PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 250, 21 October 1919, Page 10

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

WOTES FROM THE GALLERY. THE RICE RROKLEM. WHAT FIJT TTAS DONE. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, Monday. Mr. C. H. fPoole drew the Prime Minister's attention in the House tonight to an article recently published in i the Fiji "Times;" showing that the Administration of Fiji had secured supplies of rice, and had been able to prohibit the sale of rice at a higher retail prke than threepence per pound. He suggested that the Premier should get the Board of Trade to look into the matter when investigating the question of rice supply and price in New Zealand. Mr. Mansey reminded the member that it wa3 very much easier to supply a small population, like that of Fiji, than to supply New Zealand. Mr. Poole: A hundred thousand people in Fiji are living largely on rice. Mr. Massey added that he would he very glad to place the information before the Board of Trade. NAURU ADMINISTRATION". The Prime Minister gave notice tonight to move "That the House ratify the agreement among the British, Australian, and New Zealand Governments for the administration of the Island ot Nauru." He subsequently laid a copy of the agreement on the table of the House. COAL SHIPS SCARCE. • ; Is the Union Steam Ship Company running a go-slow policy?" asked Mr.! Holland when calling the Premier's at- | tention to-night to the fact that at Westport last week for a number ot days every coal w.igon was filled, and miners and watersiders were rendered idle through lack of trucks, no boats being available. Mr. Massey undertook to communicate with the Union Co. Unfortunately. | there was a scarcity of ships on the j coa*t suitable for coal-carrying, and the | Government was endeavouring to remedy this. ANTI-SHOUTING A FARCE. "It is rot intended to introduce! ■licensing legislation this session," 6aid: the Premier in reply to a suggestion that, as the anti-shouting law was T>urelv a. war measure, it ought to be repealed. Mr. Massey added that he heard from all over the country that the section was a farce. He had referred the matter to the Crown Law officers. THE NAVAL REPORT. A suggestion was made to the Government by the Hon. A. M. Myers to-night that, iii view of the importance of Admiral Jellicoe's report and the necessity for considering it on non-Parliamen-tary lines, that a defence committee, composed of an equal number of members of both sides, be set up to submit the. result of its deliberations to the House. Mr. Maesey replied that if the session | was beginning he would be pleased to j give effect to the suggestion, but. it was ( not possible \o give the information con- j tamed in Admiral Jellieoe's confidential report. Mr. Myers: It is not a Parliamentary question. Mr. Massey: No. but it is a confidential question, so far as the Empire is concerned. I cannot see how we enn possibly set up a committee at tuie period of the isession. NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND. An amendment of the National Provident Fund Act was introduced by Governor's Message to-night. The Hon. \V. H Hemes explained that it provided for the fulfilment of promisee made to Friendly Societies that maternity payments would be made up to £6. Ihe income limitation of members of t&0 tfund was being raised from £200 to £300, and the age limitation raieed from 43 to 50. MAORI ELECTORAL ROLL. The Prime Minister informed Mr. A. T. N-ata. to-night that legislation was being prepared with the object 01 revising the system oi voting on the Maori electoral rolU. AUCKLAND PETITIONS. Two mernbere of the New Zealand army postal service (R- Forrester and L. Jones of Auckland) petitioned tfhe House for half civil pay while in the army. The Public Petitions Committee has recommended the petitions to the Government's favourable consideration. ; Tlie Lands Committee has recommended to the Government's favourable . consideration the petition of M. J. , Charlesworth (Paeroa) for compensation • awing to losses incurred through the i constant flooding of her land at Awaiti. TWO BILLS PASSED. ' The Official Appointments and Documents Bill and Chattels Transfer Amendment Bill were put through their final stages and passed.