PARLIAMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 31 July 1925, Page 10

PARLIAMENT.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

FINANCIAL MATTERS COXSfDWRFJD.

«1 0A.11.1. I'IIKSS WnOCIATION— OOPI ttlOH'l’ WELLINGTON, July 30. The House of Representatives me>t to-day ,ht 2.30 p.m. The lYmiister for Agriculture, replying to a question, said it wan not proposed to remove the embargo on Californian oranges and lemons on account of the pa eva.ence of foot and mouth disease m that State.

The Minister for Defence said it would uoit be poswiible to send back to New Zealand ,all the wooden crosses which had been replaced on soldiers’ graves by more substantial material, as many of them had fallen into a state of' decay and had been burned. If individual crosses"could be obtained he would be ip leased .to have them sent to friend® of the deceased. The Minister for Agriculture stated that the report of the Agriculture Board on agriculture education had been received by him, but he had not s:> far had ail opportunity of considering it. The debate oil the Budget was resinned by Mr. O. llawken (Egmont), who protested against the repeated want of confidence motions being moved by the Opposition. Tire present was the sixth no confidence motion this isession, but the only effect was to retard business and cloud the issues. Mr. Haw ken devoted the remainder of his speech to the fusion negotiations. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL.

The debate was carried on till 5.30 p.m., and it was not resumed in the evening, when the .House went into committee of supply to consider the Imprest Supply Bill. It was reported that the sum of £2,499,150 was required for salaries, wages 'and contingencies. Replying to Mr. J. McCombs’ reference to a commission on wages and the cost of living, the Premier (Hon. J. G. Coatee) said this was a matter that required consideration, and a good deal of it. It was a mistake to suppose that he was not sympathetic, the imatter would receive consideration and the Government would take die ies.iponsiiibility for whatever course was finally adopted. Discussing the position of railway employees, he said lie had improved their working conditions out of all knowledge. It was not yet perfect, but it was better than he found it, casuals’ pay having been raised from £3 15s to £3 19s lid. So far as the Auditor-General’s report was concerned, he agreed that where there were defalcations in the public service there should he prosecutions. lie could find no records of prosecutions, and therefore assumed that there was no ground for peiseditions ,in the cases mentioned by Mr. Holland.

The Bill, which amongst other items provides for a loan of £30.000 to the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Company, Ltd., free of interest, was poised through the remaining •tages. The House rose at 1.10 a.m. till 2.30 p.m.

I, EG IS L. ATI V E 041 ’ N CIL

BILLS DEI ALT WITH

AVELLI.NGTON, July 30. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p. in. to s day. 1 The District Courts Abolition Bill wa.s reported without amendment from :he Statutes Revision Committee, put through it.s final Stages and passed.

The Land Trains ter Amendment Bill was. repented from the same committee with a minor amendment and also passed. Sir Thomas Mackenzie gave notice or his intention to introduce the Animals Protection Amendment Bill.

The Council .adjourned at 2.52 p.m until 11 a.m. to-morrow.