RAPID WORK

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21204, 29 August 1940, Page 9

RAPID WORK

FOUR BILLS PASSED DAY IN PARLIAMENT FINANCE BILL TOMORROW LONG ADJOURNMENT LIKELY (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Wednesday Another good day’s work was done by the House of Representatives today, and at one stage it looked as if there would be insufficient business to keep members occupied beyond the afternoon sitting. The rapidity with which the House was overtaking the work available was commented upon by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, and when the House rose at 9.25 p.m. until tomorrow four bills had been passed. One of them, the Housing Amendment Bill, which extends the purposes for which moneys in the Housing Account may be used, was introduced in the late afternoon and put through all stages at night. Other bills cleared from the .order paper were the Local Legislation Bill, the Carriage by Air Bill and a local bill. The Statutes Amendment Bill, the relevant clauses of which have been considered by the appropriate select committees, will be dealt with tomorrow. The Finance Bill No. 2 will probably be introduced at tomorrow’s sitting, and the Statutes Revision Committee will report back to the House on the Insurance Companies Bill, introduced before the three weeks’ recess. Finance BUI Tomorrow The present intention is to deal with the Finance Bill on Friday, when it is expected that another adjournment of several weeks’ duration will be taken. Although the Soldiers Guarantee Bill, sponsored by Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour—Grey Lynn), involved an appropriation and consequently had to be ruled out of order, discussion on the measure was permitted by the Prime Minister by arrangement. Speakers were limited to Mr Lee and one representative of the Government and Opposition parties. Questions and Replies The right for temporary civil servants who find they are unable to afford superannuation payments to withdraw from the fund in view of the fact that they have no prospect of permanent appointment was sought by the Hon. W. E. Barnard (Democratic Labour—Napier), in a question to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, of which Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour—Grey Lynn) gave notice. “ A case in point is that of a temparary clerk, with a wife and two children dependent upon him, who finds that payment of 6 per cent superannuation, plus 2s in the pound for social security and national security, leaves him insufficient to provide for himself, his wife and family,” said a note to the question. Minister to Washington “ The question of the appointment of a New Zealand representative to Washington is receiving the close and careful attention of the Government,” said the Prime Minister, when replying to an urgent question asked by Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour —Grey Lynn) on behalf of the Hon. W. E. Barnard (Democratic Labour— Napier). “ The matter is a very important one and it deserves and is receiving very earnest and close attention,” the Prime Minister replied. “ The answer is no,’ ’’ said the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, on behalf of the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, in reply to an urgent question whether a married man separated from his wife under mutual agreement or deed was deemed to be unmarried for the purpose of the General Reserve Classification Order, 1940. The question was asked by Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour— Grey Lynn) on behalf of the Hon. W. E. Barnard (Democratic Labour —Napier). A request for an extra allowance of petrol for shearers who own motor-cars to enable them to carry out their work during the season was contained in a question addressed to the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, of which Mr D C. Kidd (Opposition—Waitaki) gave notice. Mr J. A. Lee's Bill The Soldiers’ Guarantee Bill sponsored by Mr Lee, on which discussion was permitted though the measure was ruled out of order, sought to guarantee the soldier employment for not less than five years after his return to the Dominion at standard rates of pay, or at not less than £5 a week. The bill also proposed that the soldier’s basic pension should be subject to periodic and automatic review, in consonance with any increase in the cost of living and improvements in general living standards.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday When the Legislative Council met this afternoon the Thames Borough Commissioner Amendment Bill, the Health Amendment Bill and the the V/aitara Borough Empowering Bill were put through the committee stages and passed. An amendment was introduced to the Health Amendment Bill restoring the right of appeal where a licence to conduct an offensive trade is refused by a local body.