PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 221, 18 September 1929, Page 13

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. WHOLE DAY ON ONE ITEM. PRIME MINISTER OBJECTS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) - WELLINGTON, Tuesday. ' The House of Representatives, which put through votes for nearly a million sterling last Friday, failed to complete consideration of £8300 involved in the Department of Industries and Commerce to-day. These estimates were debated from early afternoon until after 10 p.m., when the Prime Minister, losing patience, announced he would move that urgency be accorded these" estimates. It was unprecedented, he said, to spend so much time on one class, and it meant the destruction of business proceeding which members had desired in approving the new standing orders. There must be some reason for it, though he did not wish to impute motives. Sir Joseph's announcement was followed by informal talk regarding procedure, which led the leader of the House to move to report progress, with a view to putting his urgency motion with Mr. Speaker in the chair. It became evid?nt, however, that members did not wish to delay matters further, therefore the chairman of committees (Mr. S. G. Smith), sensing the changed atmosphere, put the question that the vote be adopted, and it was at once approved. Sir Joseph Ward did not then object to the adjournment of the House at 10.3e. The London Loan Mystery. Mr. Mason (Auckland Suburbs) has tabled a question- seeking to know whether, in view of statements made by the Prime Minister concerning conditions on which the London loan of January last was raised, and the assertion that the action of his predecessor precluded him from going on the London market again for eighteen months, the Prime Minister will make a statement enabling the House to understand whether it was action on the part of his predecessor which precluded him from borrowing in London within eighteen months. A Professor Criticised. "In Christchurch some of our flunky professors," said Mr. Fraser, "are prepared to act as lickspittles for the commercial classes to prove by every twist of figures on each and every occasion that the workers' wages should be reduced, and their standard of living depreciated." Mr. Fraser's indignation had been aroused by an item of £15 on the estimates for subscriptions of officers of the Trade and Commerce Department to certain Chambers of Commerce. He said that some chambers were non-political, but others had issued bulletins and propaganda against anything that would benefit the masses or increase their wages. When such proposals were discussed, did the officers vote? Did they protest, or were they merely dummies? "What do we get for our colossal expenditure?" interjected a member. "Yes, what do we get for our fifteen pounds?" asked Mr. Fraser. Later Mr. Jones (Mid-Canterbury) took Mr. Fraser to task for having attacked a professor who was a recognised economist, and deplored the fact that the member should take advantage of his privileged place in the House to do that. The fact that Mr. Fraser disagreed with him proved that the professor was right. (Laughter.) Apprentices In New Zealand. The number of apprentices registered in New Zealand is 9943, according to a return tabled in the House to-day. As there are 31,773 journeymen and working employers for whom apprentices are allowable, this is equivalent to one apprentice to 3.2 journeymen. The number of apprentices who would be employed if employers engaged the number they were now entitled to under the Act would be 19,931. No Goldmining Revival. The annual Mines Statement says that, while it is gratifying that the quantity of bullion production during tho year 1928 shows an increase of 20,4940z over that of the preceding year, still it is a matter for regret that there has not been a genuine revival in this important industry. The discovery of new and payable goldnekls would give an impetus to mining generally, and would materially help to remove some of our existing troubles, and to some extent relieve unemployment. A general feeluv of optimism, however, prevails j amongst prospectors and those who have invested their capital in search for precious metals, and much energy as now . D ein<* devoted to devising means ot extracting bullion from lodes of low grade which, it is believed, exist an several parte of New Zealand.