THE AFTERNOON'S BUSINESS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17692, 19 February 1923, Page 9

THE AFTERNOON'S BUSINESS.

VARIOUS QUESTIONS. (ABEIDQED fbess association eepokt.) WELLINGTON, February 17. When the House met at 2.30 this afternoon, several questions were put to the Prime Minister. * Unemployment. Replying to Mr P. Fraser, Mr Massey said it was just as well to admit that there was a certain amount of unemployment still existing, but he thought it was not more than usual. The Government would make preparations Ifor the coming winter, though he was confident that it would not be necessary to provide anything like the amount of work required last winter. The financial position was much better, and that would be reflected in a greatw amount of private work being put in hand. Censorship on Books. Replying to Mr Sullivan, tho Hon. W. Downie Stewart said he would submit the question of the censorship on books to Cabinet, with a view to having it completely reviewed, and making it more satisfactory to the public. The censor was not always responsible for Looks being banned, for that step was, in some cases, governed by legislation. He could assure members that the censor was not an irresponsible cleric in the Customs Department. The work was often of a very complicated nature. Advisory Railway Board. Replying to Mr Wilford, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said the Advisory Railway Board set up last session \va.3 now in full operation. The commercial agents, who had been -appointed, were now busy travelling to each district where business required their attention. Housing Proposals. Replying to Mr P. Fraser, Mr Massey said the- new Housing Bill was in the hands of the Law* Draughtsman. The measure contained three important changes on the existing system. In the first place, it was'proposed to inj ferease the amount to bo lent from 75 per cent, to 95 per cent, of value, while tho maximum amount to be lent would be increased from £.750 to £1250. Then the term of a loan at present was too short, and consequently tho weekly payments were too high. It was proposed to extend the period from 20 to 364 years, and the weekly payments would be reduced from £■! 8s 8d to £1 Is 2d. He believed that the cost of building was coming down, and hewas confident that the new proposals would make the Government Housing Department more popular than ever it had been. They, however, could do nothing without legislation, but ho would Undertake that the Bill would be ready for next session. Bills Read a First Tim®. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time Electoral Reform (Mr Wilford),' Dominion State Bank (Mr .Veitch), Agricultural Bank. (Mr Wilford), Housing Act Amendment (Mr Fraser), Unemployed Workers (Mr Fraser). A Labour Protest. At 4.15 p.m. the Prime, Minister moved that "the House do now adjourn." „ . Mr H. E. Holland, as Leader of the Labour Party, said he wished to enter the strongest protest against the. House adjourning. The House should continue to do the work the members were paid to do by the electors. It would be ridiculous in the extreme if the House was called together for no other purpose than to decide something which the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition already knew was going to be decided in a particular way by a number, of gentlemen who had been elected to oppose the Government going over and voting with the Government on a no-confid-ence motion. It cost some thousands of pounds to bring members to Wellington, and they should stay to do the work, which should be done. He drew attention to the position in ! the Ruhr and tho Near East as calculated to bring on a war in which Britain, and consequently New Zealand, might become involved/ There was also the precarious position in which the coal industry in New Zealand was placed. The coal-miners were. handicapped by importations. The whole industry stood in need of complete reorganisation, and the House should stay to do it. Roads and railways also required their attention, but, while the Government could apparently find plenty of money for destructive purposes, they could not find any for constructive purposes. The Prime Minister said if war came again, Britain would find tho money to carry on, but New Zealand would be prevented from raising loans in London for ordinary development purposes. Parliament had been convened for a special purpose. That purpose was now accomplished, and the business of the session ended. '' I am in a stronger position now than 1 was twenty-four hours ago," Mr Massey added. i ' , Mr E. J. Howard: Oh, we have heard all about tho arrangement. Mr Massey: And if the Labour Party want a dissolution, they can have it at once. . Mr P. Fraser: Let's have it at omce. Mr Massey said there had been votesplitting at the last election. He -would not put up with the _ tactics which had, been witnessed in the House, and if necessary he was prepared to face another election at once. The people did not want another eloction at present, but if, the position was forced upon them, tney would be prepared to face the expense in order to put an end to any party activities inimical to the country's welfare, and interfering with public business. Mr Howard supported the protestagainst the adjournment, while so much was waiting to be done to remedy unemployment and the workers' conditions, and to relieve producers from the heavy burdens of taxation under which 9 they were labouring. The country was in a state of unrest, ana if members did not endeavour to ease that condition, they were not doing their duty. The Closing Scene. "When the House resumed at 7.30 Ejn the Speaker announced that the tamp Duties Act Amendment Bill had received the Governor-General's assent. He then called on the first order of the day, but, as there were no orders, and no new business could be taken, the proceedings reached a deadlock. The Prime Minister said in the circumstances the only thing to be done was to move the adjournment. Mr Holland said that, having made their protest, the Labour Party would not take up any more time. A division was called, for, and the motion to adjourn was carried by 44 votia to 19. _ . At 7.4® p.m. the Speaker announced tw. the House was formally adjourned "till this day week at 2.30 p.m." As he turned to leave the chair, be remembered that he had not ordered the doors, which had been "locked" for the divi-ion, to be " unlocked," and his order that this be done evoked great merriment. The first session of the twenty-first. Parliament was thus brought to a close.