PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. PROGRESS OF BILLS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met to-day at 2.30 pan. The Customs Amendment Bill and the Weights and Measures Amendment Bill were read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The committee subsequently reported the Bills with minor amendments. The Insurance Companies’ Deposits Amendment Bill was reported without amendment. The Council rose at 4.45 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Dr. H. T. Thacker (Christchurch East), the Hon. C. J. Parr said that if the V.D. Commission reported in time there, was no reason why the report should not be laid before and discussed by Parliament. In reply to Mr. E. Newman (Manawatu), Mr. Massey said he would consider the possibility of postponing the collection of land tax until the new year, without imposing penalties. If this was done it would require legislation, but this might be provided for in Bills coming down this session. The trouble was that in November the Treasury was just as much in need of money as anyone. The Hon. W. Nosworthy informed Mr. C. Mackenzie (Auckland East) that he shortly proposed tq visit Tongariro National Park, and he would then ascertain for himself whether the heather growing there was likely to become a danger to the grasses on the high country. Replying to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opospition), the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said the electrification of the Hutt Railway was under consideration. The Hon. W. Nosworthy, in reply to Mr. J. R. Hamilton (Awarua), said the Government would do everything possible to supply the latest quotations on hand regarding the market to dairy-farmers during the coming season. In reply to Mr. J. Craigie (Timaru), the. Hon. G. J. Anderson said the Government would approach the marine insurance companies with a view to getting the premium on fishing-boats reduced to assist very deserving cases of men who were engaged in gathering the harvest of the sea. In the evening the House went into committee on the Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill, of which the Hon. D. H. Guthrie is in charge. The Bill was reported from committee with one minor amendment. The War Disabilities Removal Bill was also reported from committee without amendment, read a third time, and passed. POSTAL CHARGES. The Hon. J. G. Coates moved the second reading of the Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill, which, he explained, was for the most part a machinery measure. Clause 2, however, made provision for a new charge of not more than sixpense on packets coming from abroad which may contain goods liable to customs duty. The present intention was to make the charge threepence. Power was also taken in the Bill to make regulations governing the use of wireless telegraphy, particularly amongst amateurs. Discussion turned mainly upon the proposed charge on dutiable packets, some members suggesting the charge should be on a sliding scale according to value. Some criticism was also levelled against an amendment proposed to be moved by Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei), legalising the. delivery to racing clubs of telegrams relating to investments on the totalisator. but a general discussion of the amendment was ruled out of order by the Speaker until it was formally moved. In the course of his reply, Mr. Coates intimated that he could not welcome an amendment such as Mr. Glenn proposed to move in a Bill of the present character. It was not proposed to make the tax of threepence on dutiable parcels a revenue tax; it was being levied purely to pay the expense of examinations, which amounted to about £l3OO per annum, and which the Customs Department refused to pay. The Bill was read a second time.

The House rose at 11.10 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.