POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 20555, 6 August 1930, Page 12

POLITICAL POINTS

THE DAY'S WORK [From Our Pa-RUamenta nr Reporter.] j , -WELLINGTON, August 5. The Financial Debate had not ended when the House of Representatives adjourned to-night, but there seemed to be a slackening of interest, indicating an early end. This is probably duo to the Prime Minister’s announcement that lie wishes to introduce his taxing measures immediately final representations have been received regarding the Customs alterations, and that he hopes to give an opportunity for discussion of Imperial questions this week. * * * <* SAMOAN SITUATION. Western Samoa received its first mention in the House this session in the form of a notice of question by Mr Carr (Timaru), who is asking whether there aro any military police remaining in the Territory, whether the_ Mau is still in existence, and whether it is still pursuing a policy of passive resistance? » k- * * 1 RAILWAYS SPRINGS CONTRACT.' A denial that a contract has been let to a firm in Australia for the supply of 1,000 wagon springs to the New Zealand railway workshops was made by Mr Veitch in the House in reply to an urgent question by Mr Langstone (Waimarino). The Minister said it was a fact that some weeks ago he had authorised the calling of tenders in New Zealand for the supply of the springs to the value of £BOO. The reason for that action was that the Department of Railway Workshops dealing with that work was exceptionally busy, and was already working overtime. Accordingly the Work had been apportioned as follows ;—Nicholson Engineering Company (Auckland), 340 springs; R. B. Cooke and Sons. Ltd. (Auckland), 340; and A. G. Price Bros., Ltd. (Thames), 320. The Minister gave a negative answer to an interjection from Mr Howard (Christchurch South) as to whether the same applied to wagon wheels. « <* * • THE COOK STRAIT BARRIER. “I am sorry to see there is a tendency to draw a lino of demarcation between the North and South Islands because they are separated by Cook Strait,” said Mr Clinkard (Rotorua) in the House tp-day. It was wrong, he said, that members should oppose a railway just because it did not happen to be in their electorates. The country through which the South Island Main Trunk was to run was capable of carrying a much larger population than at present, and it was a reasonable proposition to link up the two terminals. »h* * j PETROL TAX AND SOUTH | ISLAND, In critically discussing the increased petrol tax, Mr D. Jones (Mid-Canter-bury) in the House to-night extracted from Ministers some important information. He asked if provision was made in the Highways Bill that the South Island would continue to get its proportion of the increased petrol taxation. The Prime Minister: There will be no alteration made in the distribuMr Jones, continuing, declared that the Government made a bargain with the Main Highways Board under which the latter would take oyer the Government roads and other liabilities in return for which payments would be made from consolidated revenue. _ j The Prime Minister: They are going : to get £125,000. . 1 Mr Jones; “This money is to he paid from additional taxation.” The Government had agreed, ho added, to pay half-cost of repairing earthquake ’ damage to roads in the South Island, but £130,000 was taken from the South Island road funds for the purpose, and not a pennv paid by the'Government. Would the Minister of Works carry out his agreement to pay half-cost? < Mr Ransom: He never made a promise. Mr Jones; The Minister knows perfectly well the understanding, but we are told it will cost £250,000, and the South Island taxpayers are paying the lot. , ■ Mr Black (Motueka): Was it not a good insurance against being out of the earthquake area? Mr Jones : What a wise remark. * * * * ' NO-CONFIDENCE tests. “Quite right,” commented Mr Coates, Leader of the Opposition, when he was reminded by Mr Makitanara (the Southern Maori member) .that he had promised to assist the United Government in anything for the benefit of the dominion. The Maori member asked ho‘w this co-operation was given by moving two votes of no-confidence. “ We ask him for bread and ho gives us n stone. There, again, is the Labour ! Party, which says; ‘Give them the boot.’” (Laughter.) The Press called for fusion between United and Reform, and while all this was going on nothing was done. (Reform hear, hears.) ( Reform comment on this version of i the political situation came from Mr D. Jones (Mid-Canterbury), who explained that the no-confidence motions were de- : signed to ascertain whether the -United and Labour combination was still in existence. They found it still there. ; “The Maori member pays nothing is; being done, and we quite agree.” i