PARLIAMENT.

Mataura Ensign, 20 December 1909, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SATURDAYS SITTING. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. I'iie itejns lianas ior scaii/incni £iy*S anu State I'orests £22,916 were passed. At the item Scenery Preservation Account, £10,420, Mr W. li. missell (Avon; moved to reduce the amount ot aiioUO compensation lor lands acquired along the Wanganui Kiver by £2499 us a protest against waste of tune in discussing the vote. Jlr r. li. Taylor (Christchurch North) declared that all tne How of eloquence about the Wanganui River indulged in uy Air Hogan was intended to block the Defence bill.

Mr J. I*. Hogau (Wanganui) in reply to Mr Taylor denied the lutter's charges and the amendment was lost on ine voices and the vote passed. Department of Agriculture £184,581: The Minister (.the lion. T. Mackenzie) in reply to Mr Pearco said the poultry export depots were,to cease to exist and that in future they would be carried on to assist in local trade in a way that would enablo them to pay their way. The Government poultry farms were now working on the credit side. Mr W. V. Massey (Leader of the Opposition) entered a protest against experimental farms coining into competition with private individuals, citing Raukura (Waikato) as an example of such interference.

As a protest against the laxity of the methpds of the Department in connection with preserved meat Mr R. H. Rhodes (Ellesmere) moved to reduce the item £3755 for meat inspectors' salaries by £l. He said a recent instance which came under his notice indicated that meat unfit for human consumption had been allowed to leave the country for Australia.

The Minister said the matter had already received attention. All the inspectors had to do was to seo that tho meat was free from disease, the quality of preserving or otherwise not coming within the scope of their duties. Tho House rose at 5.30 for the dinner adjournment.

In the evening on the vote for experimental farms Mr A. E. Glover (Auckland Central) moved to. reduce the amount by £1 as an indication that the system was unsatisfactory. The amendment was lost by 46 to 22. Education, £873,530: Mr A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) moved a reduction in the vote as a prote'st against centralisatioa.

Mr W. C. Buchanan (Wairarapa) in supporting the amendment said the Government were step by step encroaching on the Education Boards' functions.

Mr Jas. Allon (Bruce) moved to reduce the item £l5O, special grants to School Committees, by £1 as an indication thai capitation grants should be renewed.

This was rejected by 42 votes to 14,

Mr R. A. Wright (Wellington South) asked for information concerning the item of £2OOO for the 'School Journal.'

Mr J>. H. Guthrie (Oroua) moved to reduce the item £250, conference of educational authorities, as a protest agajnst the withdrawal of capitation from School Committees'.

The Hon. G. Fowlds in reply to Mr Wright said a sufficient number of 'School Journals' was issued to supply 132,000 pupils, in the primary schools. He would look into tho matter of cost| with a view of seeing if tho 'Journal' I could be produced at less expense. Mr Allen moved to reduce the salary of the public school cadet officers, but tho motion was negatived by 41 to 23. State Coal Mines: Mr W. H. Field (Otaki) moved that tho general manager's salary bo reduced by £1 on the ground that the Crown Suits Act should be waived so as to allow the Farmers' Co-operative Distributing Company to proceed for damages against the Crown for damage in respect of an alleged nuisance in connection with coal dust at the Department's yard in Wellington, and that the dispute be referred to arbitrators. The amendment Was carried by 38 to PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT In reply to Mr Massev Sir J. 'G. Ward said the House would meet on Monday at 10 a.m. but the Public Works Statement would not bo down then. Tho House rose at midnight.