PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 168, 17 July 1924, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GAUEBY. ACCESS TO OEAKEI. (By Telegraph-—Special to "Star."") WELLINGTON, Wednesday. i The difficulties of access to Orakei , were brought under the notice of the , Hon. J. G. Coates, by Mr. W. J. Jordan, I, who asked if a road would be immedi--1 ately formed between Auckland and '. ' Orakei. The Minister, in replying, said ■ ' some residents at Orakei Lad only ! summer access to Auckland along a i temporary road. Practically the whole : Orakei block of 600 acres would have to ' . be subdivided into a suburban residential ! area, but it would be some time before i the lay-out was decided upon. He had ; > been communicating with the Minister ' of Lands as to the desirability of at . once proceeding; with the subdivisional , design of the Orakei estate. The road ; j mentioned by Mr. Jordan would be in- : eluded in that design when the location ' was defined. The Government was pre- ; , pared to render reasonable assistance • towards its construction. Foot and Mouth Disease. ! The Hon. W. D. Nosworthy, Minister 1 of Agriculture, replying to Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki), explained the steps 1 that are being taken to prevent the in- * troduction and spread of foot and mouth diseases of cattle. He stated that th«i importation of cattle, sheep, and swine, also fodder of all kinds, from countries [ where foot and fouth disease exists is absolutely prohibited, in addition to i regulations in force requiring all hay, i straw, or chaff packing material from ( , Britain, Ireland, the Continent of Europe r or the United States of America to be ! destroyed by burning, except that in tlio . case of Britain destruction is not com- ■ ' pulsory if packages are certified as havr ing been disinfected. Agricultural Colleges. "Having regard'to current circum- • stances, the immediate establishment of . two agricultural colleges in the North ; Island is not contemplated," replied the Hon. W. D. Nosworthy, in reply to Mr. ' G. McKay (Hawkc's Bay), who asked that consideration be given to the establishing of one of the colleges in Hawke's Bay, where the Howard bequest is avail- , able. Mr. Nosworthy said when it ■ became necessary to decide upon a site I all points of view would be considered. Meanwhile the matter of agricultural ' education was being gone into in all its I aspects. Kelvin Matron. A reply has been given by the Minister ' of Health to a question by Mr. V. H. 3 Potter suggesting that the matron of ' "Kelvin" should be superseded in her position as examiner of maternity nurses !at Auckland St. Helens Home. Sir \ Maui Pomare said that as the matron [ had proved a capable examiner for the past eight years, and as the recent Com--1 mission completely exonerated her, it 1 was considered that the cancellation of 1 her appointment was noither necessary nor justifiable. . . Dental Nurse for Te Kuiti. '- Sir Maui Pomare (Minister of Health) " states that it is proposed, when further 1 service is available, to establish a dental * surgery, at Tei Kiiiti. The services of I " the nurse wilj be available for 'surrounding schools, including . Otorohanga. Iv. regard to Kawhia, he regretted no provision can be made for this district ai f yet. 1 Standard for Gas. > Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) ; recently askod the Minister of Internal Affairs whether he would bring down a * bill dealing with the fixation, of a calorific • standard for gas. The Hon. R. F. Bollard has replied that the Government ' proposes to deal with the fixing of a calorific standard for gas by regulation. Regulations have been prepared, and will be submitted to Cabinet shortly. Telephones in the North. Mr. A. J. Murdoch (Marsden) asked the Hon. J. G.. Coates when there would be direct telephonic communication between Warkworth and Mangawai, thus completing the Auckland-Whangarei system. Mr. Coates replied that telephonic traffic between Warkworth and Mangawai does not warrant direct con- , nection. A new circuit, Warkworth to . Waipu, had been authorised, and was J expected to be completed before the end of next summer, thus providing adequate accommodation for traffic between Warkworth and Mangawai. Two direct teleI phone circuits between Auckland and ! Whangarei had been in use for several j , years. . Mr. Coates, replying to Mr. A. Bell ~ (Bay of Islands), stated that authority , for the construction of a trunk telegraph I and telephone line from Auckland to ■ Kaitaia had been given, and the work : of erecting it would be put in hand as soon as the material was available and i the condition of the roads permits of carting. Railway Freights. \ The Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Railways) denied a suggestion by Mr. > I F. Lye (Waikato) that railway freight charges on dairy produce are very high. He hoped circumstances might permit of some reduction being effected in increases made in railway charges during the war period. This was being carefully gone into in connection with a general revision of the railway tariff. ; Serious Consideration. Sir G. Hunter (Waipawa) asked the ' Premier whether the Government would this session deal with the question of " relieving racing clubs from their ' present excessive taxation. ' Mr, Massey, in reply, said the matter is having the serious consideration of the Government. ; Extradition Amendment. '. The Extradition Amendment Bill < (Hon. C. J. Parr), which has been read a first time in the House of Representatives, provides that stipendiary magistrates shall, without further appointment, be commissioners for the purposes of the principal Act, section 3 of which is repealed. Bribery is added to the . list of extradition crimes. ' Rangiriri Hills Road. "The work will be completed according ' to programme—no sooner, and no later/ said the Hon. J. G. Coates, in discussing ; Auckland complaints regarding progress , on the Rangiriri Hills Road. "The year .1925 was the time fixed for completion ! when the work was begun, and in 1925 it will be finished,' , said the Minister. "It ' may have been stated that we would try to complete it after the present winter, J but'you can't get on with metalling in ( that country in weather such as has been j experienced. All the squeaking in the , world will not get it done now, but I am s ,glad to «cc all tins row in Auckland. It ( helps mc in putting the case."