THE DAY IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 25, 29 July 1922, Page 7

THE DAY IN PARLIAMENT

The, Hon. W. Downie £a»*r«rt,",; Minister of Customs, has a weU-ordered mind, a remarkably well-ordered mmd. That - is why, whan, he finished bis explanation of the "Australian Tariff Treaty yesterday afternoon, most members of the House of Representatives had a wry clear idea of what hail been agreed to, and why. The negotiations mn not. ample,,.and, though the BUI) «mbodyrog tha treaty, sets out thy changes that have been made in a clear way, it is ve*y doubtful it^~ many members could hay« fonnd out for themselves as much as Mr. Stewart toid them. Fortunately, he was not interrupted by questions or interjection*. H« explained also the reasons for abrogating v

the South African Tariff 'Treaty. It appeared that manufacturers of_,.Virg»niat leaf tobacco had just discovered that, if.' they manufactured in South Africa, tbeyvf could sell their goods in New Zealand at much greater advantage than if the-( manufacture had taken place in America i or England. Mr. Stewart concluded by; stating humorously that he would not ,■ object to being sent to South -: Africa to negotiate another'treaty. After hearing the, Minister's explanation, the House-' adjourned further . discussion of ■? the-, treaty until next Thursday, Then reports were presented, including the . Pensions Teport, which always leads to discussion. It was not productive of much advantage' on this occasion. .In the' evening the* legislative business of the session was be-' ■gun in earnest—not private members' Bills or imprest supply Bills, but alterations to the Statute law. The Administration of Justice Bill, the Surveyors' Institute and Board of Examiners' Amendment 8i11,., .the Land Drainage, Amendment Bill, and the Local Bodies' Loans Amendment Bill were read a second time.- Members discovered too late that the Drainage Bill was more important than they had thought.. They made up'for this by discussing the Local Bodies' Loans Bill at some length. Most members who rose to speak appeared to be in, the position of judgment debtors, seeking "more time' to pay, . and .'Mr. Wright; who has the misfortune to _ba Mayor of ' Wellington (antecedent ■ liability about. £35(5,000) appeared seriously . perturbed at the prospect of some.of.Ahe local bodies being committed to'gaol. The subject of discussion, of^ coTirse,"was the antecedent liability, tnbse^debts "incurred by the local Bodies-in. the ..days when they could borrow easily. '-"Now they wanted time to pay. The Minister of Internal Affairs apeared quite cheerful over the matter. He thought most of them would settle their difficulties. This ended the business of the day, and the House rose at 10 o'clock.