HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 51, 28 August 1930, Page 15

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The -House of Representatives met at. 2.30 p.m. to-day. . " : Mr. H. G. E. Mason (Labour,. Auckland Suburbs) gave notice that he intends, to introduce the Property Law Amendment BUL Mr. E.-J. Howard (Labour, Christehurch South) gave notice to ask the Acting-Prime Minister whether is was the intention1 of the Government to install a Diesel engine in Christchurch for the purpose of carrying out its contract for the supply of electricity, and •whether, it !was the; intention of the Government to harness the; power of the Waimakariri River. Mr. W. J. Jordan (Labour, Msnukau) intends to ask the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider the payment of old-age, widows, and other 2NTew Zealand pensions to pensioners ■who take up residence in Samoa ' or other New Zealand dependencies, so as to make our pension laws apply to residents of that part of tho Dominion. Mr. ■W. H. Field (Reform, Otaki) gave notice to ask the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government was prepared' to- assist the New Zealand woolgrowers on the same lines at the Government o*. South Africa was assisting the growers : there.. " The Workers' Annual Leave Bill (Mr. D; G..Sullivan) -was.read a second/time and ref»rred to the Labour Bills Committee. - -. •

The Imprest Bill (jSo. 3) was intro-" <luced .by Governor-General's Message. The Minister of Finance (the Hon. p3.' A. Ransom) said it was desirable that the-BUI fee passed by 5.30 p.m., •to enable it to be dealt with by the Legislative Council" to-night. He said .that it-was proposed to take local Bills at 7.30, p.m.,»and to ;adjourn at 9.30 p.m. until next Tuesday, _ Mr/ J. S. Fletcher (Independent, Grey 1/yhn) protested against {the manner in which the Government had raised the Canadian^tariff, Two days before the Btouse had been discussing tariff matters, and the should have taken the House into its confidence. The controlof •finance was the greatest function of Parliament, and the members o.fe the.House -should have a say on monetary questions. /Already the Government, was : yoting ■ a large, sum of money to the Highways, Board, over ;whieh'it had no control. The present kdministration'represented only a,minority of the House,- and ■ certainly not a majority, of the people. Tho Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Reform, Dunedin; 'West) thought that the Government lad taken the action it did in order to be in a position to negotiate •with Canada, and unless there was ail overwhelming necessity it would be unwise to debate the question at the present:juncture, because it would give the 'Canadians to understand that New Zealand was not unanimous on the matter.