PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. COAL MINES BILL. MENACE OF FIREBLIGHT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington. Last Night. The Legislative Council met to-day at 2.30 p.m. The Coal Mines Amendment Bill was reported without amendment, and standing orders were suspended to allow the measure to pass through all stages, the Leader of the Council remarking that the provisions were urgently required. Replying to a general discussion, Sir William Fraser said he felt sure that the Government’s importation of coal had taught the miners a lesson they would not soon forget. The Bill was passed without amendment. The Fireblight Bill was passed with an amendment making it clear that no prosecution should be instituted except by an inspector under the principal Act. Sir William Fraser said that half measures Were useless in contending with the fireblight menace. Every endeavor would be made to see that the Act was administered without undue oppression. If a district was proclaimed by Order-in-Council it did not follow that all hawthorn hedges should be rooted up, but they would have to receive very thorough attention. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO SIT ON MONDAY NIGHTS. CONVERSION OF DEBENTURES. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. The Premier gave notice of his intention to introduce the Baptist Union Incorporation Bill. <* The Premier moved that, on and after Monday, and for the remainder of the session, the House should meet for the transaction of business on Mondays nt 7.30 p.m. The motion was agreed to. The Premier intimated that the business ! for next Monday night would be a discussion on the .Samoan report. The Premier announced that he had heen advised by the Treasury that 4% per cent, income-tax free debentures were coming in freely for conversion. At the close of business yesterday a sum of 6173.400 had been surrendered for conversion into 5J per cent, taxable debentures, redeemable by the Government at the end of five years on three months’ notice. The amount outstanding in 4j per cent, tax free debentures was now between £48,000.000 and £49,000.000. Mr. Massey also announced that he had arranged that payments of income tax might be made in 4% per cent, tax free debentures assessed at their market value. Mr. Massey said he would be prepared to accept 5| per cent, debentures in payment of death duties. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr. R. McCallum (Wairau), the Hon. E. P. Lee said he was referring to Cabinet the question of appointing a successor to Mr. MacDonald, who had resigned the position of chair- , man of the Board of Trade. The Hon. C. J. Parr, replying to Mr. ,T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposiition), said he was unwilling to believe I that the health precautions taken i against plague at Auckland were as recently described in a cable from Sydney, and he had referred the matter to the chief o-f the Health Department for a report. He alsq stated he hoped to be able to relax these precautions within the next fortnight, but up to the present they had been highly necessary. In the course of a statement on the business of the session, Mr. Massey said that in addition to the Bills on the order paper he proposed to bring down the Crimes Amendment Bill; the Greymouth Native Reserves Amendment Bill, which had been asked for; the Dairy Export Control Bill, which was brought down last night; the Stamp Duties Amendment Bill, which was mainly a consolidation measure; the Legislature Amendment Bill, which dealt with civil and political rights of public servants; the Main Highways Bill; the Tongariro National Park Bill, which proposed to set up a hoard to manage the park; the Harbors Amendment Bill: the Cook Islands Amendment Bill, which dealt with undesirable immigrants to the islands; the Scaffolding Amendment Bill; the St. John’s College Trust Bill; the Mining Amendment Bill; and the Rating Amendment Bill., There would be two Washing-up Bills (Native and European); the Public Service Superannuation Amendment Bill: the Finance Bill, and the Appropriation Bill.

SUNDAY AT THE ZOO. The House, after discussing the reports of committees, went into committee on local Bills. Considerable discussion took place on clause 13 of the Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill, which proposes to empower the City Council to make a charge for admission to the zoo on Sundays. The discussion was proceeding when the. House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. "When the House resumed in the evening in committee on the Wellington City Empowering Bill, the discussion was continued on Clause 13, and on a division the clause was carried by 41 votes to 20. The BiU was reported without amendment. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN’S BILL. The Hon. G. J. Anderson, in moving that the House go into committee on the ' Shipping and Seamen’s Amendment Bill, explained that the cost of running the Mar ! ine Department was increasing every year, I and it was hoped to get some of that increased cost back by increasing the light | dues charged. It was being said that these ' extra dues would be passed on in increased freights and fares, but he understood this Would not be the case. The House went into committee on the Bill. On the motion of the Minister, a new clause was added altering the amount of £5O lodged as security in respect of seamen left, on shore from foreign-going ships to “such a sum as the superintendent may re ■ quire as security for the due payment of ' all amounts for which the owner may ba 1 liable in the above connection.” The Bill was reported from committee

with this and other minor amendments. Subsequently the Bill was read a third time and passed. THE LAND LAWS. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie moved the second reading of the Land Laws Amendment Bill. He explained that its principal provisions dealt with extensions of leases Crown lands and generally improving the conditions of leases, the concessions being intended to induce lessees to improve their holdings and keep their land in better heart. Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) said they must all be agreed that this, was a time when the man on the land required assistance, and if the Bill would do that for Crown tenants it would serve a good purpose. Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) said the Bill might be‘ called “as you like,” for tenants could take up any form of tenure they pleased. At the same time he was satisfied the Minister was employing his best endeavors to assist settlers on the land; about that there was absolutely no doubt. The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) regretted the Government had not done more to increase land settlement, as that was th • best method of increasing production and sc recovering the shrinkage in the national revenue. The Bill did not make more land available for settlement; it applied only to people who were already on the land, while the prime need of the country was more people on the land. Mr. W. T. Jennings (Waitomo) dealt with the difficulties of backblock settlers. Mr. T. D. Burnett (Temuka) advocated better conditions for settlers in the high country in the Soiuh Island. He regretted the changed sentiments of our people compared with 50 years ago, when pioneers thought nothing of going into the backcountry and rearing families there under conditions which would not be entertained for a moment by present-day people. It would be a serious thing for this Dominion when our native-born population fell off. Mr. K. Williams (Bay of Plenty) ’egretted there was nothing in the Bill which would tend to restrict gambling in land, which was disastrous to legitimate settlement. After the Minister had briefly replied, the Bill was read a second time. The House rose at 12.10 a.m. till 2.30 p.m.