IMPREST SUPPLY BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20602, 28 June 1930, Page 15

IMPREST SUPPLY BILL.

MANY. TOPICS DISCUSSED.

UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM.

LONG DEBATE IN HOUSE.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Friday.

Urgency was accorded tho passage of tho Imprest Supply Bill, introduced in the House to-day by Governor-General's Message.. Tho bill gavo scope for discussion on a wide variety of topics. Mr. F. Waito (Reform —Clutha) asked how long it was going to take for tho land settlement cure to operate in case of unemployment. Probably more people had lately gono off the land than tho United Party had put on it. The plight of returned soldiers so far as employment was concerned was worse to-day than it had over been before. He asked tho Prime Minister whether ho was prepared to go Homo to attend the Imperial Conferonco and leave tho country in such a state that returned soldiers were starving.

Mr. A. Harris (Reform—Waitemata) said unless something wero done very rapidly the unemployment situation would be a reproach upon the United Government for all time. Mr. Walter Nash (Labour —Hutt), making his maiden speech in tho House, said it had to bo noted that the best brains in the world to-day were being devoted to devising means for displacing human labour, and as such means were provided they found unemployment to an equal extent. It was tho duty of this and of other countries so faced to produce new spheres for employment of labour. Mr. R. McKeen (Labour —Wellington South), protested against tho burden that was being placed on local bodies through unemployment, and asserted that there were many avenues through which the Government could provide work without costing tho country a penny. (Left sitting.) REOPENING OP INQUESTS. BILL INTRODUCED AGAIN. ECHO OF ELSIE WALKER CASE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday. An echo of the Elsio Walker case was heard in the House of Representatives today, when Mr. C. E. Macmillan (Reform —Tauranga) had read a first time his Coroners Amendment Bill. A similar proposal was introduced by Mr. Macmillan toward the end of last session, but, as the member remarked, it was "ono of tho slaughtered." Mr. Macmillan said a favourable recommendation had been made last year to tho largely-signed petitions seeking to give a coroner tho right under certain conditions to reopen inquests. The bill was set down for second reading on July 9. POLICE OFFICIAL'S CASE. REINSTATEMENT WANTED. [Rr TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday.

Asking for his reinstatement in the police force Michael Power, of Whangarci, had a petition presented to the House to-day. Ho said ho had been dismissed by the Commissioner of Police on March 28, 1928, for an alleged offence under the police regulations. He had also been fined £3 for the alleged offence on February 14, 1928. The petitioner said that in 1918, while stationed at Whangarei, he was appointed an inspector of fisheries, being paid £25 a year for the duties. He was later told that in the event of his transfer ho should send in his warrant of authority to the secretary of marine, but was to continue his duties as inspector sit his new station until informed to the contrary. Ho was transferred to Ross in 1926, and accordingly sent his warrant to Wellington. No acknowledgment was received. He wrote twice later through the superintendent of marine at Auckland. In each case that officer informed tlio petitioner that lie would receive due notice from Wellington. Six months later petitioner again wrote to the secretary of marine and was informed that ho had been over-paid by £29. That refund was made, although tho petitioner claimed he ■ was not legally or morally bound to have done so. •„ " I was never suspended from duty and no proper judicial inquiry was ever hold to ascertain tho exact circumstances and facts," said the petitioner. "I have served in tho Glasgow and New Zealand polico forco for 25 years without one mark on my defaulter's sheet." LABOUR PARTY CAUCUS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SrECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday. Labour members of Parliament met in caucus to-day. It was later reported that matters affecting tho welfare of tho party wore discussed.