HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 64, 12 September 1924, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 to-day. '■■•■.., ,'. ■ .-.■■•

Mr. J; A. Lee (Auckland East) asked the Prime -.Minister whether. he ■ had noticed- a paragraph in the Press suggesting' that Mr. L. M. Isitt should resign his. seat.' for Christchurch North, and re-contest it if the Government did not electrify' the ■ ". Lyttelton tunnel. Would the Prime Minister, persuade Mr. Isitt. to give .effect to the paragraph, so that Labour might have an opportunity of winning the seat. . ■ The Prime Minister replied : "I have seen the paragraph: in question, and I do not take, tho very slightest notice •of it. _: I know perfectly well tliaf Mr. Isitt wilL hold his seat, as long as lie likes to stand, and I do not think that Labour has a hope." ':, (Loud laughter.) • The Leadar of the Opposition (Mr. T. M, Wilford) asked the.. Minister '.-of Education whether.-.-he'- could make' any announcement .regarding educational matters in the Hutt "Valley. •■■-:■- ; ! Tho Hon. C. J., Parr replied that the Fubhc Works Department was preparing plans for a high - school of ■ two storeys,--estimated to cost about £14,000. As; soon, as -.the. plans were, available iii the course of tho next few days' the matter would come before Cabinet with a^view to a vote being put.on the Supplementary Estimates. . : , .

Postmaster-General (the HonJ J, t». Ooates) informed. Mr. G., R. Sykes (Alastertoii) . that arrangements were being made to, supply , lO ws regarding tho All Blacks' first; match, bein> played to-morrow, to all districts as loon as possible. , .-. ........

_ Ihe Prime Minister informed -Mr''A. L. Monteith (Wellington East) Uhat he would, be glad to have inquiries made with reference to distrass caused by Monday s. fire in Kent terrace and if necessary, to give what assistance' it was possible for the Government to render. . ■ ' »' ..■■..-. ■

,Mx. Monteith asked the Minister of Labour whether the Labour Department would take steps to remedy the unemployment position in Wellington,' which had been accentuated by the City Council discharging a number of men from constructional and other works ■'■ . „ The Hon. G: J. Anderson replied that the Department would do all that it could, and that it had already interviewed the public Works Department. A city^of. the size of,.Wellington, however should be able to do something for.its own Tinemployed. The first duty °/ . thß. people .of, Wellington, was to their own citizens.. When the city dispensed wits- the services of men it should try to find them other work. The Cawthron .Ti-ust .Bill 'was read a first time, and the Prime Minister informed Mr. H. Atmore (Nelson) that about next; Thursday he would be able to say when the second reading" would be taken. ..■■**■■■.■■■ xi.Tll^ Housa then wenton to consider the Education Department's estimates,, ' , ; '■:■-,'■■ (Proceeding.) ,: - ;