PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1918, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

By Telegraph.—Press Association

Wellington, l.at! Night. In the legislative.Council, iho Christ's College Ordinance Amendment Bill was read a second time.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Tlie House met at 2.30.

LICENSING BILL.

The Licensing Act Amendment Bill "as introduced by Governor's menage and set down for second reading at next sitting day.

REPLIES to questions.

In reply to Mr. Witty, Eon. G. W. Russell said the hospital and charitable Rid boards were being asked to collect information regarding; cases of distress arising out of the influenza epidemic, ami the Government's policy in connec--11011 therewith would be made known in a, few days.

Replying to Mr. Lee. Mr. Massev said (lie Government was making inquiry into the cost of motor lorries from the Home authorities, with a view to securing a number to supply the requirements of local bodies. Local bodies were also being asked to say what their requirements were.

Replying to T)r. Newman, Mr. Massey said .New Zealand's interests 111 conneetiou with Narew Island would not be neglected when the Minister of Finance una himself were at the peace conference. It was not true that a London trading company had purchased all the Germans' rights in connection with that island. These rights could not be sold either by Germany or Britain. The fate of the island would now be settled at the peace conference.

Replying to Mr. Poole, Hon. G. W. Russell said the Makura was being detained under clause 118 of the Public Health Act, as there were several cases of influenza on board.

Replying to Mr. Witty, Mr. Russell said the question of compensating shopkeepers, etc., whose businesses had been closed owing to the influenza epidemic would be laid before Cabinet at an early date.

Replying to Dr. Newman, Sir James Allen said the widow of any soldier who had been to the front, and'wlio died as the result of influenza, could claim a pension if it could be shown that death was in any way aggravated by service at the front, such as a soldier returning in broken health.

PREVENTING GROWTH OF SLUMS.

The following Bills were introduced for the first time:—Wellington City Milk Supply Bill (Mr. Luke), and the Sanitary Dwellings Bill. Dr. Thacker explained that this latter Bill was designed to prevent the growth of slums in the cities of the Dominion.

Sir. RußSell said the proposals in Dr. Thaler's Bill would be carefully considered when an amendment to the Public Health Act was being framed. Mr. Poole said a sensible, up-to-date housing scheme would be a great blessing to our cities, and the expenditure ot a million pounds in each centre would be a good investment, aa the conservation of life was more important than the conservation of wealth. Mr. Ell declared that local bodies had ample powers to keep their towns in a sanitary condition if they only took the trouble to make by-laws for that purpose. One of the greatest sinners in | this respect was the Wellington City Council.

Mr. Fraser said, the inspectors of tlie Public Health Departent had laid bare a condition of affairs in Wellington which no one could regard with complacency. Our Ministers were going to Britain, and were evidently prepared to take on greater responsibilities, such as the care of Samoa, but he thought their first duty was to look after their own people at home. sometimes wondeTed whether they fully realised that duty. He was, at all events, certain that if the Samoans came to Wellington Central and saw the condition of affairs they would be by no means enthusiastic about ooming under the control of New Zealand.

Mr. Parr said that nohe of our cities, nor, indeed, many of our larger boroughs, were anything to boast about, simply because Parliament had permitted the landowner and syndicate to plan our towns. The importance of making the worker comfortable in his home life lay very close to the root of the whole social problem. He did not think it much use expecting a great deal from local bodies in the direction of comprehensive building schemes. There must be some form of partnership between the State and local bodies, as now exists in England. How was it possible to expect a contented democracy when a man had come home from work and had to go into a miserable shanty with no pleasant surroundings? Improved living conditions must be provided in the suburbs, the secret of the success of which was cheap transit. No scheme of town-planning would be of any use if it were made permissive. It must be made compulsory. If local bodies had the option of leaving it alone they would leave it alone.

Hon. J, A. Hanan said our policy should be one which would take the people out of the towns and give tliem a healthy country life. Mr. Payne declared that, the Minis-' tor's inference was that there were people in the towns who were not required, but the fact was there were thousands in the towna who could not go into the country and take up agricultural pursuits. What was wanted •was quick transit into garden suburbs. Mr. Massey said one would suppose from the remarks of some of the speakers that nothing 'had bleen doae to prevent overcrowding in the past, but the Municipal Corporations and PublicWorks Act gave local bodies all the powers required. It was true that in some cities slums existed, but power was in tie Act to prevent theiu. Municipalities and county councils had power to raise money for the erection of workers' homes, and so could prevent overcrowding. The war had, unfortunately, interfered with tiwse operations, but this polioy must be put into force again. Cheap money must bo found for workers' homes, and more must be made of our tram services and suburban trains. So far as he was concerned, he was prepared to do everything in his power to promote healthy living conditions.

