PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 254, 25 September 1929, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

FIRST LATE SITTING OF SESSION.

The Transport Law Amendment Bill was introduced in the House of Eepresentatives yesterday and read the first time as also was the Destitute Pe rsons Homes Bill.

Later in the afternoon the discussion on the Estimates was resumed, being continued tll(5 evening Slow progress was, however, made, and at h alf ;P a f ten o clock the standing orders were, on the motion of the Minister, suspended to enable the House t° continue. The Estimates for various departments were fur tlier discussed and the House eventually rose at 2.50 a.m. af ter the first late Slttni 8‘ this session.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. IMPORTANCE OFMVIETEOROLOGY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 25. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 yesterday. Hon. G. J. Garland gave notice of his intention to move that, in view of the vital importance of meteorology to Imperial navigation, especially for airships and also to agriculture, the Council urges the Government to take steps (a) to ensure the teaching of meteorology in secondary public schools and in one at least of the University colleges; (b) to increase the staff and equipment of the Meteorological Office sufficiently to enable it to provide a complete modern service, particuariy for aviation and agriculture and so enable it to devote adequate time to research into special problems of the subject in the Dominion. The Marriage Amendment Bill, which waa introduced in the House of Representatives by Mr H. G. R. Mason, and passed, .was introduced and read a first time. After giving lengthy consideration in committee to the proposed amendments to the standing orders, the Council adjourned at 4.20 p.m. until Friday. house of luFpresentatives! LAND IN TINAKORI ROAD TO BE SOLD. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. The Prime Minister, replying to Mr It. Semple, stated that it was proposed to subdivide and sell the land surrounding the Prime Ministerial residence in Tinakori Road, but to retain the residence and the area on which it stood for Government uses. The sub-divided land would be sold by public auction. On Sir Joseph Ward’s motion, it was decided that, on and from to-morrow, Government business should take precedence on Wednesdays. The Prime Minister pointed out that the Government desired extra time to put through its legislation. Replying to a question, he stated that it all depended on the course of the Government business whether it ■would be possible to give private members an opportunity to go on with their bills. He hoped that business would proceed at a more satisfactory speed than hitherto and that private members would have the opportunity of taking their bills further. If Sir George Hunter were anxious to proceed with his Gaming Amendment Bill, an opportunity would be given to test the feeling of the House on the subject. HOMES FOR DESTITUTE PERSONS. The Destitute Persons Rest Homes Bill was introduced by the GovernorGeneral’s Message and read a first time. Sir Joseph Ward stated that the bill was designed to give -relief to many people who were at present in homes and other institutions that were not congenial. It was intended io accommodate both men and women. There would be only one home at first, but it was important that a start was being made with this work. The bill would relieve the strain on mental hospitals and would also make provision for homeless people. Each case would be considered on its merits. TRANSPORT BILL.

grant for the destruction of rabbits was necessary. Hon. G. W. Forbes stated that it had been found that, when rabbits were plentiful, it was possible to make money from the sale of skins, but when the numbers had been thinned and further destruction had been desired, it had been necessary to pay men to carry out the work. The Minister stated that the grant for the eradication of noxious weeds was a matter for which the Department of Agriculture was responsible. He agreed that it a serious matter and he would confer with officers of the Department of Agriculture on the subject. He pointed out that closer settlement was likely to result in the more vigorous eradication of weeds. The vote was passed and the estimate for the Department of Agriculture (£435,383) was taken next. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. and resumed at 7.30 p.m. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST DISEASE. Replying to Sir George Hunter, Hon. G. W. Forbes stated that every precaution was taken when 6tud stock was imported into the country, in view of the possibility of their spreading foot-and-mouth disease. Members urged that greater assistance should be afforded the tobacco growing industry in New Zealand and others protested against a reduction in the concessions for the carriage of lime and fertilisers on the railways. Mr J. O’Brien urged that the same concessions should be given towards the transport of fertilisers to out back” farmers not served by the rail- ' a Mr W. E. Barnard expressed the view that tobacco growing bad reached saturation point in New Zealand and said he thought, farmers should be warned against over-planting Mr G. C. Black predicted that, when better manufacturing facilities were available in this country, ■ there would be a greater market for New Zealand tobacco. , . . , Mr R. A. Wright stated lie was surprised at the amount granted under the various departments for tbo destruction of rabbits. Sums for this purpose totalled £35,400 and it vas possible that the country was not getting value for so much money. Mr C H. Chapman referred to the provision of £SBOO as a guarantee for the export of eggs and urged that the department, before assisting to export, this product, should see that local lequirements were not neglected. He had observed the egg grading system and lie trusted that it was not the practice for the poorer eggs to be kept for local consumption, while the better quality were exported. MINISTERIAL REPLIES.

