PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

By Association.

Wellington, Last Night. The legislative Council met .at 2.30 p.m.

The Land Laws Amendment Bill and the Explosives and Dangerous Goods Amendment Bill were received from the House and read a first time. The former was also read a second time pro forma and referred to the Lands Committee. The Hospital and Charitable institutions Amendment Bill, setting up the South Otago hospital district, was reported without amendments from committee. The third reading was postponed until to-morrow. MUNICIPAL BILL.

The Municipal Corporations Bill was committed. , The Council further considered the Municipal Corporations Bill in committee.

The Hon. M. Cohen proposed to add a provision to enable a Mayor going out of office to flit until the next biennial election as an ex-officlo councillor to assist the incoming mayor. Sir Francis Bell said he could not accept the proposal, which Mr. Cohen then withdrew. The Hon. C. H. Izard moved to reduce the amount leviable as a general rate from 2a Gd to 2s in the £ on the annual vfilue.

The amendment was lost on the voices.

Sir Francis Bell agTeed to add to the clause regarding the power of a council to deposit money at interest with ■ a bank the words "or, with the approval of the Governor-General-iri-Council, with any other local body entitled by law to receive moneys .on deposit." ; A new clause was added providing that no street shall be laid out or constructed by a Council with a grade in any part of more than one inch in twelvfc niches, except with the consent of the Minister of Public Works.

The rate which may be charged to a worker in respect to dwellings was increased from 5 to 5J per cent. It was agreed to withhold the coming into eileet of the clause referring to restrictions on sub-divisions of lands within boroughs until January 1, 1022. These restrictios are already applicable under the Land Act to country lands, but have, not formerly been applied to land in boroughs.

A new clause giving authority for the consolidation of general and other rates was adopted.

Progress was reported when all bu* one clause had been disposed of, leave being asked to sit again. The Council rose at 10.16 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. NOTICE OF NEW BILLS. The House of Representatives met at 2,30 p.m. The Hon. W. Nosworthy gave notice of his intention to introduce a Noxious Weeds Amendment and Orchard and Garden Diseases Amendment Bills. Notice of intention to introduce the following Bills was also given: Stone Quarries Amendment (Mr. Massey), Nurses Registration (the Hon. C.'j! Pari*), Drainage Amendment (the Hon. <'i. J. Anderson), Local Railways Amendment (the Hon. J. Cr. C'oates).' COST OF LIVING. Replying to Mr. I). G. Sullivan (Avon), Mr. Massey said he would consider whether a further opportunity could be given the House to discus's the (,anterbnry women's petition aslun<* for a reduction in the cost of living. °

A RESERVE OP SUGAR. Replying to Mr. J. Crnigie (Timaru), the Hon. ]jl. p, Lee said lie would see that breweries did not get supplies of sugar before the public was supplied. The fact was that there was plenty of raw sugar in the country, and where there was a shortage it was entirely due to the want of shipping, which was being overcome. Refined sugar was not being distributed, because it was thought desirable to build up a reserve in preparation for the jam-making season. Replying to Mr. McCombs (Lyttelton) the Hon. G. J. Anderson said it wa3 not possible at present to give the latest index figure in connection with the cost of living. Tlute was no undue delay: the departments concerned were methodical and accurate, and he advised the hon. member to exercise his patience. TAX ON WOOL CHEQUES. Replying to Mr. J. Horn (Wa!;atipn), Mr. Massey said nothing definite had yet been decided in regard to deductions from the surplus wool cheques in the payment of income tax. A proposal to deduct a flat rate of 3s 4d in the £ had not been found practicable. Ho hoped to make a statement on the subject in the course of a few days. GOLD-M LYING INDUSTRY. Mr. Massey, in moving that the House go into committee on the Mining Amendment Bill, which had been read pro forma, said it was a machinery Bill, no great principle being involved in it. Clause ten was new, and provided for an extension of time from October 1 to December 31 in which water-fed drills must be installed in quartz mines. It had been found impossible to m*ike these installations on the date previously fixed, and a concession was necessary. Mr. T. Scddon (Westland) complained that the Bill contained no bold policy, and consequently was not likely to foster the production of gold, which was seriously falling o ff. In future gold must be got further afield, and he therefore advocated greater assistance to prospectors.

After some discussion the Bill was read a third time and passed.

HOUSING BILL. LOANS FOR LOCAL BODIES. The Housing Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor-General's message and read a first time. The Hon. Sir William Her i'ies said the principal feature of the Bill was the granting of power to local bodies to borrow money from tho Government to J?Uj: l«ad «a ft fcgHasgj