THE SALARIES CUT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18130, 30 June 1922, Page 8

THE SALARIES CUT.

OBJECTIONS. BY MEMBERS.

MR. MASSEY'S INTENTIONS

PARLIAMENT TO DECIDE.

U*y TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.]

WELLINGTON. Thureoay.

The Civil Service organisations, iiave been busy lately, and members have come to Parliament well primed with questions mild suggestions concerning tho Salary cut.

Mr. C. E. Statham (Dunedin Central) raised the subject firat in the House of Representatives to-da:/- He gave notice of intention to ask tho Prime Minister if Tbsforo coming to any decision regarding Hie second cut ho would give the House an opportunity of discussing the whole question. Then cam© Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon (Westland) with*- notice of a question suggesting that in view of the continued high coat of living and tho ruliags of the Arbitration Court the Government should not make any further cut. Mr. S. 0. Smith (Tarana-ki) had a suggestion that if any further cut were made the teachers should be exempted. Mr. J. Horn (Wakatipw) approached the issue from another side. Ho placed on the order paner a request that there should be no further reduction in the salary of any married man in the Public Service. •

Tho idea put forward by Mr. J. Edio (Bruce) wan that the salaries that did not exceed £320 should be left alone.

The leader of the Opposition, Mr. T. IM. Wilford, asked the Prime Minister •whether he had applied to the Judge of tbe Arbitration Obart in accordance with the provisions of the Public Expenditure Adjustment Act for a report on the cost of living, whether he had received such a report, and if so whether he would lay it on the table of the House so that, the House might have an opportunity of discussing it before any cut was actually made. The Prime Minister said in reply that he had received a report from the Judge but not in a form in which he could lay it before Parliament. Probably it would make its appearance in due oourae. With reference to The last part cf the question be stated that ho was going to abide by the law. He would state his intention's clearly to the House and wouild tell it exactly what the financial position was. Then it wocld be for tho members to consider what was to be done.

ME, .HOLLAND'S AMENDMENT A TECHNICAL POINT. LATE SITTING LIKELY. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER:] WELLINGTON. Thursday. If Mr. fllolland's atnendment on the Imprest Supply Bill ocmes on to-morrow there is certain to be a veiy late sitting of the House, possibly an all-night sitting. There is some doubt, however, as to whether he can move such an amendment at all on an Imprest Supply Bill The standing orders provide that there can be no interception of supply on a Friday. There are, of course, other stages of the Bill, such as the second reading and committee of ways and means, upon which an amendment might be moved, but it probably would have to be an amendment relevant to the Bill. If the Government has framed the Bill so as to provide for an appropriation in terms of the proposed salaries cut, Mr. Holland's present amendment would most probably be ruled out of order as it would mean an increase in the appropriation. The point is an interesting and a. technical one and can be decided only by Mr. Speaker. K T o doubt Mr. Wilford will raise \he objection indicated. • Probably also Mi". Holland has foreseen the posffbh objection, ft 10-day he again ;;*ve notice that on the imprest £K:"P*>ly Bill Ihe would move an &ai.«ldment, oaa he did not state whit the tmbidaiGat would be. He could, ysriuape, aiovs for a redaction in.the prcn hoseci appropriation as sja indication iibi-J. there shcutcl bn no " cut-," kit this wow.; j be an unusual and r» s»me , w'. it ineffective mctbcvl c? attaining h s objective. WIRELESS TELEPHONES. " BRSAB-CASTING ' STATIONS ADOPTION CONTEMPLATED. [BT TELEGRAPH.—-SPECIAL REPORTER.! WELLINGTON. Thuradaj. Facilities for the "broadcasting" of -wireless telephone messages wore suggested by the leader of the Opposition, Mr. T. M Wilford, in a question put to the Postmaster-General to-day- Mr. Wilford that wireless telephones provided a means of giving daily market* and weather reports to the farmers, and he asked if the time had not arrived for the Government to authorise the erection and installation of radio broadcasting stations by Government departments, Chambers of Commerce, and approved commercial concerns. The authority should stipulate for the use of a short wave-length to avoid interference with commercial and shipping messages. Mr. Wilford askt;d further if amateur transmission would be allowed on a wavelength not exceeding 200 metres, thus avoiding any interference with a broadcasting wave-length of 360 metres or the commercial wave-length of 600 metres. The Hon. J. G. Coates said he proposed within a day or two to make a statement covering the whole question of broadcasting. The Government proposed to permit the broadcasting of wireless telephone messages, but regulations were required. His statement would make the position clear.