POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16945, 21 September 1920, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.")

WELLINGTON, September 20,

Cliristchurch Tramway BilL Tho Christcliurcli Tramway District Bill passed its second reading, was considered in Committee, and read a third time this evening"it was suggested at the outset by Mi > 1 Wittv that as Mr Tsitt, who introduced • tthe Bill, was not present in the Chamy her, consideration of the measure should t be deferred. Mr Howard said, however, that as nil the contentious clauses had been cTJmi- ' nated, there was no reason why the Bill should not proceed. > Mr Massev agreed to that courso be--1 ing taken, "and Mr Howard assume] t charge of tho measure in the Commiti tee slaves. Mr lsitfc was attending a mooting at Petone in celebration of Mr Wil ford's ( election as Leader of the Opposition. 1 | A Cliristchurch Petition. * The petition of William Hodge, of Christcliurcli, praying for an enquiry iiito the circumstances of his employment in the 1\ nil way Department, and asking leave to bo heard before tho Bnr of tho House, came back from tlho RailAvavs Committee to-day, with a report tluit tho Committee .had no recommendation to make. Waimakariri Harbour Bill. The Waimakariri Harbour I>istrioV and EmpoAvering Bill, in charge of Mr I>avid Jones, was put through Committee with an amendment by the member in charge increasing from eleven in twelve t'he number of Board members. . thus providing an additional elected member. Students' Railway Tickets. Mr D. Jones has been informed by tho Hon. C. J. Parr that arrangements have iioav been made for students over 20 years of age travelling to technical schools to be granted railway tickcts nt half the ratos for ordinary three-month-ly season tickets, subject to the regulation minimum. School of Forestry. Mr Holland asked tho Minister in chargo of t'ho Forestry Department whether ho will give, consideration to ft resolution carried at a public meeting nt West nor t, urging that a School of . Forestry "be established at Christcliurcli, which is tiho most suitable ccntro for inich. a school, owing to its close proximity to tho largo virgin forests of the West Coast and the extensive plantations throughout,tbe Canterbury Plains. Mr Guthrie replied: Duo consideration will bo given to the resolution ro- ■ ferred to, together with similar resolutions from other districts upon the subject of tho location of tho School of Forestry. Aerial Mail Services. Mr Witty asked tho PostmasterGeneral Avhe J,, er, seeing that a direct mail service has been proved possible by aeroplane between the two islands, by tho flight of Captain E. Dickson from the South to tho North Island, .and seeing that the Government have several aeroplanes and competent officers in charge in the South Island, he will state the Government's intention with regard to future aerial services, and whether they intend to work with the private companies or creato a Government service* t , _ The.Hon. J. G. Coates replied: It is I 1 the intention to make uso of private companies for a thorough test of .the carriage of ntyils on approved routes. The Price of Milk. Dt. Newman asked the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives tonight whether the Committee set up tb deal with the prico of butter would also be asked to make recommendations regarding the supply of milk at reasonable prices to people residing in the . towns. Mr Massey replied tlhat according to present appearance, the Committed had a great deal of \A'ork in front of-it in connexion with the price of butter. If it was possible for the Committee, after discharging its duties 111 regard to butter, to go on and take evidence ing the prico of milk, he tvould ho glad to have it do so. There was a very intimate connexion betAveen the price of milk and the price of butter. . Dr. Thacker: Why don't you, put cheese in as Avell? . ... Mr Massey said that butter and milk were of far more importance to tho New Zealand consumer than cheese was, as most of tlie cheese in Ncav Zealand was produced for export. He would be glad to give Dr. Newman's question favourable consideration if the opportunity offered. j Anti-dumping Measure. The Prime Minister was reminded this evening by Mr W. A. Veitch that tie had promised some time ago, in answer to a question, that something would bo done this session to deal' with the possibility of dumping in the Dominion. Sir Veitch asked to be informed of the position in regard to the matter. Mr Massey said that 'he had" not.yet been able to submit any proposals wmcb. might form the, basis ot « Bill to too law draftsman, becausc the latter bad been so busily employed. He hoped) j hoAvever, that in a few tame the, . | lav/ drafting office would be freer from . t work, and in that case 9ie wculd be very glad to furnish material for tho. drafting of ;i measure in the direction desired. ; State Ownership of Railways. ' . j A remarkable paragraph appearing in 5 "Leslie's Weelilv," a well-known. American publication, on July 3rd last, Avas mentioned in tho House of rcpre-. sentativ<?s bv Mr P. Fraser. Th® paragraph was to the effect that m "Oversocialised NeAV Zealand" tho railAvn.y system had been "tied up for months because the employees struck for higlic;' wages, which, owing to lack of the Government was unable' to grant. The AA-riter added that the taxpayers or g Ncav Zealand Avere already bled to exhaustion. and that the Dominion' 6 experience Avas a warning to other countries of the evils of State ownership. Mr Massey said that members of the Houso Avere as Avell aware aft he was that these statements Avere incorrect. ■ The railway services' 'had been reduced . for several months last year, but the cause Avas a coal shortage, not a strike of raihvay employees. The of j coal had been due to the go-sIoAV policy , f at the coal mines. He Avould be very frorry to say that State 'ownership was a failure. As far as the railways were » concerned, he was of tho contrary opinion. He did not believe that any other system of control Avould Avor.c satisfactorily in New Zealand. Ih'Dominion did very well with its railways, but ihe did not know that it u'ould be Aviso to go much further \ritil State oAvnership, as far as the requirements of the progress of New liealanu Avere concerned. The Prime Minister added that he did not think much would be gained by an attempt to contradict tho statement of the American paper. His experience was that an incorrect statement AA*as not easily overtaken; it hod to run its course. BE PATRIOTIC. Don't talk patriotism and supporforeign tyres at tho same time —1».» practical patriot and gain material benefit, by always using Spencer MouJ- i ton Tyres. Obtainable from all patri- , , | otic garages, or Box 258, Christchurclu I Penetrating, powerful, prompt,/- I pleasant and proved is "NAZOL." I cold is Nozol-proof. *,I