Jjbbxb was also given to Dr. 'BiaAff to intßodwje Ms Arterial Highway Bill.

H2DBO-JBLECTKIC KOL.

Sir jfoeegih "Ward moved the segund raffing off EJedbric Eowar Baaife 'SQL lie explained that the Bill gaye

local power to establish hydro-eicetric works under ample safeguards which protected the interests of the Crown.

The House resumed at 7.30.

Sir Joseph Ward, continuing his xdvoeaev oi ilic- Electric Power Hoards Bill, said that, in the light of the I)o----ntin.ous prospective financial operalions, it was necessary to give local bodies power to take up this work, because for a long time to come ail the li'imey available for development purpose,, of a national character would bo required" by the State for public works altogether apart from providing hydroelectric power. He doubted if the Government could go on the London money market for several years, but there was room for local bodies to borrow in England, where there were nuuiy financial houses which were prepared io find the comparatively sum!! sums required. He understood the minimum Jonn which could be flouted on the London market was a hundred thousand, and if local authorities wanted to borrow it would be the duty of the Government to help them to obtain the money at a reasonable rate for authorised work.

Dr. Thacker emphasised the value of electrical power for medical and industrial purposes. Mr. E. Newman welcomed this effort to be placed in the hands of local authorities and to do what the Goveminent obviously could not do at tie present time owing to the great fuitmeial obligations before it. Mr. Anderson said it was very satisfactory to find the Bill gave a wide scope to local enterprise in order to provide cheap power for industrial and social purposes.

Mr. Luke commended tlie Bill, but asked the Government to give tlio House an assurance that the operations of local bodies would be supervised by some thoroughly competent engineer, who would see that the work undertaken by local bodies was thoroughly sound and carried out in keeping with the best engineering traditions. The Hon. A. T- Xgata said lie did not like the Bill, which reminded him of a, Maori proverb, "There is not enough food for the kiwi, how much the less for •the weka?" The Government had selected the rich districts for spheres of national work, and left the poorer districts to the local bodies. It was clear the Government only intended to carry out two schemes for the North Island—Mangahau, and Arapuni, while Waikaremoana, was side-tracked. He urged the Govern, ment to concentrate on the east coast district, where they propose to settle large numbers of returned soldiers. Mr. Ell hoped the financial outlook would not tempt . the Government to shelve the larger schemes, and that care would be taken that the smaller schemes would be co-ordinated with the larger ones.

Mr. Brown wanted to see national schemes. Mistakes would be made if local bodies embarked on these undertakings. Mr. McCombs was glad to see the Government proposed to do something in the •matter, even if they only gave local bodies authority to do what they would not do themselves- He strongly objected to the basis on which the boards were constituted, and proposed to endeavor to amend this in committee.

Mr. Craigie considered the Bill showed lack of courage and lack of vision. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said numbers who wanted national schemes in all directions did not realise that the net indebtedness of the Dominion had now risen to £145,8G8,450, on which the annual charges were now £0,838,632, in addition to which we shall have to face this year an additional .-£19,000,000 for war purposes alone, to :;av nothing of five millions on the repatriation of soldiers and seven millions on the development of three national schemes of hydro electric power. In three or foui\vcars our total indebtedness would amount to two hundred millions. These enormous obligations made it prudent to let local bodies do work which it was obviously impossible for the State to undertake at the present juncture. He proposed, when in committee, to more certain amendments giving local bodies further borrowing powers, and that the consent of tho Finance Minister must be secured before a loan can ha raised, and in that way the rate of interest would be controlled.

The second reading was carried on the voice', and the House went into Committee on the measure. Mr. MeCombs and Mr. Eraser moved amendments for broadening the franchise on which the boards were elected, but thev were lost on the voices.

Tho Minister proposed an amendment, that the rate of interest, on anv loan should not be more than UK per cent., unless the Minister approved of n higher rate. Tliis was aereed to, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.

CRIMES ACT.

The Hon. T. M. Wilford moved the second reading of the Crimes Act MIOB Amendment Bill, which gives the right of appeal against sentences passed on criminals by the Supreme CourtThe second reading was agreed to, and the House rose till noon to-morrow.