilities for training of apprentices. ’Perms of Disciiargcd -Soldiers" Settlement Act liberalised. Appeal Board constituted for war pensioners. Income tax removed from farmers. Steps taken to keep down rate of interest, Prime .Minister refusing to accept money at higher rate than 6 per cent. Of six British countries floating loans during the first five months ot 1.914 the New Zealand Government alone succeeded in. obtaining wluit it required at low rate of 4$ per cent., thus proving confidence in which investors I’cld Dominion credit. Main Highways legislation passed. During financial year ended 31st March. 1924, trade returns amounted to over £95,500,000, with excess of exports over imports of £7,250,000. During five-yearly period ended 31st March, 1924, exports exceeded imports bv £6.250,000. Material increases provided in old age and widow’s pensions, and old age pensioners given the right to hold greater amount of property than heretofore, as well as earn additional £52 per annum. Cost- of living bonus granted to PublicService annuitants. Pensions for the blind instituted. Special pensions provided for South African War veterans. Legislation providing for compulsory registration of Parliamentary electors, with view of getting clean roll. Meat and Dairy-produce Control Boards given facilities for advertising New Zealand produce. Provision made for maintenance of a second cruiser on the New Zealand naval -station. Total of £2,831,000 advaneged to -soldiers by Repatriation Department, £l,956.674 being hv way of loan. Another £21,863,500 expended l>v Government for purpose of settling soldiers. £8,572.109 being advanced for purchase and erection of dwellings in town and suburban areas, balance being for purchase of farms market gardens, etc. Total of 22.213 men helped by Government. Dominio Revaluation Board set up to work in conjunction with local revaluation committees in revaluation of soldiers’ farms following period of depression. * Between Ist April, 1919. and 31stMarch. 1924, provision made for erection and pin-chase of 37.459 houses at total cost- of £18,720,005. expenditure for this purpose in 1923-24 totalling nearly £4.000,000. In same year provision made for 5259 houses and £66,110 advanced to local bodies for housing purposes. Other sums, ami’inting to approximately £13,000,000 advanced by Government lending Departments by way of mortgage for houses.