DAY IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 77, 27 September 1941, Page 8

DAY IN PARLIAMENT

PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES

After spending the whole of the normal sitting day yesterday on the Public Works Statement, the House of Representatives passed the Estimates for the Department in five minutes, or at the rate of approximately £2,000,000 a minute. Urgency was taken for consideration of the statement and the passing of the Estimates, but it was only necessary to continue the sitting for ten minutes beyond 5.30 p.m. The Minister of Public Works (Mr. Armstrong) opened the discussion by making it clear that the only Public Works to be undertaken during the war period were those that could be deemed to be fully justified, and anything that could stand over until after the war would be treated accordingly. He also made the point that much of the work being done at the present time was linked up with the war effort and was chargeable to the War Expenses Account. There was some criticism of past expenditure on public Works, particularly money spent in the reforming and straightening of highways, but Opposition members also urged expenditure on development works that would lead to the establishment of industry and a consequent employment of labour th; t would assist in the rehabilitation to civil life of members of the armed forces now serving overseas. Shortly before the House adjourned until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, the Local Legislation (Washing-up) Bill was introduced. This measure, which consists of 45 clauses, deals with the customary validating of activities of local bodies throughout the Dominion. A point of interest in the debate on the Public Works Statement was that when the House met after lunch, there was not a quorum (20 members) present. The Leader ot the Opposition (Mr. Holland) called the attention of iMr. Speaker to this position. Mr. Speaker ordered the bells to be rung and in quick time the necessary number of members was present.