POLITICAL NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 24, 28 July 1927, Page 10

POLITICAL NOTES

THE DAY IN PARLIAMENT

As a measure of compensation for the arduous sitting of the previous nay, which continued for more than fourteen hours, members of the House of Eepresentatives yesterday had a comparatively easy working day. It was private members' day, but it was not until the evening that their Bills were reached. The whole of the afternoon, after preliminary business had been briefly disposed of, was devoted to a discussion upon the land valuation system which took place upon the" presentation of a financial return dealing with the operations of the Land Valuation Department. Mr. J.M'Combs's Preferential Voting Bill received consideration in the evening, when tho wearying effect of the previous day's sitting was apparent from the number of drooping heads. Before the supper adjournment an arrangement was rc.ade between parties for an early rising, and twenty minutes after the resumption the second reading of Mr. 11' Combs's Bill was defeated on a division, and the House rose until this afternoon.

THE MEAT MARKET. A favourite topic with Mr. W. D. Lysnar; member for Gisborne, is that of trusts, with particular reference to the meat industry. Speaking in the House of Rcpiesentatives last night, Mr. Lysnar said that the meat market in New Zealand was in a very unsettled state. If the Government wished to solve its present valuation troubles, it would have to reorganise the methods of dealing with the country's meat production, and would have to tackle the trusts.

Mr. J. M'Combs (Lyttelton): "What's the Meat Board doing?" Mr. Lysnar: "It's doing nothing but sitting on the necks of the farmer." (Laughter.)

A Labour member: "What about the chairman of the board?" (Laughler.) Mr. Lysnar: "Members know my opinions in that direction. He might be all right for a wheat board, but he's no good for a meat board." If the Government was not careful, said Mr. Lysnar, it would be found that there would be only one buyer of meat in the Dominion. Little attempt was being made by the Government to deal with tho cardinal problems facing the country to-day. Tho trusts were running the Government to-day. Mr. Wilford: "That's a very serious allegation to make."

Mr. Lysnar-: "Yes, and I hope it is realised as a serious allegation. I have been trying to show the Government tho positoin of the country today, but I have mado littlo progress." Mr. Wilford: "Why do you think that is?"

Mr. Lysuar: "Because the Government does not realise its responsibilities in tho matter. It doesn't realiso the position. . . It annoys me to think that I hear members saying that the whole trouble ■is over-valua-tion. That is only propaganda to save their own skins."

Mr. D. Jones (Ellesmere), chairman of the Meat Board, refuted the statements made by Mr. Lysnar. "We in the House know the value of the hon. member's statements," said Mr. Jones. "Some people outside do not." Limb had been sold on tho Snrithfield market in the last three weeks at lid per lb, so what weight could be given Mr. Lysnar's statement about the prices of meat in England? Mr. Lysnar made statements about the Meat Board to discredit tho speaker personally. Mr. Lysnar: "Oh, you aro of no valuo to me."

Mr. Jones said that the Meat Board had tried to get lamb on to the American market and had lost money on it. Sixty per cent, of the meat sent from New Zealand went on to the open Smithlield market, which was open to any farmer in New Zealand. The Meat Board had made its reputation, and it was trusted by the farmers of New Zealand. It was very necessary that members should make accurate statements so that Parliament should not become a laughing-stock. * » » GOVERNMENT'S EESPONSIBILITIES. The contention was put forward by Mr. P. Frascr (Wellington Central) in the House of Representatives last night that all matters of important legislation should 'bo brought down by tho Government. Deviating from the subject of preferential voting, which he regarded as of such importance: as to warrant it being brought forward by tho Government, Mr. Frasor recalled that last session tho Government' had declared that the licensing question was not one that it could deal with as a Government. "I contend," he said, "that^no Government ought to adopt anything in the nature of subterfuge to 'enable it to get out of a difficult position. It is entrusted by the people to bring down legislation on important matters, and it ought to face its responsibilities." It was a dangerous precedent, he said, foi tho Government to say the Cabi-' net had approved the form of a Licensing Bill, and to tell tho Houso to do what it liked with it, and that it was not concerned with what happened to it. Ho instanced tho Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, and said th.it an important matter like that should not bo loft to private members. Mr. J. Mason (Napier): "Do you say tho licensing question should bo a party question?" Mr. Eraser: "The Bill should be brought down in a responsible way, and tho Government should faco its responsibilities." Mr. Mason: "You think it should be a party question?" "Certainly," replied the speaker, "and I suggest to the lion, member that ho should exert all his influence with the Government and his party to that end." *■ * * "THEY JTJST SIT." The silence of the members on the Reform benches in the House of Representatives last night, when Mr. J. M'Combs's Preferential Voting Bill was being discussed, was remarked upon by Mr. G. W. JTorbes (Huruuui). "It reminds me," he said, "of the old man who was getting very feeble and was sitting by the fire. Whea he was asked how he put in his time he said, ' Well, sometimes I sits and tninks, and sometimes I simply sits.' (Laughter.)

"That is the attitude of the Government," remarked Mr. Forbes. "At least that is the impression thai is conveyed to us over here by the black look on their countenances when we bring forward an important measure such as this Preferential "Voting Bill." The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland): "It is not quite fair to all of them. The Minister of Health is a supporter of the Bill."

ANOTHER JOB TOR PARLIAMENT. During the debate on the Preferential Voting Bill in tho House of Representatives last evening Mr. \V. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) revealed himself as a strong opponent of the practice of referring questions to tho public by means of referenda. He thought Parliament should have the courage to settle all matters itself. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon): "Would, you include the licensing issue?" Mr. lysnar: "Yes; I believq PaTlia-

ment should grapple with these matters." Mr. J. M< Combs (Lyttelton): "Gee, whiz." Mr. Lysnar said that many members of Parliament were a lot of weaklings, and shouldered things on to the public. Mr. Sullivan stated that if ParliaI ment decided the licensing issue it was very probable that Mr. Lysnar would shed tears of salt after the division, had been taken. a * * MR. M'COMBS'S SUPPORTERS. There are varying opinions as to the value of members' speeches as recorded in, Hansard." In the House of Eepresentatives last night, Mr. P. Eraser (Wellington Central) was urged by Mr. J. M« Combs (Lyttelton) to read a former division list upon Mr," M< Combs »s Preferential Voting Bill, to show .who. had supported the measure previously. " 'Hansard' is not a particularly entertaining volume at any time," remarked Mr. Fraser, "and I shudder at the task I am asked to undertake;" He read the division list, and expressed the hope that the Hon. J. A. Young, Mr. G. W. Forbes, and Mr. W. A. Veitch, who had voted with the Labour members in 1918, would do so again. "I doubt if some of us have met in the same lobby in all the intervening years," he added. Mr. M'Combs's Bill received the support of the three members he had named, and among the other supporters were Messrs. C. E. Bellringer (Taranaki), H. Holland (Christchurch. North), J. Horn (Wakatipu), E. A. Hanson (Pahiatua), and the Hon. P. J. Eolleston (Attorney-General).