IN PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 163, 11 June 1936, Page 2

IN PARLIAMENT

JOTTINGS FROM THE HOUSE. LACK OF A QUORUM. A few minutes before Mr W. J. Broadfoot had concluded liis speech yesterday Mr A. C. A. Sexton rising to a point of order, drew the attention of Mr Speaker to the state of the House. There was no quorum present. After counting heads Mr Speaker ordered the bells to l>e rung, a.nd within a few seconds members were trooping in from all quarters. “You drove them otlt,” said the Minister of Labour, Hon. H. Y. Armstrong. to Mr Broadfoot, amid loud laughter. EXTENSION OPPOSED. When the Speaker’s hell rang, announcing that Mr W. J. Poison had only live minutes before the expiry of his time Mr H. S. S. Kyle rose to move an extension. The matter was referred to the House by Mr Speaker and Mr J. O'Brien promptly objected to the extension of time. “1 expected theie would be an objection,” Mr Poison said. “When you begin to get under the skin of the Government there is bound to be an objection.” A NEW DEPARTMENT. Mr W. J. Broadfoot requested the Minister (Hon. F. Jones) to state the salary that would be paid to the Director of Broadcasting who was to be appointed under the Broadcasting Bill.

“Is the Minister of Broadcasting to be a new member of the Cabinet, or will one of the present members take that portfolio,” asked Mr Hamilton. “At present there is no broadcasting department.” Mr Savage: There soon will be. THE POLITICIANS' CHORUS. “We know the attitude of the Government toward criticism,” said Mr Poison. “Because J ventured to go round the country shaking to farmers’ organisations and criticising Government ]>olicy, which runs contrary to the interests of the farmer, the Government made a noise which might have put me off the platforms of the countrv.”

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. AY. E. Parry: What about the farmers themselves h “Now we hear that Ministers artgoing to make gramophone records,” Mr Poison continued. “There are to be records of all Ministerial statements, and I suggest we shall have to listen to a chorus such as has never been equalled by any body of frogs Lorn any pond in any part of the globe.” DUNEDIN’S B STATIONS.

Hon. A. Hamilton said that there were four or five B stations in Dunedin, and he asked whether it was the intention of the Postmaster-General. Hon. F. Jones, to subsidise nil of those. Mr Jones: We may buy one of them out. Mr Hamilton: The Minister is in an embarrassing position as a result of the promises he made. v Mr Jones: I made them no promise. Mr Hamilton : You promised to li elp them. Air Jones: To keep them oil the air. A MONSTER PETITION. There was amusement in the House of Representatives a.t the action of Mr T. H. McCombs (Lytterton) when presenting a petition from Christchurch praying for a referendum on access to the sea. There were 311 G signatures on a huge roll. Mr McCombs stepped from his seat and rolled the paper as far as it would go down the floor of the House. “There is more yet,” lie announced.

The petition sets out the two alternative schemes which have been proposed—a. tunnel through the hills to Lyttelton in conjunction with remodelling the port, and the construction of a modern port on the estuary of the Avon and Heatheote Rivers, d ho petitioners ashed the House to pass an enabling Bill empowering the Government to arrange a referendum to decide which of the two schemes should be carried out. NO REST FOR CABINET. The adjournment of the House of Representatives tor the midwinter recess will bring very little respite to members of the Cabinet. Before Government members disperse to their constituencies, there will be a final caucus at which an outline of the future legislative nrogramme will be announced for the benefit of members. This caucus will probably be held to-dav or tomorrow. The Prime Minister. Rt.. Hon. M. •>. Savage, stated last night that an early start would have to be made with the preparation of iutnre legislation, and to that end he thought it desirable that Cabinet meetings should be held this week after the adjournment of the House. . “I cannot see the recess bringing any period of rest or holiday to members of the Cabinet,” Mr Savage said. \\\e aim to nut our full programme into operation at the earliest possible moment, and with that object m view Ministers will probablv have to sit round the Cabinet table for the greater part of the recess.'’