WORK OF PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 292, 7 December 1920, Page 8

WORK OF PARLIAMENT.

THROUGH LABOUR SPECTACLES

In detailing his experiences at the Leys Institute, last night, of his first session of Parliament, Mr. M. J. Savage, member for Auckland West, attacked parliamentary procedure and the Government, and found nothing in the work of the occupants of the Treasury benches for favourable comment. There was an attendance of about a hundred. declaiming the Liberal party as a dead letter, and the Labour eight as the only virile Opposition to the Massey majority, Mr. Savage referred to the lengthy debates which arose over matters such as the Gaming Amendment, and explained that towards the end of the session matters of great moment were hurried into law. The speaker dealt seriatim with most of the important measures passed last session. The clause in the Finance Bill, in which the Government guarantee bank advances on wool and primary products, he characterised as a measure to keep up prices and keep full the pockets of the "wool kings." The Bank of New Zealand Bill was, in his opinion, a part of the prevailing system of watering etock. The real effect of it would be to hide the profits by a wider distribution. Replying to recent criticism, Mr. Savage said he was prepared to discuss on the public platform his attitude on this bill.

Defending his attitude on the question of the Mt. Eden quarry site, Mr. Savage said that this was one of the many measures that were rushed through in the Washing-up Bill under the non-con-tentious cloak, and it was only by accident that sometimes the "nigger in the woodpile" was discovered. He had objected to the quarry being acquired on principle, as he knew there was some opposition to it, and that section of the community should have had an opportunity of venting its opposition. This could be done if the matter was made the subject of a local bill.