PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 242, 12 October 1929, Page 21

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

SHORT DAY IN HOUSE. FINISHING THE ESTIMATES. BRISK ACTION ON. LAST LAP. (By Telegraph. —Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. When the House of Representatives met this morning for its daylight sitting, the acting-leader, the Hon. T. M. Gilford, moved that urgency be accorded to the remainder of the Estimates. Oppositionists remarked that this was a tall order, but the motion was accepted. Members discussed Post and Telegraph officers' salaries almost the whole day. Late in the afternoon Air Wilford announced that business could be completed by passing the prisons and Pensions Estimates—two very contentious classes, which usually lead to much discussion. Legislators were stirred to brisk action. They passed the Post and Telegraph vote without more ado, and put through the other two classes with extraordinary rapidity, only one member having anything to say The House iose at 4.30 —an hour ahead of time— till 7.30 on Monday evening. Reformer Dislikes Sympathy. After many hours of debate on a motion designed to indicate that postal servants' salary "cuts" should be restored to them, Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour party, asked leave to withdraw the motion because the Hon. T. M. Wilford, speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister, had promised an early statement on the subject. Though the withdrawal seemed a matter of course under the circumstances, 3lr. Samuel (Thames) and Mr. Kyle went on with the discussion. Mr. Kyle conceded that it was unfortunate that the Prime Minister was on a sick bed, but he should leave a Government in charge which could "et on with the business. Why, he asked, should the Labour party dominate the Government? The Chairman of Committees: The Labour party is not on the Estimates. (Laughter.) Mr. Kyle: It is extraordinary that the Leader of the Labour party should withdraw an amendment when it becomes awkward for the Government. Mr. Lye (Waikato): A very graceful act. Mr. Kyle: No good bringing sympathy into it when we are handling the affairs of the country. Mr. Senapte (Wellington East): Why did you not do the job years ago? Mr. Kyle: I will do it now, if you will help me to get there. (Ironical laughter.) Mr.,Semple: You were there sixteen years, and did not do it Helping the Farmers. Replying to criticism in connection with rural postal deliveries, the Post-master-General (Hon. J. B. Donald) stated in the House of Representatives to-day that since coming into office he jiad authorised quite a number of rural deliveries which had shown a loss. He had done this for the convenience of settlers, and was quite prepared to go on doing it, providing the loss was not too heavy, because lie believed people in the country should have first consideration. "I hope," said Mr. Donald, "that the day will come when we shall have free rural deliveries, but that day has not come yet." Taking Round the Hat. That the carrying of the amendment would not achieve its objective, but would simply reduce the PostmasterGeneral's resources by £2 was pointed out by the Minister of Justice (Hon. T. M. Wilford) in the House of Representatives yesterday, when the Labour Leader moved a reduction of £2 to the Post and Telegraph Department's vote. He moved the amendment as an indication that employees of the Department should have their salaries restored to the 1922 standard. • Mr. Wilford was as once reassured by the member for Auckland West. "I am sure we could get the money in two minutes," said Mr. M. J. Savage, with a merry twinkle in his eyes. "I will go round with the hat, put in my halfcrown, and the member for Mid-Canter-hury will do the same. That's the wayout of the -difficulty. I want to help the Postmaster-General, who is going to lose £2, to show that members are behind him in wanting to increase salaries." (Laughter.)'