HOUSE AND LOBBY PARLIAMENT IN PARAGRAPHS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12211, 8 August 1925, Page 5

HOUSE AND LOBBY PARLIAMENT IN PARAGRAPHS

Parliament will not- sit on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week, this on account of the visit of the American Fleet.

Cabinet approved of the new Railway tariff yesterday, and it will now be brought into oi-crition. Copies of the revised tariff are being printed and will he available at the earliest possible moment.

“I want to put in a plea,” said Sir George Hunter in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, “for increased provision being made for carrying on the system of correspondence classes for the benefit of the children resident in the backblocks. The Minister for Education has made the’announcement that the limit of 600 has been reached in reference to the number of children.' The system has proved such a success I hope it will be found possible to extend its operations further and largely increase the number of the children receiving their education in this way. *. * * *

Three private members’ Bills were introduced and read a first time yesterday. These were the Justices ot the Peace Amendment Bill (Mr Wilford), the Whangarei Harbour Board Vesting and Empowering Bill (Mr Murdoch), and the Election of Ministers and Reform of Party Government Bill (Hon. J. A. Hanan). Sir Maui Pomare also introduced the Dentists Amendment Bill. #

TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK Mr J. B. Thompson, chairman of the Tongariro National Park Board, announced yesterday that the Bruce road from tho Waimanno-Tokaanu road to the Wh’akapapa huts was rapidly progressing. Metalling was now abreast of the Haunted Whare. A new bridge over the Whakapepanm river has juat been completed wfiicn enables motor-cars to proceed right to the huts. The chairman stated that he had received a telegram from. Sir James Gunson, who made the trip by motor to the huts on the sth instant, accompanied by Mr G. li ail don, Mayor of Auckland. The drive through the bush was described as magnifioent. • • • * *

Sir John Luke mentioned the case of orphans in the House yesterday. He had had two girls brought to him, he said, and they had lost both parents. Had their father only died, the mother would have had a fair allowance.. As both paxents were dead they received no allowance. tie meant to ask the Minister in what way these children could obtain relief. These cpuld mot be -isolated oases. There might be similar oases throughout New Zealand. If there were no provisions under the Act, he appealed to. the Miniate* look into the cases and see if an allowance might be paid to the, people who were looking after such children until they were of age. He could not hold, out any hope for pensions for orphans, said the Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister for Pensions). The State had institutions which took charge of orphaiis and brought them "P- „ * • * REVALUATION BOARDS Sir George Hunter said yesterday afternoon that ho wished to express his dissent from the views' stated by the’ member for Waimariuo in xegard to +W, necessity for and :the value of the work done by the members of the district revaluation hoard and the Dominion Revaluation Board. He was of opinion that the members had done excellent work that had proved of great value to the country, and of much benefit to the soldier settlers. .Ho could not speak too highly of the work done by the Dominion Board, and representing, as he did, a district where there was a large amount of soldier settlement, he knew that .the soldiers highly appreciated the .good work done for. them hy the Dominion Board. ' *.* * * LIFE-SAVING

A deputation representing the Dominion Council of Hie Royal Life Saving Society of New Zealand waited upon the Minister or Internal Affairs (the Hon R. F. Bollard) yesterday, with a request that the present Government grant of £SO bo increased to £SOO. . , , „ , In introducing the deputation, Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., referred to the valuable work done by the society in saving human lives from drowning. He said that, apart from (the small Government grant, the society, the members of which gave their services gratuitously,' was entirely dependent on the subscriptions of its own members. , The Hon. R. F. Bollard stated that before the deputation came he was convinced that something ought to be done. He would submit the request to Cabinet, and would do his heat to assist the society; I * * * * RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE COUNTRY Members were still commenting on the absence of Ministers from the House yesterday, and when the Minister for Lands rose he hit back. “I want to say that if members fail to realise their responsibilities to the country Ministers do. not,” he said after referring to statements about ■Ministers who were absent from the House “for about two minutes.” “There was an attempt to convince the country that Ministers were not doing their work,” he said. “For tho last fortnight while Labour members have been electioneering and the Liberals discussing whether they will fuse or not fuse the Government which they condemn —- When the Minister reached this point he was interrupted by a call o. “A point of order.” The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill): What are we discussing? The Prime Minister rose and gave his opinion that the Minister’s remarks were quite in order, various members had referred to the absence of Ministers from the House. . Labour members: What about fusion r The Prime Minister: If it is proper for members to refer to Ministers, I submit it is proper for the Minister to reply. * The Chairman of Committees gave his ruling which admitted reasonable allegations and criticisms of the Minister, and his right to reply to them. Hon. Hanan: nlhat I object to The chairman: Order order l The Hon. McLeod then resumed, his speech, but went on to deal with other matters. Later Mr W. A. Veitcb (Wanganui) returned to the subject. “If we. analyse this complaint what is there in itr ha asked. “How is it possible iot members to do this? It is not misleading the country for an hon. gentleman to say that a Minister was out of the House when he is out of the House. If an hon. member said that a Minister was out of the house when he was in it, or in the House when, he was out of it, that would he misleading the countiy. As a matter of fact we, on this side of the House, have found it very difficult at times to bring matters forward because of this,’ 1

