KEEN PUBLIC INTEREST

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24825, 23 February 1944, Page 7

KEEN PUBLIC INTEREST

OPPOSITION MEMBERS ALLOCATION OF SEATS XS.R.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Considerable public interest was shown in the opening of Parliament to-day, and when members assembled there were practically no vacant seats in the galleries. The fact that there were 23 new members, all except three of whom were making their first appearance in the House, stimulated interest. The retirement after the last Parliament of a number of the longservice members of the Opposition and the death of the Rt. Hon. ,}, G. Coates created several vacancies in the front benches. Speculation was keen as to which of the experienced Opposition back-benchers would be promoted and this curiosity was satisfied when members entered the chamber. Messrs. F. W. Doidge (Tauranga). K. J. Holyoake (Pahiatua) and W. S. Goosraan (Waikato) and Brigadier J. Hargest (Awarua) were allocated front-bench seats. Brigadier Hargest is overseas. Mr. J, N. Massey moved from the centre bench to a front cross-bench which he will share with Mr. A. J. Murdoch The former members of the Opposition who occupied back benches in the last House have been moved forward and their places are now occupied by new members. Mr. R. M. Algie (Remuora) occupies a bench with Mr. M. H. Oram .(Manawatu). The increased strength of the Opposition, 34 members, now necessitates occupancy of all but five of the adjoining cross-benches, these accommodating the overflow of the Government members and the tine Independent, Mr. H. Atmore (Nelson).

MANPOWER MISTAKE I CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT "Quite frankly I think we have made a mistake in this instance," said the manpower officer's representative, Mr. S AV. A. Leggett, when an appeal by , \V. Sutherland and Company, Limited, against the manpower officer's permisjsion for an employee, G. A. Picknell, to terminate his employment was heard by the Auckland Manpower (ludus- , trial) Committee yesterday. V "We appreciate that with the number of cases handled and the large organisation required there must be some mistakes," said the chairman, Mr. J, 0. Liddeil. "We are pleased to see that you are so frank about it." Mr. Leggett said that Picknell left Sutherland and Company without permission and took work in Wellington, {where he was later traced by the Wellington manpower authorities. The Auckland manpower officer asked that Picknell be ordered back to his previous employer, but on representations by the Wellington authorities as to the essential nature of his uew work and the shortage of staff, the Auckland office agreed to grant him termination of his employment with Sutherland and Company. "1 want to assure the committee that We do not condone employees walking out and selecting their own jobs," added Mr. Leggett. "When permission was granted the full circumstances of the case were not known." The appeal was allowed.

farm fertilisers CONTROL ORDER CRITICISED Strong criticism of Government interference in the distribution of fertilisers and its detrimental effect on production has beer; made by a fnrjner at Manurewa. He stated that for four .years he had top-dressed bis farm with slag, ? s the most suitable of the available inorganic fertilisers. As he considered that slag was not a fully-balanced fertiliser, he decided la.st «Tuue to change to blood and bone, with bine. His order was accepted by merchants, who later assured him that it *ould be executed in ample time for the autumn application. In the meant'me, however, a control order issued by the Government banned the use of Mood and bone, except for market gardeners. "Had the measure been made to apply to new requirements, it could wive been considered reasonable," said the farmer. "By making it retrospective to all orders, regardless of when they were placed, the Government has deprived me of fertilisers for some Months ahead, unless 1 take serpentine E "per, which is the only other variety av 'iilabie. It is unsuitable for my land an d [am not going to waste time and ¥ on it.' My only other course is . a Ppiy lime only, and liberate existing minerals. ft would be interesting to know how many fanners arc similarly placed. Pig i Went production has declined and will continue to do so if the Government pursues its present policy. Most farincould give adequate reasons for the : ■ *Kga .srioe pf • eggs.' l