PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21924, 6 October 1934, Page 15

PARLIAMENT

DAY ON ESTIMATES TWO LONG DEBATES NATIVE AFFAIRS VOTE HIGHER DEFENCE COSTS FIVE CLASSES PASSED rjiv telegraph —speotat, report-^! WELLINGTON, Friday The propriety of • discussing tho Estimates of the Native Department before the report of the Royal Commission on Native Affairs had been received was raised in tho House of Representatives at the outset of to-day's proceedings. The Prime Minister, .Mr. Forbes, argued that there was no point in deferring that class of the Estimates ,and the opposite view was emphatically expressed by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr/ 51. <T. Savage. In the end it was decided to proceed, but the decision was twice challenged in divisions, and the resultant debate was almost exclusively confined to this general issue. * It seemed likely these Estimates ! might be stonewalled, but they were approved'within two hours, after which the Native Trustee and Transport Estimates were passed without discussion. Labour Party Arguments Another protracted debate developed on the defence votes, the Labour Party criticising the large increase in this year's expenditure, which is the outcome 'of the Government's decision to strengthen various branches of defence.

It was claimed that the Government had no right to spend over £500,000 on defence while there were so many other avenues of useful expenditure, particularly in unemployment relief, and while New Zealand's defence could at best accomplish little against a determined invasion or attack. The increased vote for coastal guns was severely criticised, Labour members claiming that that type of defence was obsolete in face of long-range naval guns. Mr. P- C. Webb (Labour —Buller) "again talked at length on his favourite subject, crude oil. He urged the Government to make use of the country's coal by extracting oil for aircraft and warships. War, he considered, would cut off the Dominion's oil supplies and render useless her ships and her fighting machines. Minister Defends Vote The Hon. J. G. C'obbe, Minister of Defence, had a trying afternoon replying to Labour questions, but lie based most of his claims on the argument that .to defend. was to be secure. Although Mr. Forbes had claimed nrgency for seven classes "of Estimates,' he intimated he would be satisfied with reasonable' progress. Thus when five classes had been passed by 5.30, he moved the adjournment. The Monetary Committee's report will bis discussed on Tuesday, aiod another day will be given to the Estimates on Wednesday. COURT-MARTIAL FINDING DATE OF REGULATION FURTHER INQUIRY SOUGHT

[BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday

The dismiss,jl from the New Zealand Division of the Navy of En-gineer-Commander C. Marchant, following his court-martial at Dovonport in November last, was again referred to by Mr. A. Harris (Government — Waitemata) when the naval defence vote was under consideration by the House of Representatives to-day. Circumstances of the case were tij-st' mentioned by Mr. Harris when the Estimates of the Legislative Department were before the House, when he suggested that the officer had been the victim of extremely drastic and severe punishment, and that amends might be made /by the naval authorities by reinstating him in the service or at least allowing him to carry out the forthcoming refit of the Dunedin. In his reply, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, , Minister of Justice, quoted a regulation imposing an obligation on any naval official to report any irregularities of which he was aware to his liuperior officer. Speaking in the House to-day, Air. Harris said that since the Minister's statement he had been informed on good authority that at the time En-gineer-Commander Marchant ,was employed at the nav.'t base, and at the time the court-martial was held, the regulation was not in force. It was therefore incorrect for the Minister to have stated that that was the regulation under which, Engineer-Commander Marchant wan charged. "I want the matter cleared up," said Mr. Harris. "It is too serious to be allowed to rest. If the regulation has been made since the court-martial for the purpose of making a good charge against this officer, then there is need of an explanation." Mr. W. P, Endean ;[Government — Parnell): Wa.s not the charge one of forging a document? _ Mr. Harris: That is not the point. Mr.. Cobbe said he was sony the question had been raised again by Mr. Harris. He did not think it would do the officer concerned any good. He was informed that the regulation was in farce at tho time of the court-martial, and that if there were any irregularities, it was a duty of a man knowing of them to report the fact to hiu superior officer. Mr. Harris again pressed the point regarding, the date of the regulation, , expressing tho opinion that the Minister had. been wrongly advised. Mr. Cobbe undertook to investigate the point. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PROGFIESS WITH BILLS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Friday Moving the second reading of tho Native Plants Protection Bill in the Legislative Council to-day, the Leader, the Hon. R. Masters, said the measure was designed to give greater protection to New Zealand forests. He thought everyone would agree wit}} the necessity for protecting the Dominion's beautiful scenery. The bill was read a second time. The Poisons Bill, the British Nationality and Status of Aliens (in New Zealand) Amendment Bill and the Local Authorities (Members' Contracts) Bill were read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. '