BROADCASTING CONTRACT ~ fh o Government’s action in signing the broadcasting contract was criticised- hy Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) yesterday. The Government had put a monopoly in the hands of certain people, he said, and this would harm the public. First of all' 75 per cent, of the existing sets in' Wellujgton would have to be scrapped. The Prime Minister: Why? Mr Howard: Because they don’t reach far enough. Because they won’t reaoh outside of Wellington. t . The license now cost 80s, he continued, and this fee gave the listenersin the right to purchase sets for which they would be charged high prices. The company was to take all the protits, and was protected hy law from any action. They bad been given the license to take anybody’s brains and use them. > The Prime Minister: The hon. gen. tleraan knows why this was done. Mr Howard: No, I don’t. 1 must admit that I was away when this j*ct was passed.. It went through in one of those quiet moments. The Prime Minister: The hon. gen tleman must know that practically every broadcaster in this country, was threatened by another company. The monopoly was greater than any other which he knew, said Mr Howard Ir should have been taken over by the four municipalities. Already the trade in wireless had almost ended. He knew of shops which had suffered. The contract was for five years with the right of renewal. Sir James Parr: No, not at all. Mr Howard: Then, what? Sir James Parfi: We take over at a certain valuation. Labour members: Whose valuation? The aetjon of the Government had ended cheap crystal sets, and would force every one to have valve sets, or, as the Americans called them, tube sets, said Mr Howard, and though he might be a voicei crying in the wilderness now he would have every country member behind him complainina of the service within two years. * * * * SOLDIERS AND SHORTS Mr R. McKeen, the Labour memoer for Wellington South, entertained the House and the galleries hugely last night during an attack he made on defence training by complaining very Seriously that a 6ft lOin boy was compelled to drill in shorts. The boy did not object to drill, but he objected to drill in shorts. He was compelled to do so, and it made him ill. An hon. member asked if he was “a Bolshie.” Mr McKeen complained - that .we were hy our present system producing tin soldiers. He reverted to the short pants. Would hon. members on the front benches like to wear them? Hon. members in chorus: Yesl yes! The Prime Minister: What about football? 1 Mr McKeen, however, forgetful of the fact that his own hardy race wero wont to wear the garb of old Gaul under much severer climatic conditions than obtain in tho Britain of the South, returned to tho charge, and very seriously objected to a sft lOin boy drilling m shorts. * * * '* • * £IOOO for a new car for Sir James Allen is an itemt which Mr Masters drew attention to last night. * * * * The . latest petition to ho heard against the Religious, Exercises Bill comes from Auckland. A petition presented by Mr M. J. Savage yesterday is signed by the Hon. .George Fowlds and other prominent citizens.' • * * .* The narrow margin between our imports and exports is a Very serious one indeed.—'Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon). * » * * The Hon. A. D. McLeod had been talking about a reward for the destruction of wild pigs, and Mr W. A. Veitc-h poured scorn upon his statements. The Minister had said that if they gave Is a head for wild pigs destroyed they would have men rearing them for the reward, stated the member for Wanganui. This was a foolish statement- To aay that men would rear pigs on young lambs! . Mr McLeod: I stand by it. MriVeitch: Yes, I have no doubt ho will. He has the reputation of standing •by hia statements, particularly when they are wrong. * * * * THE WYNDHAM STREET PROPERTY During the evening sitting Sir Heaton Rhodes stated that the much-dis-cussed Wyndham street (Auckland) property was purchased under the authority of the late Sir William Fraser. It was valued by one of the most reliable valuers in Auokland, and was purchased at less than the valuation. That was in 1920, and the Government did not take delivery till three years later. In the meantime, the busi-. ness of the department had increased, and with'every prospect of a further increase the department .came to the conclusion that the ground floor, space was not large enough for it, so it was found advisable to let the building for shops and offices. That .had been done successfully, and the Government was now earning seven per cent, on its money. He repelled the dastardly charge of the member for - Auckland East, who had suggested that there had been palm grease in connection with the purchase; He challenged the hen. member to come out into the open to play the man, and say to whom ho was referring. • 4 * • COMRADE HOLLAND ON BROTHER ISITT. Mr Holland alleges that Mr Isitt gives less service than any other member of the House. “If,” said Mr Holland last night, “he were paid according to the servioes he gives he would not be able to pay his hill at Bellamy’sbar.” • : *** ! * The hon. gentleman wants to know whether the hon. member for Christchurch North is to be appointed to another place, remarked the Prime Minister. This is like asking a candidate if he has ceased beating nis wife. You can’t answer it either way. If he will possess his soul in patience lie will know in''time. Aiid I can. assure him of this: There is no promise and no arrangement, and the non. member for Christchurch North is one of the last men in the House Vlio would ask for this.