PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

REBATE ON LAND TAX. THE BILL PASSED. By Telegraph.—Press Assqdaiios. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. | The Cook Islands Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. The Land Tax Amendment Bill was put through all stages aaid passed. The Council adjourned at 2.40 p.m. until Wednesday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House |net at 2.30 p.m. The Speaker read a. notification from the clerk of writs to the effect that Mr. Clutha Mackenzie had Jveen elected to fill the vacancy fn the Auckland East electorate. Replying to Mr. A. D. McLeod (Wairarapa), the Hon. J. G. Coates said a number o-f surveyors were at present engaged testing the alternative routes for the deviation of the railway line over the Rimutaka ranges, and he hoped at an early date to have’ for presentation to the House a report giving the information available and the recommendations of the Public Works engineers thereon. Replying to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), Mr. Massey said he could not say whether or not the South Island Representation Commission had finished its labors, nor could he say how many South Island cents are to be eliminated. He had heard that one seat wa.a to be taken away from the South Island and one added to the North Island, but this was pure hearsay, and he could not vouch for it, because he did not communicate with the representation commissioners until they had finished their labors. Replying to Mr. W. T. Jennings (Waitomo), Mr. Massey said he had discussed with the High Commissioner the question of assisting New Zealanders stranded in • London to come back to the Dominion, but he found ' the general run of cases were such as he did not think the Government was called upon to assist. The Native Trustee Amendment Bill was introduced; by Governor's message and read a first time.

The Minister of Lands tabled the report of the Royal Commission on the kauri gum industry, which was discussed at length. Sir John Luke, as chairman of the Labor Bills Committee, reported on the Hotel and Restaurant Workers Six Days a Week Bill (introduced by Mr. P. Fraser) with amendments. Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller) complained at the manner in which the Bill had been emasculated by the committee, his speech being interrupted by the dinner adjournment.

Ministers gave the following amongst oilier answers to questions: That the Prime Minister lias been collecting information regarding farmers’ agricultural banks as existing in Denmark, and he proposes to submit such information to Parliament this session. That the Government is amending section 67 of the Life Insurance Act, 1908. so as to allow life assurance companies to return all premiums paid in the event of death before the age of 10 years. That the question of introducing legislation on the subject of waieriront labor is now under consideration, and if it is decided to introduce it it will be circulated amongst harbor boards and other bodies concerned for their consideration.

That the Government will do all that is possible to encourage the distribution of New Zealand products in the north of England through such ports as Hull, Liverpool and Manchester. That the Government are doing everything possible to meet the unemployed difficulty. That it is regretted that the benefits of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act cannot be further extended at the present time. That the Government has available a mass of information regarding companies engaged in the meat trade in New Zealand. Its inquiries and observations are continuing, and it is quite prepared to act. at any time when the necessity arises for action in the interests of the producers of the Dominion. That it is not proposed to continue the amount of pension at present payable to Maori War veterans to their widows.

The House rose at 9.20 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. t.o-morrow.