PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. GOOD PROGRESS OF BILLS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Statutes Revision Committee reported with, amendments the Local Bodies Finance Bill, the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill and the Loan Companies Bill. The amendments in the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill were grammatical and those in the Local Bodies Finance Bill were mainly consequential upon the House having decided to allow local authorities to continue to take money on deposit. In addition there was a new clause to enable harbor boards and others, which are not local bodies in the meaning of the Local Bodies Loans Act, to take advantage of that Act to raise money to pay off overdraft. Both these Bills were put through their final stages and passed. The Loan Companies Bill was committed, when Sir Francis Bell explained that a new clause inserted by the Statutes Revision Committee provided that the Mortgages and Deposits Extension ; !Act, 1921, should not apply to mortgage companies if directors so resolve. Progress was reported before this clause was passed, as Sir Francis said it was necessary to alter the new clause slightly to make certain that depositors would not be deprived immediately of the 5£ per cent, granted under the Mortgages and Deposits Extension Act. The Valuation of Land Amendment Bill was put through its final stages without amendment and passed. The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Bill was introduced by Sir Francis Bell and read a first time. The Insurance Companies Deposits Bill and the Life Insurance Amendment Bill also were read a first time, while the Factories Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Labor Bills Committee. The Council rose at 2.55 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. NEW BILLS INTRODUCED. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. In reply to Mr. J. A. Young (Waikato), Mr. Massey said the ValuerGeneral recently visited the Waikato district and had found that not many farmers were leaving their farms because of their inability to pay up mortgages. He did not think legislation was necessary.

In reply to inquiries by Labor members, t'he Hon. G. J. Anderson said the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill must pass this session, and if Labor organisations desired to give evidence before the Labor Bills Committee he would consult the chairman of committee and see whether this was possible. Replying to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), the Hon. W. D. Stewart said Australia had made no further move in connection with a re- I ciprocal Customs arrangement between i the Commonwealth and the Dominion. They were still waiting for Ai.«tralia to take the necessary steps to aavance matters the next stage. NEW BILLS. On the motion of the Hon. J. G. Coates the Tramways Amendment Bill was introduced and read a first time. Amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill were agreed to by the House. The Following Bills were introduced by Governor’s message:—Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Bill, Counties Act Amendment Bill. TEE COMPANIES BILL. The Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Companies Amendment Bill. ■He said one provision was to exempt associations of eo-operators from the operation of the Companies Act sections covering partnerships. It also enabled producers themselves to insure produce between the place -of manufacture and the market. The Bill was read a second time. In committee it was not amended. , THE PUBLIC TRUST. The Hon. J. G. Coates moved the second reading of the Public Trust Amendment Bill, one of the principal provisions being to permit the appointment of district Public Trustees who were not barristers. 'Mr. Wilford said the Bill was largely a machinery measure, but some of the clauses were contentious. Time, however, would be saved by waiting till the committee stage for discussion of these. The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) welcomed the Bill as affording means of increasing the usefulness of the Public Trust Office. The Bill was read a second time. In committee, on clause two there was a lively discussion on the question whether deputy-public trustees should be appointed by the Minister or by the public service commissioners. The Bill originally proposed that appointments be made by the Minister, but after the matter had been fully discussed the Minister in charge of the Bill announced that he would agree to appointments being made by the commissioner. On a. division the committee decided by 43 votes to 17 that appointments be made by Ihp commissioner. The remaining clauses, which were more or less of a machinery nature, were unamended and on the House, resuming the Bill was read I a third time and passed. The House rose at 12.10 a.m.