PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. DEATH DUTIES BILL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Sir Francis Bell introduced the Public Trust Office Amendment Bill, which was read a first time. The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill was received from tha House and read a first time. z The Crimes Amendment Bill and Maintenance Orders (facilities for enforcement) Bill were reported by the Statutes Revision Committee without Amendment. In moving the second reading of the Companies Amendment Bill, Sir Francis Bell said the Bill had only two operative clauses: First, the legalised use of co-operative labor, even where the

eo-operators exceeded twenty; secona, to meet the wishes of dairy companies, who wished to take shares in the Fanners’ Mutual Insurance Company. The Bill was-read a second time. In moving the second reading of the Death Duties Bill, Sir Francis Bell said it had been suggested that under the legislation a penalty might be payable by those who had escaped, duty intended to be collected under the Act of last year. This was not intended or aesired. The Hon. O. Samuel regretted that gifts made When the donor was -far from death for the purpose of promoting the welfare of the object of the gift should be subject to duty. Particularly was he sorry to see the proposal for retrospection. i The Hon. J. P. Campbell joined in expressing regret at the proposal to make the gift duty clause .retrospective. The intention to do this should have been notified months ago. The Hon. C. H. Izard objected to the proposal to charge interest on death duties unpaid three months after the death o-f the testator. A penalty should not be incurred unless payment was outstanding three months after the issuing of the notice by the commissioner. The Hon. G. J. Garland agreed with Mr. Izard. Sir Francis Bell said he would consider the suggestion that liability t-J notify the receipt of a private pension should be imposed only when the amount was £250 or over. He was inclined to think Mr. Izard was right in his contention, which lie would submit to the Government. The Bill was put through the final stages and passed. The Land Agents Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Banking Amendment Bill, providing for variation with the consent of the Minister of Finance of Saturday hours, was put through committee. The Crimes Amendment Bill, taking away the right of a woman concerned in an abortion case to refuse to give evidence; the Families Protection Amendment Bill, giving the Court discretionary powers in the matter of granting an extension of the time within which applications may be made; and the Maintenance Orders (facilities .for enforcement) Bill were put through the final stages and passed. The Council rose at 3.48 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. R. P. Hudson (Motueka), the Hon. G. J. Anderson said new regulations governing the holding of examinations under the Coal Mines Act had been drafted for the purpose of securing greater efficiency, but he recognised that the cost of travelling to Wellington to sit for these examinations was a hardship, and he would have the matter looked into.

Replying to Mr. E. Newman (Manawatu), the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said it was a fact that motor lorries were seriously competing with the railways, and the matter was being considered by Cabinet, with a view to revising the railway tariff in such a way as will recover business for the railways. Replying to Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North), Mr. Massey said so long as lie was connected with Parliament he would favour departmental estimates being sent to the Public Accounts Committee for review before being submitted to the House. There was a tendency on the part of departments to grow beyond the amount of work they had to do, and the course suggested would, he thought, have a beneficial influence. Replying to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), Mr. Massey said the question of freezing com panies’ charges was under review, ami though he could not disclose details at the present moment, he could assure those interested that the matter was i not being lost sight of. The Hon. J. G. Coates, as Native Minister, laid on the table a report upon the consolidation of the Government’s native interests in the Urewera block. The report was discussed at length, and finally ordered to be printed. The remainder of the afternoon sitting was taken up in completing several debates unfinished at previous sittings. The Main Highways Bill (Hon. J. G. Coates) was read a second time pro forma and referred to a select committee. THE MACHINERY BILL. The Hon. Sir William Berries moved the-second reading of the Inspection or Machinery Amendment Bill. The Leader of the Opposition and several members urged that oil engines should be excluded from the schedule, as inspection was unnecessary in connection with them. Where boilers were used in farming work it was urgetl that inspection should be made at a time when it would cause the least inconvenience. Mr. C. E. Statham (Dunedin Central) asked that women should be permitted to work electric lifts. Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West) considered oil engines should not be exempted. They required just as competent handling’ as any other machinery. The board of examiners should not be allowed to delegate their powers to others, and the Engine-drivers’ Federation should be represented on the board of examiners. Mr. A. Hamilton (Wallace) thought the method of examination of engine-

drivers should be made more practical} He also complained of motor tractors having to be examined, while motor cars similarly engined were exempt. Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central)a referring to exemptions, complained that such had been granted in the past when not justified in connection witfe the management of steam engines. Sir William Berries, replying, said hd would refer the matters mentioned ta the Minister in charge of the machinery department before the Bill was considered in ■'committee. The Bill aid not demand further inspection than was required at present. Machineryshould be inspected so that workers* safety was assured. In regard to exemption for motors, the difficulty waa, to decide on a limit of horse-power to be exempted. Regarding lift work, it was desired at present to reserve such work for disabled soldiers, for whom it was suitable. The Bill was read a second time. MUNICIPAL LAW. The Hon. W. D. Stewart moved the second reading of the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill, which largely incorporated amendments suggested by the Municipal Association’s Conference. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) considered there should be unification of procedure in the case of the amalgamation of boroughs with boroughs or cities, and of other local body areas with boroughs. The present procedure was too complicated and expensive. Regarding the franchise, he urged that rentpayers should have the right to vote on any proposal put before the ratepayers. Mr. J. R. Hamilton (Awarua) consid-. ered the power given in last year’s Ac# to a borough, to extend its boundaries, and include rural areas without a poll was unfair. S'- r ohn Luke (Wellington North),: s:r people of areas proposed to bei in. .4 in municipal limits had tho right of appeal. He commended, the proposal in the Bill to drop the present limit of depreciation on machinery trading departments. He residential qualification should not be allowed for voting on loan questions, The Minister, replying, considered the provisions relating to amalgamation afforded reasonable protection to areas that did not desire union. The Bill was put through all stage) and passed. THE COUNTIES BILL. The Hon. W. D. Stewart moved tin second reading of the Counties Amend ment Bill. Mr. Wilford stated he intended t< move in committee for the exemptioi oi’ limitation of properties having effi cient septic tanks from liability fot sanitary drainage rates. Mr. H. M. Campbell (Hawke’s Bay] considered measures should be taken t< stop the. present heavy motor traffic which was damaging roads running parallel with the railways. Toll-gatei might tend to divert this traffic to tin railways, the revenue of which had suffered lately. The Minister said expert opinion hac been obtained on this point, and wa? embodied in a departmental report tha< should be available to members. The Bill was read a second time. The Mental Defectives Amend-, ment Bill was put through al! stages and passed. The Public Contracts and the Local Bodies Contractors Amendment Bill was read a second time without amendment. The House rose at H 1.15 p.m.