PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18456, 20 July 1923, Page 10

PARLIAMENT.

, „ 1 _ «, -— ' TO ; :QIOESTIONS. " /' ■■ " ■ ■ NAVAL, DEFENCE PROVISION. •■• INCIDENCE d| OF v INFLUENZA. > . ADVANCES DEBATE RESUMED ■■'.:, ' far TELEGRAPH.— REPORTER.] V"' ;'"'■'■■; ". WELLINGTON. Thursday.'. : '■'". The House of Representatives spent the *i afternoon in discussing Ministerial answers : ' to questions, another largo batch of which 1 ; ; was presented. ' • '~'"■' Naval defence was one oil the topics to which reference was made, and considerable interest was displayed in the state- * ment by Mr. Massey that it was not proposed to establish a naval base at Aucfc'ynt. l , and the further announcement by the Minister for Defence, Sir It. Heaton Rhodes, 'that if a submarine base is established it will probably be near the North ._ ..Cape. :',' ■ ' '/--c..'.-

A reviiew of the position in regard to influenza in the Dominion was given by the Minister for Health, Sir Maui Poraare. He stated that the South Island .appeared to be bearing the brunt of the outbreak.

A number of departmental reports were presented. * In tho evening the debate on the State Advances Amendment Bill was resumed, a large number of members joining in the discussion. .

The debate continued, after midnight, when.Mr/ Massey replied to criticisms. The Bill was then read a second time, and the House adjourned at 12.30 a.m.

COTAIEMMr OF COMMITTEES.

DECISION AT PARTY CAUCUS.

MR. YOUNG FOR THE OFFICE.

IST TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Thursday.

Th* appointment of Chairman of Committees will probably be made to-day. The matter will be considered by the Government Party at a caucus in the morning and there is now a strong likelihood that the choice -will fall on Mr. J. A. Young (Hamilton). Mr. Young has undoubted qualifications for the position, which is second in importance only to that of the Speaker. The reason his name has not been mentioned before is that ha was not desirous of the office. It is understood,, however, that strong representations have been made to him to submit to nomination. There are a number of aspirants who are very keen to oecure thai position. Mr. Young's appointment would find general favour among members ( of tllie House, as he possesses the requisite services.

KATJEI GUM LANDS.

POSITION OF A COMPANY. AREA IN NORTH AUCKLAND. [BY ; telegraph.—special reporteb.] ' WELLINGTON,. Thursday. ! Information as to the true position/of ;; . the New Zealand Peat Oils Company ?■ recently requested by Mr. F. N. Bartram (Grey Lynn), in the House of; Represen- ■'" tatives. He said the company-held large kauri gam areas in the : North Auckland district which it did not use, . thereby pre- .' Tenting a. large. number of bona fide gumdiggers from obtaining a livelihood. The Hon. B. F. Bollard stated in reply . that the ] company held a lease ;./, of 30,001) acres, at a rent of £100 per annum, and subject to an additional pay- . ment of royalty at tho rate of 2£ per .j cent, on the value of all kauri gum, kauri vs'ij peat: oil, or other valuable products obtained from the land. _. Up to the present ~" time it' : had paid rentai amounting to : £350, arid had expended capital to the amount of £16,000. The company,: having . exhausted its capital, decided to send a 1 . representative to London . or, the i purpose . : -. of endeavouring -to raise additional capital. It applied to the Land Board for an extension of.time in which to fulfil ..its

covenants, and the board, considering tho • reasons advanced to be good and sufficient, granted i;h« extension until June 30, 1923,, . VAt the «nd of May last the 'Company; finding that it would not be able to conclude its negotiations within the time allowed, applied for a further extension ' until .the end of July, 1923, and this fur- '„■ their extension had" also . been : ■ granted. ..'"There..was no power to grant to any one .". else a, right to go on its leasehold during the currency of its lease for the purpose .'of : igging. In any case, there were other larste areas in the district available for gumdiggers. ..-;''-'.' '••'■'

- PUBLIC DOMAINS. : : INCREASINGLY VALUABLE. v . ENERGY SHOWN BY BOARDS. [BY TIELEGBAPH.—SPECIAL BEPOKTEB.J „,,',,„,', WELLINGTON, Thursday. .'. '•''• The annual report of the Lands and .Survey Department on the public domains '. of Npw Zealand states that arrangements ■ ■ were authorised fori; the exchange of a *;'•?':■ portion of the Whakatane Domain for an '■', adjoining area. It is proposed to sell part .of the domain, the proceeds to be applied toward the purchase of a new school site, ■ : :'P while thi» old school site is to be added to , the domain.'■-.-r In connection with a proposal to take . an area sit Hamilton Lake for domain pur- . poses, provision was made for the disposal of two jimall sections of the domain :to raise the; necessary funds. "-. / A few boards have failed to furnish the annual reports required by the law, and suitable .action to enforce -its- requirements *ill be taken where necessary. The great majority of reports, however, come to , "Inand promptly, and their perusal serves to show -what a great and increasingly .... valuable■ asset the Dominion possesses in ■ its public domains. A considerable number of applications for grants and subsidies were received during the year, but '• under prevailing conditions it is only in ,--■., very exceptional cases that Government . aid can bo granted. This fact is becoming .more widely recognised. ~ and the various boards t are < disnlavincc commendable activity in raising fund:? in other ■„."... ways for. the improvement and develop- > ment ol: the domains under their charge.

EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

THE WORK AT RUAKURA.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. ■ Experimental farms were one of the principal subjects touched upon in ■« , general discussion on agricultural mattem ■'■ Natives that .it is expected .a new ' in the House of- Representatives. Mr." J. A. Young (Hamilton) referred ---to the fine work accomplished ait the Hua» r-kura-form, and said its development ' along the lines of a school of agriculture 7 - r " was of great importance. Ultimately it -■■should be developed into an advanced school of dairying. Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) asked !-'■>■ for an assurance that the, experimental farm near. Wanganui would be continued. •■He mentioned the success of the model ■' . r, farm at Stratford, and said he would like to see others established. ■. ;. ', ~ "'" Mr : PADe La Perrelle (AwaruaJ \ -■' considered- that three « our -/xperi. - -r - Rental farms should be established in th» . ; South lilaad, ■4 , if !■. •; •'• ? ■'•• >•. ' • • : --^:• ir : -:.- ,'■■.•■;!■: