HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14159, 27 September 1911, Page 12

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TcKsn.vY, Seftemder 26. AFTERNOON SITTING. j The House met at 2.30 p.m. i RECIPROCAL TARIFF. j Mr McLAREN gave notice to ask j Sir Joseph Ward to make a statement | as to whether negotiations had passed between New Zealand and the Commonwealth regarding a reciprocal tariff, seeing that Mr Fisher had recently expressed tho desire of his Government for its establishment. Mr McLaren, also gave notice to ask whether the question of our political union with Australia had been discussed. THE ESTIMATES. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates, Mr MASSEY complained of what ho called unfair distribution of Government advertisements, and cited cases where newspapers alleged to be supporting the Government received far more advertisements than thoso supporting the Opposition. Mr JENNINGS suggested that a Government publication should bo issued with official advertisements. Sir JOSEPH WARD said there were £3 papers in New Zealand which did not receive Government advertisements at all, and ho believed most of these papers supported the Government. He mentioneu that in Auckland and Dunedin the Opposition papers received more from the Government for advertisements than tho Government papers did. Th House then went into Committee of Supply. At the voto for Railways, £2,375,000, Mr MASSEY suggested that the Railway Estimates be deferred until the Railway Committee had reported upon the petitions now before it. Mr ABNOLD (Chairman of the Railways Committee) said it would bo a fortnight before the committee's report was completed, and then there would not be full time to discuss the matter. It would bo better to put the Estimates through now and for the Minister to assure tho House that ho would givo an opportunity to dobate the wholo question when the report was presented. The MINISTER said tho proper time to discuss the matter would be when the Government brought down tho Bill to increase tho salaries, as had been promised. Ho would keep the Bill back as late in the session as possible, so that members would bo inpossessiou of all available ovidence. He wanted the House and the public to know exactly what the position was, and an opportunity for full discussion would fome this session. The House rase at 5.30 p.m.