A DAY ON THE ESTIMATES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 269, 7 August 1920, Page 8

A DAY ON THE ESTIMATES

- ■ NAVAL DEFENCE POLICY OPPOSITION AMENDMENT DEFEATED V ~,;.„.,-.. The House of Representatives spent yesterday on the Estimates, and was still .'.dealing- with Departmental votes early this morning. The needs of superannu- "' ated public servants wero discussed early in tho afternoon. Members urged that 'owing to the increase in tho cost of living tho old civil servants could not live I -in any sort of comfort on the pensions they were receiving. The Prime Minister said againjthaithe.Government must be cautions about consenting to in- ■ creases of expenditure, in view of tho uncertainties of tho future. But he prom-. . ised the' Houso that something would be done for tho retired civil sen-ants later in the session. A debate on the subject of naval defence was continued until late at night. 'j The Acting-Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Wilford) moved to reduce a vote by SX\ ns an indication to tho Government that tho proposed expenditure on the mnin-I ' tenance of tho light cruiser Chatham was unwarranted and unnecessary. Hel argued that the Government had committed the House to a new naval policy! .. without consultation, and that in any case a light cruiser would be useless inj lime of war, since an enemy would send more powerful units. The Prime Min-I ister, in the course of his reply, mentioned that New Zealand's light crniserk would co-operate with Australian and British units. Ho indicated thai the Em- . pire's naval forces in the Pacific were going to bo larger than had been generally expected, and .would, include battleships and battle-cruisers. The Chatham Would be a unit of a large naval force. Mr. Wilford did not divide the House ''on his motion, which was rejected on the'voices. At midnight the House was discussing prices and profiteering. Mr. Massey, asked what the new price'of butter would be, said that negotiations for the sale of the season's output might not 'be completed for a fortnight. ' Tho local price would bo considered later. Some members aslced for 6terncr measures against profiteers. The Minister at the head of the Board of Trade (Mr. Ice) said the Government would probably ask Parliament to amend the law during the session, but had not decided just what form tho ameuihrients should take.