HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 7 October 1922, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. ~

In reply to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), the Hon. G. J.. Anderson said it was not a fact that large quantities of printing were .being given to private firms to. the detriment of the staff employed in the Government printing-office. Such complaints , were part of the propaganda going on. It was a qiiestion whether the head of the department and the Minister were going to run the Government printing office. Such ther the-staff was going to run it. It was no part of the policy of the ernment to send printing to priyate firms to the detriment oft the Government printing office. - Replying; to Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier), the Hon. D. H. Gilthrie said the question^of carrying fish at reduced rates on" the railways was under' consideration. Replying to Dr: H. T. Thacker (Ghristchureh East), the Hon. Sir R. H. -Rhodes said the Government had not yet considered the question of taking over1 the aerodrome aft Sockburn, as the matter had not been put up to the Government as a business proposition, i In any case the Government was not going to, pay a big sum of money, for this aerodrome, when they had land and- a number of facilities at Uurnham

The House went into committee of supply to further consider the Estimates. Tha first vote taken was that of rt>he Customs Department (£loß,i 507). ' . * The Lands, and Survey Department (£193,666). . Replying to \ Mr. G. ,-W. Forbes (Hurunui), the Hon. D. !/EL. Guthrie said the boards to inquire into the' question of soldier settlements could ( have been appointed some time ago,' but for the fact that some, of the gentlemen who had been asked to act had "subsequently found they were unable to devote the time to the work, I and others had to be found. He was desirous of getting' thoroughly practical men to act, and when these were , found and the order of reference pub--1 lished he felt confident the House, would agree that the, whole of the ground had been covered.

Subsequent discussion ranged over such, topics as national endowment tenu're'j' settlers' grievances ;of yarious kinds, '.the destruction of rabbits,; wild pigs and keas.. In reply to allegations that the Government was nqt clearing j rabbits and wild pigs from Govern-1 jment;reserves, the Hon.' W.. Nos!worti.y declared emphatically that the Government would do its duty in this connection, and some of the settlers' who were putting all the blame on the Government might' find that the department was gettig to work a bit faster than was "comfortable for them. The vote was passed. Electoral Department' (£84,548). • Mr. Wilford complained of the imperfect condition oft the electoral rolls, which he declared were in a most unsatisfactory state. M-T. Massey stated that the rolls had been greatly improved during the last few weeks. Two supplementary rolls would be issued, and he thought that by the time' the last supplementary roll was issued 'it would be found that the rolls were fairly complete and clean. Even now it might be possible to' notify through registered pdst those persons whose names had been struck off the rolls. ' t A The vote was-, agreed to. ' ' Department 'of Agriculture (£253,----312). , Replying to criticism, the Minister said he agreed that the Lincoln Agricultural College work should be extended, even if it meant selling sonic of the Ndrth Island State farm property", but until financial conditions improved he would not make any definite promise to expend more money.

Tourist' Department (£71,^92). In reply to a general discussion, the Hon. W. Nosworthy said that the Mt. Cook Hermitage had been let for five years at per year. The Bill to be introduced, setting up a board to govern the Tongariro National Park, #ould give representation to natives,on the board. \

Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui), while protesting against starving experimental farms;, such as Moumahaki, suggested that scientific assistance might be obtained from the Cawthron Institute, so that the farmer might obtain the best possible returns from his land. The Minister, referring to the Weraroa State farm, said this was now under practical scientific lines. It was showing a profit, and he believed that with' a change in methods Moumahaki would also before long show a profit on its working.. He did not believe

in a lot of theory that could not produce profitable results. Replying to further suggestions for aid .to State farms, the Minister emphasised the point that on all hands the Government was urged to practice economy and retrench expenditure", and in the light of that he would: not 'be driven by Farmers' "Unions or any other unions into expenditure on anything that would not produce -practical and profitable results. The vote was passed. State Forest Department (£103,590). Mr.' Wilford Criticised this department, contending that too much money was being spent on it. Everyone knew I that the department was-the favourite child of a particular; Minister and he, was very enthusiastic over it, but Mr. Wilford thought the money spent on it was" out of all proportion to the benefits being derived. Mr. H. Atmore (Nelson) .hoped the'! j Government would go on spending1 j more money on the department and' i achieve'resultsi similar to those achiev-j led in France out of timber planted I forty years ago. Ac Hon. Sir R. H. Rhodes sjbid the Government fully recognised itheir re-j sponsibility* in.the matter of reafforest-1 ation and only sheer necessity comj pelled them to economise in this department. ; Mr. 'Massey: And we are'; going on economising; make no .mistake about that. i/ Sir R. H. Rhodes said the Government had not yet come to ( any de-^ cision with regard to the site of. the school of forestry. It- was no use discussing the question when there was , no money to establish the school. ,The vote was passed.

The following other votes were passed- Mental hospitals (£301,736), Public Health Department (£221,473), Cook Islands (£20,521), State Goal Mines '(£270,166), Scenery Preservation (£9396), Nauru and Ocean Islands Account (£175,000)', 'Land for Settlement and Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Account (£592 ?), Native Land Settlement Account (£5733);/ Housing Account (£149,917), Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Account (£40,000), Fishing Industry Account (£10,000), Westport Harbour Account (£23,500), War Expenses Account (£799,252), Trustee Accojjnt (£187,397), Native Trustee Account (£62161, Government Insurance (£97,655). Government Accident Insurance (£10,975), State Fire Insurance (£61,267). Public Service Superannuation (£6140), Advances yto Settlers Branch (£392,357), Advances to ; Workers Branch (£105,926), Advances to Local Authorities Branch (£104,548). This completed cosideration of the. Estimates, and the House rose at 12.55, a.m. till 7.30 p.m. on Monday.