PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20300, 6 July 1929, Page 15

PARLIAMENT.

ftVORK OF THE HOUSE.

SHORT SITTING HELD.

tiie address debate.

CONCLUSION NEXT WEEK. rpY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday. There was little sparkle in the House pf Representatives this afternoon, when tho Address-in-Beply debate was continued. Tlio sitting was a short one, the Houso adjourning at 5.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. It. is expected the debate will bo concluded before tho end of next week.

Tho Loader of tho Opposition, Mr. Coates, asked when the committees would be sot up. He took it that tho usual course of consultation among tho Whips of tho three parties would bo followed. Tho Prims Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, replied that tho time of setting up the committees would depend upon tho course of tho debate in progress. It might bo possiblo to arrange a consultation of the .Whips before the end of next week. Sir Joseph made reference to tho peculiar constitution of tho House. It is believed ho has in mind tho difficulty of following tho practice of having a Government majority on committees, for tho present Government is in a decided minority in iho House. When the debate is resumed on Tuesday iho Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. 11. E. Holland, will bo tho first speaker. Labour has so far taken no part in tho dobate, apart from interjecting. In view of the party's action in taking advantage of the Imprest Supply Bill to ventilate its grievances, particularly on unemployment, it is likely that Labour will curtail its contribution to tho Address-in-Reply debate, particularly in view of the general feeling that tho real business of the session should bo reached with all speed. The Address-in-Reply debate in the Legislative Council was concluded this afternoon, and the Council adjourned until Wednesday.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 'ADDRESS DEBATE CONCLUDED NEED TO REDUCE TAXATION. [BV TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Friday. In tho Legislative Council today the debate on the Address-in-Reply was concluded. The Hon. T. S. Weston stressed need of reduced taxation. He advocated extreme care in expenditure. There was little or no reserve in our taxation system and tho effect was apparent when a sudden demand like the earthquake relief was made on the national resources. There was abundant money in the hanks and yet there was insufficient financial elasticity. He maintained that all railway extension proposals should be closely examined before being put in hand.

air \\. llull-.JoiH'S said taxation was a great factor in the unemployment difficulty. He criticised tiio waste of money in the administration of the Government superannuation funds and advocated unified control of the education, railways ind public servants' funds. A committee stiouitl he m;L up to investigate the matter.

The Leader of the Council, the Hon. T. K. Sidey, said whatever modification might bo necessary in regard to the superannuation Hinds they must bo kept within the administration of the contributors. By tho time Gislornc and Napier ,wero linked by rail there would bo no towns in the Dominion of the size of Nelson and Blenheim which were not so connected. Unless the time had arrived when, owing *.o motor traffic and possibly aviation facilities, it was considered unwise to construct any more railways, it seemed to him the South Island main line, had a very strong claim for consideration. It was problematical how far the South Island main line would be used, but there were many people who would prefer (travel by rail to a sea voyage. One of tho reasons which had prompted the request for a separate South Island Main Highways Board was the essential difference in conditions in the two islands. Tho principle of differentiation between tho North and South Islands had already been emphasised by tho allocation of the tyre tax on the basis of the number of motor vehicles in each island. The motion to present an address was Carried.

THE REFORM PARTY.

J 'APPOINTMENT OF WHIPS.

{EST TELEGRAM. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Friday.

A caucus of members of the Reform Party was held to-day, when Air. J. Bitchener (Waitaki) was reappointed senior whip of the party and Air. J. A. Nash (Palmerston) junior whip. A resolution was passed placing on record the party's appreciation of the splendid services rendered to tho party by Mr. J. S. Dickson, former senior Whip,'who is not now in the House, and expressing cordial wishes for his future Welfare.

The meeting recorded sympathy with tho sufferers by the recent earthquake find decided that the Reform Party should heartily co-operate v.-ith any movement to assist those who were in need of help as * result of the calamity.

WIRELESS LICENCES. iCHANGE IN SYSTEM URGED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday A plea for the young wireless enthusiast was made l>_y Mr" R. Semple (Wellington East) in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Granted leave to put an Urgent question to the Postmaster-General, the Hon. J. 13. Donald, Mr. Semple said the amended regulations with regard to the renewal of licences demanded that each holder of a licence should pay an annual subscription. There were many young men, such as apprentices, who received only about £1 a week, and they should be allowed to pay their fees quarterly instead of annually. Mr. Semple disked whether tho Minister would seo that such young men were not disfranchised from tho privilege of using radio facilities.

Regret that it was not possible to Recede to the request was oppressed by the Minister. If licences to listeners-in Were issued quarterly it would bo necessary to increase tho present charge to cover tho additional clerical work and inspecting duties which would result, Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central): miserable departmental subterfuge.