POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18726, 24 June 1926, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES

(SJBOIAL 30 TBS PBS8».)

WELLINGTON, Jone 28,

Trade With America.

Having regard, to our unfavourable trade balance in our business dealings with Canada and the United States, Sir John Luke suggests, in a question he is submitting to the Prime Minister, that the New Zealand Government should open negotiations with the Governments of the other countries referred to, to endeavour to induce them to adjust their Customs tariff so as to admit our produce on terms more favourable to us. Sir James Parr's Interview. An alleged indiscretion ou the part of Sir James Parr, High Commissionerelect, was mentioned in tho House yesterday, and it drew from the Prime Minister a rather interesting answer; The question was asked by Mr Frasor, one of the Labour members, and ran as follows: (1) Whether his (the Prime Minister's) attention has been called to the statement made by Sir James Parr, High Commissioner, immediately on his arrival in London on the subject of the immigration group settlement scheme in West Australia? (2) Whether he has seen the contradiction to Sir James Parr's statement issued by the Agent-General for West Australia P (3) Whether, in view of the bad impression created, he will undertake, on behalf of the Parliament and people of the Dominion, to give instructions to the High Commissioner that all statements made by him, particularly those referring to other British Dominions or foreign countries, should be based upon ascertained facts, and that any violation of this ethic and etiquette in regard to other British Dominions or foreign Powers will be looked upon with grave concern? Mr Coates replied that the interview had been reported in the Press, but that was not to say that the report was correct. Till Sir James Parr said that the speech was substantially correct, he was certain the Government would be justified in holding that Sir James had not made the speech attributed to him. He knew Sir James well, and knew that his judgment would be a great assist, ance to him in enabling him to get along well with other Dominions. Sir James's attitude toward other Dominions was not at all unfriendly. Mr Ooates said that he would make enquiries, but he felt sufficiently secure in saying that Sir James had been misreported. Drag Societies. Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland Bast) wants to know If enquiries will be made into the recent statements to the effect that New Zealand young men and women attach themselves to drug societies, and if, failing substantiation of the allegations, a statement will be made to that effect. Private Members* Bills. Several Labour members gave notioe of Bills they Intend to introduce. Mr P. Eraser will have an Unemployed Workers Bill, Mr J. A. Lea an Offenders Probation Act Amendment Bill, and Mr H. E. Holland, a Nationalisation of Coal Mines Amendment Bill. The Summer Time Bill (Mr T. K. Sidey) was read a first time. . The introduction of Mr W. A. Veitch's Dairy Produce Export Control Amendment Bill was postponed till Tuesday. Government Whips. Though there has been no, appointment yet of Government Whips, the one thing certain is that Mr J. S. Dickson, the Member for Parnell, who is at present acting, will be Senior Whip in tho present Parliament. In the last Parliament his colleague in the business was Mr W. S. Glenn, the Member for EangitikeL There is, however, a feeling in the Party that it should revert to the old system which prevailed for many years, viz., that one of the Whipß should be a North Island and the other a South Island Member, Possibly, therefore, a South Islander will be appointed to act with Mr Dickson, who is undoubtedly the smartest Whip the Party has ever had. Chairman of Committees. There was apparently no significance in the fact that the Prime Minister yesterday chose Mr E. P. Lee, the Member for Oamaru, to act temporarily as Chairman of Committees. Indeed, it is now stated that Mr Lee is not a candidate for the position, and never was. Under the circumstances it will not be at all surprising if. Mr F. F. Hockly, the Member for Rotorua, will be made Chairman for the present Parliament. Mr Hockly frequently acted last session in the temporary absence of Mr Young, and acquitted himself very creditably. South Island Members. A meeting of South Island members convened by Mr D. G. Sullivan was held to-day. Among those present were one member of the Cabinet,. Sir Joseph Ward, and the Leaders of the Opposition and the Nationalist Parties. The matters discussed were the Wei-lington-Lyttelton ferry service, Lincoln Agricultural College, South Island representation in Parliament, and the development of South Island scenic resorts. Subsequently Mr Sullivan stated that it had been decided to take common action in all of theso matters, and a sub-committee was set up to consider the question of South Island representation along the lines of Mr Sidey's proposals. Lincoln College. Speaking in the House to-night, Mr H. L. Tapley (Dunedin North) said he considered that New Zealand was justified in asking for further provision for scientific agricultural education, and he expressed the *hope that the claims of Lincoln College would not be overlooked when the new central institution was being considered, for it was situated in a farming district, and valuable buildings were already there. He thought it would be a good thing for tho Government to give farmers the use of land for ten years rent free, and that the result would be that the men on these farms would be able to make a succesß of their holdings. In Brief. The trouble over the motor-bus regulations was heard of again in the House to-day, when another petition from the "antis" was presented. This one, which Mr Forsyth brought alonfc contains 40,000 signatures. , No importation of oats, unless the importer oan produce evidence that he cannot get good-quality New Zealand oats at the same price as the imported produce, is advocated by Mr A. Hamilton in a question he addressed to the Minister for Agriculture. Mr A. Harris desires that steps should Lo taken to prevent people'of.."sufficient means" from placing their aged relatives in infirmaries. These places, he says, are overtaxed, and are intended iorindiseat pcaoa* . j