PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18170, 16 August 1922, Page 10

PARLIAMENT.

HNAHCIAI. STATEMENT*

REAQ BY PRIME MINISTER.

THE DISPOSAL OF BUTTER.

STATE FOREST SERVICE.

[BX TELEGRAPH.—SPECtAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The j>resentation of the Financial Statement by the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives to-night was the most important business of the day. Shortly after the House met in the afternooa the Prime Minister tabled copies of the telegrams which had passed between Neif Zealand and London in connection witii the disposal of the butter output during the 1920-21 season. This led to a

debate on the marketing of dairy produce. Following this the annual report on the State Forest Service gave members svn opportunity to talk on afforestation and the growing cost of the service. The Budget was taken immediately on the House assembling after the dinner adjournment, and the reading of the document occupied the Prime

Minister over- two and a-half hours. It was decided to commence the financial debate on Tuesday next, and the House rose at 10.10 p.m.

The Land Tax (annual) Bill was passed by the Legislative Council this afternoon. The Local Bodies Loans Amendment Bill vras also passed, Sir William Fraser stating that the Government intended to fix the amounts that might be raised by individual local bodies for the relief of un-emploj-inent.

RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION COMMERCIAL ADVISERS. AN UNFOUNDED RUMOUR. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL BEPOBTEB.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. In tho House of Representatives to-day Mr. C. E. Statham (Dunedin Central) referred to a report about the appoint-

ment of Mr. Bowles ; the traffic manager,

to the position of commercial adviser on the proposed Bailway Board, and the statement also that members had been bombarded with telegrams of protest about it. He said he for one had not received any telegram, and he referred to Mr. Bowles as a most efficient and painstaking officer. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie said that like many other rumours, this one was not true. There was no truth at all in it. Tha position was that two gentlemen had been approached to fill the positions, one for the South and one for the North Island, and he had not yet heard from one of them as to whether he would accept the position. The moment the positions were filled he would make & public