POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18430, 10 July 1925, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES

(sraCIAL TO "THB PBXSS.") WELLINGTON, July 0. Labour Amendment Defeated. Tho straight-out no confidence amendment to tho Address-in-Reply, moved by Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of tho Labour

Party, was defeated by a vote of 38 to 18 in the Houso this evening just after eight o'clock. The Liberals again walked out of the Chamber prior to the division, and did not vote. Only Mr Atmoro, tho Independent member for Nelson, and Mr Poland, another Independent (who sits in a back Liberal bench) remained on the Opposition benches. As in tho case of Mr Holland's provious amendment on tho Imprest Supply Bill, Mr Atmoro voted against, and Mr Poland with, tho Labour Party. Mr Isitt did not vote.

Tho other amendment, (in Mr Atmore's name) remains to bo disposed of. Possibly on this amendment we may get some enlightenment about tho Fusion negotiations.

Fusion. The Hon. J. G. Coates gives an emphatic denial to a statement in tonight's "Post" that Ministers are standing in tho way of fusion. He added that ever since the Cabinet was ♦formed Ministers had placed themselves entirely in his hands in regard to this matter. The "Post's" statement was as follows:—"The troublo really is that some of the Cabinet Ministers do not want fusion at any price, because they might hnvo to give up their portfolios. Tho Reformers will see when the matter is discussed before tho public on the floor of the Houso that they have made a mistake in their attitude. Tho public have been demanding fusion, and will bo disappointed when they see what has happened."

The statement is said to have emanated from "one member," but his name is not mentioned.

The Debate. It is expected that tho Address-in-

Reply debate will run till about Wednesday of next week. There are signs that the Liberals are at last coming into the discussion. So far it has been one of the dullest debates the House, has listened to for a long time.

Labourite Criticises Liberals'. Soon after Mr Langstone, the Labour member for Waimarino, commenced his spoech in the House this afternoon, ho was interrupted by an interjection from the Liberal benches. Turning on his interrupter he said that one of the most pitiable sights ho had ever seen was the Liberal Party crawling liko wounded worms on the faco of politics, and wriggling themselves out of the Chamber to escape voting on an issue. By that action, he was sure, they had earned tho disgust and contempt of every section of the community. Mr Speaker: Order,' order. Mr L**ngstone: It was used in this Houso beforo, Sir. Mr Speaker was understood to say that the hon. member was out of order.

Mr Langstono (turning to Mr Wilford): The Leader of tho Opposition waves his hand, but I think the application will apply to them as a Party.

The Waltaki Bridge Incident. Mr J. Bitchener (Waitaki) this aftornoon asked the Minister of Railways a question regarding the motorist who was recently nearly caught by an express train while he was crossing tho Waitaki bridge. Ho was allowed on the bridge, and only pscaped from tho train by increasing his speed. He also drew attention to the fact that recently a man had been prosecuted for exceeding the regulation speed of six miles an hour on the same bridge. This regulation, he thought, was a ridiculous one.

The Hon. J. O. Coates replied that the information regarding the incident that reached him was different from tho statements in the newspapers. The two statements did not coincido at all in regard to'what actually took place. It was stated- x that the signal was against traffic on the bridge. However, the Department was making an investigation, and ho would let tho hon. member know the result of it. Licensing Legislation. In.the House this afternoon, replying to Mr J. O'Brien, the Prime Minister said he. could not say whether there would be an amendment of the Licensing Act this session. Cabinet had yet to°considcr the matter. Canterbury College Bill. In the House this afternoon the Hon. Sir James Parr gave notice to introduce the Canterbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College Act Amendment Bill. JOairy Control. In tho House to-night, Mr J. A. Nash expressed anxiety to hear froin the Minister of Agriculture as to whether he was going to allow absolute control to be put into operation respecting tho Dairy Control Board. The Minister: You can hear from me now. It is a question for the Board.

"We want single ward representation," said Mr Nash. "We don't want it as it is at the present time, playing into the hands of certain people."' .The Wheat Farmer.

Mr J. Bitehener (Waitaki), who spoke to-night, referred to the importance of the wheat-grower of Canterbury to New Zealand. The industry employed a large amount of labour, and the railways benefited largely from the freight. Implement manufacturers and coal companies also benefited from the industry. If the wheat were brought in from other countries the country would lose these assets to its prosperity. The wheatgrcwers often met with rebuffs at times, but still they carried on. lie believed they had some of the best wheat laud and the best wheat farmers in the world, and they as a class were doing their best to produce the best from their land. There was possibly not another country in the world that produced so much per man as was producod in New Zealand. It was up to them to produeo not only the most but the best they could. The taxation of farmers to-day, however, was a heavy burden, and while it went on increasing so would the cost of production increase.

The Babbit Question. Mr Bitehener thinks wc are not going on the right linea in dealing with the rabbit pest. There Averc, he said, evidences that ' tho rabbit pest was getting the upper hand in his district. It .was, of course, of far greater advantage to export wool than fur. Until, however, something was done to make summer skins of the samo value as winter skins, the pest would not be eradicated. There Mas a vast difference in the two elassos of skins, and they were told that it would not pay to kill the rabbits iit the summer.

(Continued at foot of next column.)

Mr Hodge, blacksmith, of tho BijPffi way Department, Christchurch, is mSBf tioning Parliament for compensaUoa;f|||| loss of wagos. ' Wm Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland Eait) , sj9s| given notico to ask the Minister MHfj Chargo of the Electoral Departweqgjil whether he will introduce legialatwJHffl this session to prcrcnt candidates .'jjjl|l Parliament attempting to influence rmsß electors by giving holidays to '•tMJBH children and supplying electors JfVJflgffl frco strawberries and cream. . ~Wm Mr D. G. Sullivan proposes to sal g||| Minister of Finance whether ho Jell proves of a statement made by the ister of Education that the"4jj jfjjl cent, rate of interest for honsing *fjjgp vances will have to be increased, *s§g| whether in the event of this boing made, the old rate of 4$ per would apply to applicants a^n !|f||§| awaiting loans. ">3fM Alfred Wm. Page, of Cb " school teacher, is petitioning ment for the removal °'. dtol#jsj| ||| as a school teacher, in having tt.Mu the oath of allegiance. The tion he desired to make to the Q*W«81I "so long as this obligation eonta3jMß|| not to conflict with what I be my duty to God." Through ?ot cMml plying with the Act he was, in "ffljjj removed from the position of nwtyjjggl tho Christchurch Boys' and has not since been allowta hold employment as a school *Ss|Bgl Ho has since signed the allegiance with his reservation adfl*fil|Bß A petition which was laid baJMnffl Parliament to-day for the V te **'*V®Bßm of Cocclo Cove, in Queen CnafflaMH| Sounds, has a lojg list of The first name is that of Bit 4*jSHn Ward, and there follow the n«*gjMM many well-known professional ana «*Hflp ness men. The Bay is in the Many Coves, and is used an anchorage by visiting yacflWWf^ffii