NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 74, 28 March 1931, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Yesterday in Parliament,

A temporary halt in the "stonewall" on the Finance Bill was called in the Houso of Keprosentatives yesterday afternoon by an announcement by tho Prime Minister that ho desired to introduce the legislation dealing with tho Hawkos Bay earthquake, and also to take the Houso into his confidence in regard to a proposed alteration of the Standing Orders. When the House reassembled last evening there was an air of expectancy not only on tho part of tho members, but also on the part of those in the crowded public galleries, but any doubts that might have existed as to the Primo Minister's intentions were soon sot at rest. Mr. Forbes gave notice of his intention to move an amendment of the Standing Orders to provide for the closure, the announcement being met with expressions of disapproval from the Labour benches. The motion was set down for discussion, this morning, after two Labour members and the Independent member for Motueka (Mr. G. C. Black) had voLeed a protest against the matter being considered at such short notice. Tho motion was carried to a division, hub Mr. Forbes's action was confirmed by the Houso by 49 .votes to 24. Tim introduction of the earthquake logi'.slation gave rise to a lengthy and at times heated debate. Labour members urged that tho Prime Minister should go ahead with the Bill at once, and put it through all stages that night, but objection to this course was registered both from the C-rOvernment and Reform benches on the ground that the legislation required mature consideration. Mr. Forbes said ho was anxious to clear tho decks of tho Finance Bill before he tackled the problems arising: out of the earthquake. The House adjourned at 9.25 p.m. until 10 o'clock this morning. College Cadets. On Monday tho Wellington College Cadet Battalion will begin a four-day course of intensive military training. It was originally intended that tho training should take place at Trentham, but owing to curtailed defence ospendituro this had been abandoned. In February of last year the cadets wont into camp at Trentham; this year tho camp is to be held on tho college grounds. Tho headmaster of the college (Mr. W. A. Armour) regards this form of training as essential in the discliplining of the pupils. Although military training in Wellington has ceased, the college continues to hold weekly parades on Friday afternoon as before. The four-day course is to take the place of weekly parados during tho winter months. Returning Home. Napier womenfolk and their families have been returning to their homea in large numbers during the past week, states the "Daily Telegraph." Each evening's express train has a big contingent to swell the total, and the train on Saturday evening was crowded. That the returned housewives have been busy is evidenced by the exteriors and interiors of their homes. Outside havo been piled large heaps of rubbish ready to bo removed during Napier's eleaning-up week this week, while the interiors bear testimony to the fact that women and vacuum cleaners havo been working overtime putting tho homes into their normal state of cleanliness and neatness. Tho heads of households will probably see that overtime rates are paid for the splendid work done by tho housewives. Aeroplane Accidents. ."It seems strange, in view of aeroplane accidents, that somo means are not adopted of notifying searchers of the scene of the mishap" (writes a correspondent, "Rescue"). "There are certain chemicals which, when combined, aro capable of creating and emitting a dense black smoke, and when released could, I should think, be seen many miles from the air. The carrying of such chemicals should not be much of a burdon to the machines' carrying capacity." ( Heavy Traffic Fees. Tho hearing of an application for the apportionment of heavy traffic fees to Wellington and surrounding was continued in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, before Mr. E. Page, S.M., after an adjournment since last December. During the interval the Magistrate came to the conclusion that he had jurisdiction to deal with the matter. After a lengthy discussion tho hearing was further adjourned until May to . enable the City Council to furnish certain returns to the Court. Hydro-tunnel Flooded. The construction of the hydro-electric scheme for the Grey Eiver Power Board at, Kaimata, was interrupted on Tuesday evening, when the temporary dam at the intake at the top end of the tunnel gave way, as the result of tho river rising about 4ft. Several slips occurred, and Hie .floodwator rushed through the tunnel. Tho work of constructing tho intake is in progress, and tho breaking of the temporary darn caused the loss of some hundreds of feet of timber. The tunnel itself was not damaged. As a result of tho flooding it was expected that about thirty men would be idle for a few days. Clearing Up the Homes. A clearing-up week has boon organised by tho Napier Commisskn, aud the opportunity to got rid of the rubbish which has accumulated sinco the earthquake has been taken full advantage of by Napier residents, says the "Haw'kes Bay Herald." Tho town has been divided into different areas, each with a day for cleaning, it being necessary for the occupiers of houses to place their rubbish on tho roadside for thoso engaged in the v/ork of removal. In various parts of the town householders appear to have been very busy over the week-end clearing up, and consequently the roadsides bear testimony of their efforts by the largo pilo of debris, mostly in the nature oi: bricks, with a fair sprinkling of broken crockery. These will bo collected and dumpnil in. Hie various areas for tho jmrpoise about the town.