NO QUORUM IN THE HOUSE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23445, 27 September 1941, Page 10

NO QUORUM IN THE HOUSE

DESULTORY DEBATE ON STATEMENT ESTIMATES PASSED WITHOUT DISCUSSION (P.R.) WELLINGTON, September 26. In a desultory debate, which lasted all day, the House of Representatives to-day considered the Public Works Statement and the Estimates of the department, urgency being taken lor their passing. When the House resumed after the lunch adjournment, a quorum was not present, and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) had to draw the attention of Mr Speaker (the Hon. W. E. Barnard) to the state of the House. The bells were rung again for a few seconds until a quorum of 20 members was obtained. The debate on the Statement lasted until 5.25 in the afternoon, but the Estimates were passed without discussion in less than five minutes, and the House rose at 5.41 p.m., until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. Sir Alfred Ransom (Opposition, Pahiatua), a former Minister for Public Works, described the expenditure by the Main Highways Board in the last five years as wasteful and extravagant. Money had been squandered in creating works which were entirely unjustified for the amount spent on them, he said. Grades had been eased and curves eliminated which motorists did not mind at all. On the other hand, miles of highways should have been sealed and the maintenance thereby reduced. Before needless construction was undertaken, existing highways should have been put in reasonable condition and thousands of pounds saved to the country. The Minister had said that £12,410,000 had been spent on main highways in the last five years. If that figure were correct, it.was grossly extravagant and beyond the means of the country, “Should be Thankful” Mr E. P. Meachen (Government. Marlborough) said that if there was one thing that the country ought to be thankful for it was the work done by the Government on highways. They had been made safer and hundreds of people were alive to-day who otherwise would have died on the roads. Motorists were continually complimenting the previous Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple), on his improvement of the highways and for his sympathetic attitude to the needs of farmers desiring access. But for the war, the Government’s five-year plan to provide reading for back-country settlers would - have been completed, said Mr Semple, replying to criticism by Mr H. G. Dickie (Opposition. Patea) of the Government’s expenditure on highways. The plan, said Mr Semple, called for the construction of 6711 miles of reading. When the war began, 3401 miles had been completed and 2145 miles formed, and in addition. 48,305 lineal feet of bridges had been built.