A Parliamentary Note-Book

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 200, 12 November 1927, Page 9

A Parliamentary Note-Book

GOOD PROGRESS fHB SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON. To-day. Substantial progress was made with legislative work in the House of Representatives yesterday hree important Bills and two minor ones being deared off the order paper. Tbe Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill and Motor Spirit Taxation Bill were again fully discussed in committee stages and passed, reductions in licence fees being provided for in the former and exemptions from tax for petrol now on the way to New Zealand in the latter. Tbe Valuation of Land Amendment Sill, Local Legislation Bill, and Howard Estate Amendment Bill were also jut through the final stages and passed. Amendments to the Rural Intereedlate Credits Bill were introduced »y Governor-General’s Message. The Prime Minister explained that with wo exceptions they were all maehin--:y amendments. The two exceptions dealt with the treatment of securities and had been asked for by the Public Trustee and the Treasury. The House rose at 1.5 a.m. There was under consideration also the question of whether certain roads lor which local authorities bad berime responsible should be made main Hqhways, and a close investigation of lie position would be necessary before the recommendation could be nade. Mr. T. M. Wilford, Hutt, said that ty the imposition of 4d a gallon a bus •ervlce in Wellington suburbs would lave to pay £SOO extra in petrol costs. An amendment moved by Mr. H. Atmore, Nelson, seeking to reduce the tax from 4d a gallon to 2d a gallon, was defeated by 39 votes to 19. * “Crumb" for Motorists The Government estimates that the reduction of the amount of licence lees on motor trucks and omnibuses will result in the remission of about -10,000 in taxation. Members of Parliament on the Opposition benches showed no particular enthusiasm when the Minister of PuMic Works, the Hon. K. S. Wilams, made this announcement to ! »em last evening, and several expressed the feeling that the £IO,OOO Bs a very small discount on the -720,000 that was being taken from aem by the petrol tax. Someone deA'ribed it as “a crumb,” and another 'ember said that if it appeared to his Tread as a crumb the latter must ave been looking at It through a ■rasuifjrtng-glass. Civil Service Criticism of the system of control / the Civil Service by the Public service Commissioner was made by '° speakers in the Legislative Coun- - yesterday in the debate on Sir obert Stout’s motion that the Gov- _ ament should consider the need of emodelling local government machined J n direction of establishing ■strict councils with wide powers oT er large areas. Tim Hon. J. B. Gow said he did not the system of control of the service by a Public Service Comwas one that could be re- „ ed as permanent. Sooner or later a reversion to direct bilily I*** 1 *** su P erv * slon and responsic/pT Thomas Mackenzie said Mr. v. “ad struck the right note when y condemned control of the Civil ernes by the Public Service Comsioner. He had always held that , jaistcr should be responsible for department to Parliament and the Work *!, ouse of Representatives proiav . . discuss local Bills on MonBji'l eve hing. There are nine of these fo rnh 0 * the or der paper, and those V? concerned are anxious to ci SD ~® non-contentions measures to - *d of. in some cases it is hoped lief e d "ith local work for the reno cpvn Une fnPloyment, and if there is ntious Principle involved, the PPe Bills can be arranged 4 matter of minutes.