PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. In reply to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), Mr. Massey said the Government had not yet decided whether New Zealand would be represented at the Pan-Pacific Conference, opening at Honolulu on October 25, but he would place the matter before Cabinet in the course of the next few days.

Replying to Mr. W. T. Jennings (Waitomo), the Hon. W. Nosworthy said a Bill was being drafted dealing with the audit of the overrun from dairy factories. When drafted he would submit the Bill to the Agricultural Committee. Replying to Mr. R. Masters (Stratford), the Hon. J. G. Coates said it was proposed to charge the standard rate for power supplied from all Government hydro-electric works.

Replying to the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill), Mr. Massey said he did not expect many large holders of 4| per cent, tax-free stock would convert under the Government’s scheme, as their investment was too profitable; but there was a good deal being dope in the way of conversion. To other questions Ministers gave the following answers: Advances are not now made to discharged soldiers for the purchase of houses, but only for their erection. As soon as funds permit, the extension of the Act to South African veterans will be considered, but this cannot be done until all applications by discharged soldiers of the Great War now eligible for advances have been dealt with. There is, however, no objection to South African veterans becoming transferees of houses acquired under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, if the owners cannot transfer them to other discharged soldiers. When a conference on matters affecting electric power boards is convened the Go\ eminent will bring up the question of bringing the Electric Power Boards Act into conformity with the Municipal Corporations Act and the Counties Act dealing with the disqualification of members who have contravened section 15, sub-section (6), of the Act by deleting the three years’ disqualification. The Government is now considering an amendment of the law to free soldiers' pensions from income tax. It is proposed to introduce legislation this session to strengthen teachers' superannuation funds in the direction set out in the actuary’s report. The Government is considering the question of amending the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act by deleting the section which requires that a ballot of members of a union should be taken for the purpose of confirming a resolution to refer a dispute to the Council of Conciliation or the Arbitration Court, when the said resolution has already been passed at a special meeting of the union, of which every member has received notice. A scientific survey of the deer herds of the Dominion is being undertaken by the State Forest Service with a view to suggesting the best method for the control of deer herds and of dealing with the prevention of damage by those animals. Meanwhile, authority is invariably issued to settlers and others to destroy deer found on their properties committing damage or injury thereto.

ADVANCES FOR HOUSES. WHAT THE STATE HAS DONE. In the evening the House went into committee on several Bills. The first taken was the State Advances Amendment Bill. Mr. O. Hawken (Egmont) objected to the Bill, because it proposed to lend money to others than country settlers, which was the intention of the original Act.

The Hon. G. J. Anderson said the Housing Department would go on ns it had been doing during the past six months. They would no longer build houses en bloc, as was done at Miramar, but houses would be built to suit individual tastes so far as the money will go. Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) complained of the administration of the Act under which instead of lending up to three-quarters of the value the department always cut valuations down to such an extent that very few could accept the loan offered. Mr. Massey said he was certainly going on with the scheme of strengthening the advances fund. On a week’s notice he could pay £500,000 into the fund as proof of his sincerity in the matter. On the subject of housing he quoted an official document showing that during the three years ending March 31, 1922, the following houses had been built: Railways, 188 houses at a cost of £2220; State Advances Department, 6282 houses at a cost of £3.245,610; housing department. 340 houses costing £409,325; Discharged Soldiers Settlers Act, 3300 houses at a cost of £2,607,000; or a total of 10,110 houses costing £6,542,119. That he considered a record of which any Government might be proud, and they were going on building under the scheme set out in the Bill.

Mr. Massey said he would admit straight away that the building of houses by the State had been a failure, hence the change proposed in the Bill, but that did not detract from the fact that during the past three years the (State had been able to build over ten thousand houses. The Premier moved a new clause which provided for a higher rate of interest to be charged for new money, but he explained that if he got the money at 5 per cent, the rate of interest would be 6 per cent., with a rebate of a half per cent, for prompt payment. The clause was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill was reported with this amendment. THE CUSTOMS BILL. The Customs Amendment Bill was taken in committee. The Minister moved a new clause making special provision for fixing the current domestic value of goods imported through an intermediate country, and for giving the comptroller or collector of customs power to require the production of documents relative to goods imported. These were agreed to and the Bill was reported. FULL MEASURE OF COAL. In committee on the Weights and Measures Amendment Bill, Mr. G. Witty IfLUccartuaJ raised the question of tho

weight of coal supplied, contending some people were receiving short weight. The Minister said he was having a clause drafted, but it was not quite ready. The idea was that every bag must be weighed and a tag attached which would enable purchasers to eee at a glance what weight they were getting., and for an inspector to get into a coal cart and challenge the weight of bags at a moment’s notice. The Minister moved a new clause giving him power to make regulations for controlling the sale of coal, coke, firewood and charcoal. The Bill, with this amendment, was reported. The amendments made in the State Advances Bill were agreed to. The Customs Bill and the Weights and Measures Bill were read a third time and passed. The House rose at 10.50 pan. till-2.30 p.m. to-morrow.