PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4409, 25 October 1934, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

The Supplementary Estimates of departmental expenditure, the final report of the Company Promotion Commission, and .a Finance Bill containing 31 clauses of a miscellaneous nature, made their appearance in the House of Representatives yesterday. The most important provisions in the Bill are those relating to .the Government’s loan programme, authority having been taken to borrow £6,000,000 for electric power works, and £1,000,000 for the construction of main highways. Expenditure in connection ,with the forthcoming visit of the Duke of Gloucester is authorised by both the Supplementary Estimates and the Finance Bill. The Internal Affairs Department’s vote contains an item of £40,000 for this -purpose, and a clause in the Finance Bill authorises and validates expenditure by local authorities on the Duke’s visit.

The afternoon and evening sittings were occupied in (he second reading debate on the Unemployment Amendment Bill, introduced the previous day. Most of the sneakers were Labour members and Independents, and while admitting' that the concessions provided for under the Bill were an improvement on the existing state of affairs they considered that there was still scope for adjustments in the administration. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment, which was taken at 10.50 p.in. After the House rose a caucus was held of members of the Coalition.