Parliament In United Spirit

Northern Advocate, 6 September 1939, Page 4

Parliament In United Spirit

[Per Press Association. Copyright.]

WELLINGTON, This Day

In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, .after the Government’s war declaration had been enthusiastically approved, the Hon. Peter Fraser announced that an .arrangement had been reached between the Government and members of the Opposition that to facilitate the business of the country in the present crisis the House would pass all remaining classes of the ordinary estimates today, and would then adjourn until next Tuesday. In the interval, said Mr Fraser, the Government would have an opportunity of reviewing the whole situation .arising from the war, and also reconsidering the whole question of legislation which it had been proposed to pass during the present session. The Government would be in a position in a week to report on those matters. He also expressed appreciation of the manner in which the Opposition had met the Government in the present hour of trial.

Mr Hamilton s.aid the Opposition had agreed to do anything possible to facilitate proceedings. The Government had a number of grave important decisions to make and it was only fair to give them breathing space. The members of his party were quite willing to co-operate with the Government in any way in which they desired. Two amendments to the Property Law Amendment Bill made by the Legislative Council were approved. The House then went into Committee of Supply on the Estimates.

Exhibition To Carry On,

Discussing the Internal Affairs Department estimate Mr C. A. Wilkinson sugested that, in view of the present war with Germany, it might be desirable to ' postpone the Exhibition. The House should consider the position, as it seemd rather out of place to go on with the present arrangements under such circumstances. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, replying, said it already had been announced that the Exhibition was going on, as were the Centennial celebrations, .and with this view he fully concurred. We should face up to the difficulties of the present time, and carry them through to the end, he said, but at the same time we should also carry on with our ordinary daily lives as much as possible. The holding of the Exhibition and the Centennial celebrations would be a step in this direction.

The vote was passed and the House ; went on rapidly with other classes of the Estimates.

Tasman Air Service.

When the Post Office estimate w.as being discussed, the Hon. A. Hamilton asked what were the terms of the transtasman air mail contract with Britain, and who was to be the controlling .authority. The Postmaster-General, the Hon. F. Jones, replying, said it was still hoped to have the transtasman air mail service in operation by the beginning of November. He added that the regular air mail service between England and Australia would probably be scrapped, but an irregular service might be maintained.

Broadcasting Fees,

,Discussing the Broadcasting Vote, which also comes under the control of the Hon. F. Jones, as Minister in Charge of Broadcasting, Mr Hamilton suggested that there might be a reduction of, say, 5/- in the license fee in view of the substantial credit balance from the National Broadcasting Service, Mr Jones said he did not consider any reduction of fees could be made at present, considering the improvements and advances that were being made. The “Man In The Street.” The question of racing information being given over the air during church hours on Sundays from Commercial stations was raised by Mr S. G. Holland, who said the practice caused a good deal of offence to churchgoers. He .also urged that stops be taken to see that statements made during the “Man in the Street” session were somewhere near the truth. The Minister said he did not think there would be any abuse of privileges during the “Man in the Street” session, and he also expressed the opinion that a great number of people appreciated that particular session very much. The House adjourned at 5.30 for tea. Radfo Impartiality. Resuming discussion on the Broadcasting Estimates in the House after 7.30, Mr W. J. Poison (National—Stratford) asked that care should be taken to see that political partisanship was not broadcast over the air. Tlie Hon. P. Fraser intimated that the directors of both commercial and national services had agreed on 100 per cent, co-operation during the crisis, and had also decided that anything in the nature of partisanship I would be eliminated from any broad- j casts. He thanked both services for their co-operation and efficient service to the country during the past few days of tension. Labour for Farms. The Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, on the Labour Department vote, replying to Mr Poison, who mentioned the possible difficulty of a shortage of farm labour through

young men enlisting, said he fully realised the seriousness of the position, and as soon as the House rose, ways and means would be evolved to see that every farmer needing labour to produce the things the country needed would be given that labour.

A conference would also be held shortly between representatives of labour and manufacturers to make an economic survey of the whole manufacturing industries. The House could rest assured that where consumable goods were being produced, and labour v/as needed, it would be provided, and industry kept going. He intended to co-operate 100 per cent. Rapid progress was made with the Estimates throughout the remainder of the evening. P.W. Estimates. All ordinary estimates (with the exception of Public Works Estimates, which still remain to be dealt with), were put through by 10.15. Altogether 27 classes had been dealt with during the day, the amount affected approximating twenty-five million pounds. The House adjourned at 10.23 until 2.30 next Tuesday, authority being granted to select committee to meet during the recess.