PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 195, 19 August 1927, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. PREMIER'S ADVICE TO FINANCIERS. (By Telegraph. — Parliamentary Reporter.) ELLINGTON, Thursday. Hearty agreement was expressed bv the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coatcs to-day with those members who, during the financial debate, had stressed the importance of the greater use of fertilisers in the country's land. He suggested that financial institutions could render no greater service to the primary producer, if they were really sincere in desiring to help him, than by coming along and actually subsidising the supply of fertilisers for the farmer. "I know no quicker way of helping the producer than by increasing the quantity of fertiliser at his disposal." Shipping Profits. It was contended by the member for Gisborne in the House to-day that it was a distinct disadvantage to the meat producers that the Meat Board should tie them up to a three years' freight contract. It blocked competition absolutely, and excluded the farmers' ship, the Admiral Codrington, from the New Zealand trade. When the first shipment of New Zealand meat was taken by this vessel the total freight equalled £92,000; then it dropped next voyage to £72,000, and finally about £50,000, and at that rate it could show, in one round trip, without outward freight, a profit of £20,000, paying 20 per cent interest on its boom value. The Meat Board ruined its prospects, the wickedest thing any board had ever done. Experience with this ship proved that shipping companies working ships of pre-war values could pay 30 to 40 per cent profit under the Meat Board contract. They were charging exhorbitant rates both ways. The Meat Board did not want to give tin Admiral Codrington a chance, and the shipping I companies, with their millions, went after her like a dozen hawks after one ' bird, and were backed by the Meat Board. Behind the Gun. It is difficult for Mr. Lysnar to avoid criticising the Meat Control Board, particularly its chairman, the member for Ellesmere, no matter what is the actual topic before Parliament. Consequently, there was hearty laughter when Mr. Lysnar announced during the financial debate that he would start by dealing with the Moat Board. Mr. Jones, who usually sits across the gangway, in line with his critic, chose for once a seat behind him. "I am sorry the member for Ellesmere is not in his place," commented Mr. Lysnar, but he was promptly assured. "He's here. He's got behind the gun. (Loud laughter.) Mr. Lysnar: Where he ought to be. He should not be able to shoot anyone at all. (More laughter, during which Mr. Jones, who had enjoyed the joke, took his proper seat.) A Question of Taste. A suggestion was recently made in Parliament by Mr. D. Jones (Ellesmere) that as the Weraroa and Buakura State farms are not paying, they should be sold, and the proceeds applied to the new agricultural college. This was hotly opposed by Mr. Lynsnar (Gisborne), who characterised it as very regrettable that a Canterbury member should make such a proposal while the ink was not dry on the bill authorising the State to give further help to Lincoln College. The farms mentioned were experimental areas to educate the farmer of the North Island, and if it was logical to sell them because they were making a loss, then Lincoln College should be sold too. To suggest that the North Island should lose its experimental &reas showed exceedingly bad taste, coming from a Canterbury member. Arapuni Contract. A return setting out answers to the following questions is sought by Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West): (1) If it is correct that considerable delay is likely to take place in completing the contract in connection with the Arapuni electric power scheme. If so, what is the cause of such delay? (2) What extra cost, if any, will be incurred by the Government as a result of the delay? (3) What steps, if any, are being taken by the Government to provide a supply of electricity to those who were expecting to be supplied from Arapuni within the original time specified? (4) What extra cost, if any, will be charged by the Government for the power supplied from provisional sources?

Dr. Beattie's Position. In a petition presented to the Houst by Mr. H. G. R. Mason, Dr. R. M. Beattie asks for the appointment of a commission of inquiry into the administration of mental hospitals, which he alleges arc not in the interests of the patients, is extravagant in many ways, and is a matter of deep public concern. It is also alleged that a projected mental hospital at Drurv is likely to prove unsuitable. The petitioner says every official report was in his favour, but, without any previous warning, he was charged in a letter from the Minister, dated March 0, 1925, with having strained relatio-ns in all directions, and an utter lack of sympathy with and co-operation between himself and his senior professional colleague, understudy, and, indeed, almost the whole staff; that he did not pay sufficient attention to the ventilation of the hospital, to the classification of the patients and the supply of suitable food or of clothing to certain patients. It was further alleged in the letter from the Minister that the petitioner had not used the Wolff Home for the purpose for which it was designed and built, and that he did not pay sufficient attention to the reports of the district inspector. Petitioner was thereupon notified of his transfer to a smaller institution. Petitioner afterwards made certain charges regarding the administration of the Tokanui Mental Hospital, but an inquiry asked for by him was refused. In his opinion the charges go to the root of the mental hospital administration, and are of the greatest public concern.