POTATO FIRM MENTIONED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 172, 23 July 1941, Page 10

POTATO FIRM MENTIONED

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Budget, debate in the House of Representatives yesterday provided two interludes which created some interest above the usual in the Chamber. They both occurred in Ihe afternoon and there was further reference after the tea adjournment to both. The member lor Palmcrston North. Mr. Ilodgens (Government), in Hie course of his address on the Budgcl expressed the view that, the present head of the Farmers' Lin ion should be behind prison bars, but he hastened to withdraw this statement immediately the House resumed after the tea adjournment, and apologised for what' he had said in respect of Mr. Mulholland. The other episode referred to the importation of Australian potatoes, the name of a firm soliciting orders being mentioned. This drew a reply after the tea adjom-nment by Mr. McCombs (Government, Lyttelton). Apart from these incidents the debate was without colour. Altogether six members took part, four from the Government side and two from the Opposition. The only Minister to speak was the Minister of Housing, Mr. Armstrong, who announced a further development of the housing scheme. Early in the evening Mr. Speaker announced that the practice would be followed in future of observing the one-minute's silent prayer at 9 p.m. In compliance with "this the House went off the air at 9 p.m. and all members stood in silence until after the chimes had ended. These were broadcast from a set in the Chamber.