POLITICAL GOSSIP

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10641, 14 July 1920, Page 4

POLITICAL GOSSIP

HOUSE AND LOBBY TALK JOTTINGS FROM THE PRESS GALLERY. DISTRICT M.P.’S DAY. In nearly every district, stated Mr L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) yesterday, the electors in the various constituencies were urging their members to hold meetings from time to time to consider the joint interests of their districts; and, as it wan impossible to get these meetings at the end of tho week, would the Prime Minister, ho asked, meet this need by free, ing the morning of every second Wednesday in the mouth from committee meetings. Mr Massey said that he had no objection, except that Wednesday was a very busy morning for Ministers, as they then met to prepare printed answers to questions circulated on Wednesday afternoons. He would bo very pleased to set apart the second Tuesday or Thursday in the month fo*the purpose indicated. Mr Isitt: Thank you, sir. FIRSTLY, SECONDLY, AND THIRDLY. Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston North) asked the Minister for Internal .Affairs without notice yesterday whether it was true that an embargo had been placed on kauri timber; .also whether the timber was being exported from the Dominion at the present timej and, if so, would provision be mada for essential industries. He could mention one case, in particular, where thirteen returned soldiers were being held up on their farms' through the action of the Government. The Hon. G. -J. Anderson replied that, firstly, the hon. member had not mentioned to him that he was going to ask the question; secondly, it waa not in his department; and, thirdly, ho suggested that he should put it on the Order Paper. (Laughter.) PHOSPHATES AND SHIPPING. An urgent question in regard to the shipping available for bringing phosphate manures to New Zealand from Australia was -put to the Minister for Agriculture yesterday by Mr J. A. Young (Waikato). The hon. member said that phosphates were very urgently required during July and August, and he had received a telegram from the Farmers’ Auctioneering Company, a very large concern m tho Waikato and Auckland districts, stating that they had arranged ior the U.S.'S. Co. to bring 2000 tons from Adelaide, but at itha last moment the shipping company had cut them down 10 liso tons. They had been arranging to bring the manure over by a sailing vessel, but the U.S.S. Company had offered to bring it in their ateamerh No* - the company told them that tho New Zealand Government controlled the shipping space, and they could not help themselves. He was informed than the U.S.S. Company had allotted a large amount of space to salt, which could be brought over afterwards. Would, the Minister look into the matter? The Hon. W, Nosworthy said that he would be pleased to hare inquiries made, and go into the whole matter io see what could be done to meet tho situation. JfOT URGENT. Was it an officer of the Board at, Trade or an officer of the Agricultural Department who fixed the -price of milk at Christchurch? asked Mr P,: Fraser (Wellington Central), without notice, of the Alinster-in-Ohargc yesterday. And. he added, if it was an officer of the Agricultural Department, on whoso request did he intervene, and was the Board of Trade, whose duty Jt was to fix prices,' represented at all iu the matter? The Hon. E. P. Lee said that tha question was not bf an urgent nature, and asked that it be put on the Older. Paper. 1 ‘MALCOLM, PARLIAMENT.” “Will the Postmaster-General make ‘Parliament’ the telegraphic address to apply to the thousands of people who have d urj ng tho session to send telegrams to members of Parliament in Wellington?” asked Sir A. S. Malcolm (CTatha) yesterday afternoon. Tlie Hon. J. G. Coates replied that “Parliament Buildings, Wellington,” was a sufficient address. Air Malcolm said that he wanted tlnii word “Parliament’’, to be regarded a-a a sufficient address: so that, for instance, his constituents could wire him, “Malcolm, Parliament.” A member; Scotch caution. It would save a penny. , (Laughter.) Air Coates said that he had to consider the revenue side of the question, Hel would, however, look into the mat. ter, NO-CONFIDENCE pair. In tho division on the Hon. W. D, S. AlacDonald’s no-confidence debate, Air R. W. Smith (Waimarino) paired, with Air E. Newman (Alanawatu).