PARLIAMENT ADJOURNS

Grey River Argus, 1 August 1940, Page 5

PARLIAMENT ADJOURNS

ESTIMATES PUT THROUGH

Division Over Coal Council

[Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 31

The Rural Housing Amendment Bill and the Greymouth Harbour Board Loan Bill were both put through th e committees stages and read the third time and passed before the supper adjournment. After the supper adjournment the House proceeded with the consideration of the supplementary estimates. Discussing the National Service estimates, the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, in answer to questions, explained that the vote of £19,910 was for the establishment of Appeal Boards, several of which would be set up to deal with the appeals of men against conscription. Mr A. E. Jull (Nat., Waipawai moved, as a protest against the formation of the Coal Mines Council, that the vote of the Mines Department be reduced by ten pounds. Mr W. A. Bodkin (Nat., Central Otago) said the Minister had delegated his powers. . Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Nat., Waitonro) said there was a suggestion that money was being paid to friends of the Government. The chairman of committee called ,Mr Broadfoot to order. He said he could not allow this suggestion oi bribery. Mr Broadfoot said the Opposition were protesting against authority being handed over to persons outside of the House. The Minister of Mines, Hon. P. c. Webb, said he knew that it was the wish of every Member that coashould be preserved to the utmost. Millions of tons of coal had been wasted through a lack of knowledg e There was one case where a company had set out to work coal wher..' there was no coal to work. This Commission would save innocent people a lot of money. Mr Jull's motion was forced to division, and it was defeated by 39 votes to 19, the voting being on purely Party lines. Rapid progress was made with the remaining classes of the Estimates, which were all passed by midnight. The Appropriations Bill, making provision for the amount voted in the Estimates, was then introduced, and was passed without discussion. Mr W. J. Polson (Nat., Stratfor!) remarked that the House was creating a record in passing five million pounds a second. The Bill was through all stages within eight minutes, and the House rose at 12.8 a.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 21, provided that, should- occasion arise in the meantime, the Speaker will be empowered to call the House together.