The Prime Minister assured the House that there was no intention to alter the present practice in relation to the carriage of lime and manure. The reduction in the grant was merely a matter for financial rearrangement as between the Department of Agriculture and the Railway Department. In regard to the tobacco-growing industry, ho pointed out that it would be an easy matter to reach a stage of over-production in regard to the present market demand. Whether the market would increase was dependent on improved manufacture. 1 Hon. G. W. Forbes said he considered that the money furnished by the State for the destruction of rabbits was money well spent. It was a very small sum, compared with the amount of wo.rk that had been done: Keeping down the numbers of rabbits had been a costly business to the landowners. Anything the Government could do to build up the poultry industry was also a step in the right direction. The purpose of the guarantee was to test the overseas market and to ascertain what was the prospect of building up the industry in New Zealand. He assured Mr Chapman that the local market did not suffer as tlie result of export. The pork bonus was criticised by some members and defended by others.

Tho Transport Law Amendment Bill was also introduced by the GovernorGeneral’s Message and read a first time. A large number of questions were asked the Prime Minister, who stated that the provisions of the bill did not interfere with the Highways Board, which would continue, as under the present law., to have complete control of public roads. An alteration was made, however, whereby tlitf South Island was given one extra member on the board, thus increasing the number of members by one, but it was provided that in matters affecting the North Island one South Island member should be inactive, and in matters affecting the South Island one North Island member should be inactive. Sir Joseph added 'that the bill created a Transport Department to regulate and control the whole of the traffic in the Dominion. Under the present law, no body had that power. There would be a broad system under which all matters relating to private and public motor and omnibus traffic would be handled. It was provided that drivers’ license fees, at present collected by local bodies, should be paid through the Post Office and handed over to local bodies. There would be- no reduction in the local bodies’ revenue. Mr J. McCombs urged that proper supervision should bo instituted in regard to the issue of driving licenses and Sir Joseph Ward stated that there was provision in the bill for sucb supervision. NATIONAL PARK HOSTEL. The House dealt in Committee of Supply with tho Department of Lands and Survey estimate (£186,795). Mr K. S. Williams said he regretted that the hostel at National Park was being called Chateau Tongariro and Ire suggested that it be more appropriate to associate it with the name of To Heuheu; the Maori chief, who was the donor of the park. Other members supported this view. Hon. G. W. Forbes, replying, stated that the National Park Board, which controlled the park, had discussed the name with the company in possession of the hostel and the answer of the company had been that it was catering for tourists, and a Maori name might not convey to tourists that they would get what might bo termed “chateau comfort.” Mr Forbes suggested that further representations on the subject might be made to the board. DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS. Mr J. O’Brien and other members drew attention to the reduction in the estimate for the eradication of noxious weeds and reference was also mado to the sum for the destruction of rabbits. Mr J. S. Fletcher referred to the money that could be obtained from tho sale of 'skins asked whether, a

The Minister stated that this method of assisting the industry had been selected after a careful investigation of the subject. If a better method could be suggested, he would be pleased to consider it.

At 10.18 p.m., the Prime Minister moved that the committee report progress and, on the motion being adopts ed, lie drew attention to the tact that up till then the whole evening had been expended in the discussion of one item. It appeared that members bad not given due consideration to future business. Quite an inadequate amount of business had been put through and he moved the suspension of standing orders to enable the group estimates to be accorded urgency. The motion was opposed on the voices, but no division was called for and the House thereupon resumed in committee.

The debate on the Department of Agriculture - estimate was resumed by Reform members and the House con-

tinued sitting after 10.30 for the first time since the introduction of the new standing orders. The Minister replied at 11 p.m., to a number of minor points raised. Messrs MacMillan, Kyle and Nash continued the debate. The following votes were passed after a very brief debate: —State Fire Insurance Account (£40,803) ; Government Accident Insurance Account (£18,265) ; Government Insurance Account (£114,867); Audit Department (£28,399). STATE ADVANCES. When the estimate of £72,351 for the State Advances Account was under consideration Mr D. Jones stated that, while there appeared tp be little difficulty in obtaining loans in the cities, there was not the same amount of money available for rural advances. Sir Joseph Ward stated that the system of advancing money on town and rural credits worked as nearly as possible at 50 per cent. each. The vote was passed. After the Prime Minister had made a statement regarding the Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill, the House rose at 2.50 a.m.