IN PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 10, 9 December 1937, Page 2

IN PARLIAMENT

JOTTINGS FROM THE HOUSE. SAFETY ON THE ROADS. “When wo made our first examination for the purpose of issuing warrants of fitness, it was found that 75 per cent, of the motor vehicles inspected did not measure up to the required standard,” said Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Transport, during the discussion on the Supplementary Estimates. “That is one direction in which we have promoted greater safety. Then there is our general propaganda and educational work. The best proof that it is succeeding lies in the fact that, notwithstanding an increase of 40 per cent, in the number of motor vehicles in New Zealand last year, fatal accidents were reduced by 25 per cent.” EXCESSIVE SPEED BLAMED.

Mr J. A. Roy (Opposition, Clutha) said it appeared to him that excessive speed was the cause of the greatest number of accidents. Cars were going on the roads capable of speeds up to 120 miles an hour, and in the hands of irresponsible persons they were simply engines of destruction. Some of those high-powered cars should be governed down to prevent excessive speeds. DEARER BREAD.

“Tho Government,’" said Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Opposition, lvaipara), “has been successful in raising the price of tho four-pound loaf by not less "than a penny, and by as much as twopence in some rural districts. That is the direct result of Government interference. We now have something like a subsidy of £IBO.OOO to keep down the price of bread.”

CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES. Hon. H. A. Russell (Hawke’s Bay), referring to the Local Marketing Bill, in the Upper House, said the Minister of Marketing might be a .Christian man, but ho was not going to be everlasting. Power might come into the hands of a mail who was not so Christian. “Is tho Government tho only Christian thing in the country?” Mr Russell asked. One would think that everyone who had made a little in this world was unChristian for having done it, ho said. POLITICAL SUICIDE. Speaking on the third reading of tho Local Marketing Bill, Hon. J. McLeod (Taranaki) said he thought the policy was wrong. Unless the Government was able to assure the producers that dictatorship was not to operate then it would be committing political suicide. CONTROL OF PETROLEUM.

The Petroleum Bill, consideration of which was adjourned on Monday night, is still likely to be passed before the House of Representativesadjourns at the end of the week for the Christmas recess. In view of the fact that the debate on the Bill was adjourned on the motion of the Government and that nothing is to be allowed to impede the business of the House during the next few days, tho Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) was asked in an interview on Tuesday whether the Bill would be discussed again before the adjournment on Friday. ‘I think we will be able to put it through all right,” the Prime Minister replied. “It . will come, up for discussion again on Thursday.” Although the Prime Minister did not ‘say so, it is understood that the Government will be prepared to reconsider later in the session differences of opinion already expressed in the House so long as the Bill itself is passed before the recess. HAS COME TO STAY.

Moving the second reading of tho' Local Marketing Bill, the Leader of the Legislative Council (Hon. Mark Fagan) said one did not need to be a prophet to say that the. guaranteed price had come to stay. it had already done more than anything else to stabilise the dairy industry. To complete the task the Government had set out to do, it now must turn its attention to the local marketing of butter and cheese.