PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 211, 7 September 1927, Page 16

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY,

FORFEITURE OF LAND.

NEARLY 400,000 ACRES.

(By Telegraph. — Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. In the case of Crown areas held under permanent tenures there were 316 forfeiture last year, the total area being 121,736 acre, yielding f 11,816 annually in rentals. The surrenders numbered 114, the area involved being 247,002 acres, which gave an annual rental of £6189. The total of 430 forfeitures and surrender represents 1.469 of the number of settlers holding permanent leases and licenses. The total area involved appears large, says the Under-Secretary of the Lands and Survey Department in his report, but it includes approximately 256,000 acres of pastoral run country. Forfeitures and surrenders of miscellaneous and temporary leases numbered 445, covering a total area of 72,696 acres.

No Leakage Known. AH eyes were turned on the Minister of Finance in the House to-night when Mr. T. M. Wilford (Hutt) made the suggestion that the nature of the tariff proposals -was known by interested parties. Mr. Wilford said he had received a letter from a well-known industrial concern informing him what the Tariff Bill contained, and asking him to cast his vote in a particular way. "I'm not going to give the name of the concern, in fact I've got the top of the letter turned over so that the printed name may not be seen by those in the galleries," said Mr. Wilford, but I would ask the Minister if any particular concerns know of bis intentions in regard to the tariff.

The Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, replied in a voice in which there was a suggestion of a laugh that he hadn't heard of any leakage. Railway Meals. Mr. W. J. Jordan (Manakau) has asked the Minister of Railways whether he will reduce the price of meals and refreshments at railway stations, and so bring them within the means of the working man and his family when travelling. Nomination of Immigrants. Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland East) has asked the Minister of Immigration whether he baa cognisance of the case of an unemployed destitute Imperial soldier immigrant, who was nominated by a woman who is dependent on a maintenance order of her husband, and who did not know the immigrant nominated or anything about him, but nominated him at the request of her brother, who is a blind man, and whether if this case has been drawn to his notice, he is satisfied that the nomination system which permitted it should not be revised. Quality of Blankets. In the matter of weight of blankets there is much room for improvement, said Mr. W. J. Jordan (Manukau), who submitted that if a blanket of standard size was asked for, a blanket of that size should be sold. There should be a more definite standard in the manufacture of blankets. Undoubtedly New Zealand blankets were among the finest to be found in the world, and they should be of the quality, size and weight they were supposed to be. An hon. member: Are the short-weight blankets referred to made in New Zealand? Mr. Jordan: No; iSinderstand they are made outside this country. I ask the Minister of Industries and Commerce to see that all blankets sold shall be what they purport to be, according to their description. Purchase of Wheat.

In connection with the purchase' of wheat for 1925-26 season, the Audit Office was given to understand that the purchase was to be made by the Government on behalf of millers, who were to advance the money - required, says the Auditor-General in his annual report. Such transaction appeared to be in order, and vouchers were passed accordingly, the transaction being recorded by means of a deposit.account. It transpired, however, that the transaction was viewed, not as a purchase on behalf of the millers, but as a purchase on. Government account, and that the Government was to retain the profit arising from the transaction. As it did not appear that a Department of State could properly purchase wheat on Government account without the authority of Parliament, the matter was brought under the notice of the Treasury, which promised to recommend legislation validating the procedure.