YESTERDAY'S PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 2028, 18 September 1913, Page 3

YESTERDAY'S PARLIAMENT.

STONEWALL SUSPENDED. DRIVING TACTICS WILL BE RESENTED. WELLINGTON, to-day. The House resumed at 10 o'clock. Sir Joseph Ward moved to report progress, contending that £5,500,000 \v:is asked for on the Estimates, for which no reports had been circulated. The Opposition desired to exercise constitutional rights in regard to criticism but, with certain reservations, they were ready to pass the Estimates for which the reports were available. Mr Masscy said he would adjourn after reasonable work had been done, possibly early in the evening if the obstruction ceased. He would undertake to keep reasonable hours and not attempt to pass Estimates for the Departments the reports of which were not before the House. This promise had the effect of stopping the obstruction and the discussion on the Estimates proceeded in the ordinary way. With the Mental Hospitals Estimates passed members proceeded to discuss the merits of the various tourist and health resorts. The Minister said there had been no slackening oft' on his part with regard to Hamner, nor had there been any decrease of expenditure on the Tourist Department by the Government. The Department would be represented at the Auckland exhibition. The- new Hermitage at Mt. Cook would be opened at the beginning of the new year. Mr Russell asked what the policy of the Government was concerning the drainage of Rotorua. Rotorua had a rateable value of £480,000, and for the year 1912-13 the onlv rates received "were £142 for charitable aid and £IBB for fire prevention. All their roads were maintained for them by the country. The House adjourned for lunch.