HOUSE AND LOBBY PARLIAMENT IN PARAGRAPHS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12507, 24 July 1926, Page 4

HOUSE AND LOBBY PARLIAMENT IN PARAGRAPHS

In the House yesterday afternoon Mr Forbes mentioned the proposal of the Railway Department to run an excursion train to Otira on a Sunday He said he had received several communications of protest regarding the proposal. The Alinister for Railways (Air Coates) said he understood an excursion train was to run to Otira on one or two Sundays this winter from Christchurch in order that the people —mostly industrialists —should have an opportunity of seeing the high country under snow. The proposal had boen submitted to him and bad his approval. « • * * BELLAMY’S STAYS WET It is understood that those in a position to know consider that the vote of members of the Legislature, which is being taken at present, will result, by a substantial majority, in Bellamy’s remaining wet for the remninder of the term of the present Parliament. * # * * THE BROAD VIEW The Hon. R. Aloore fin the Legislative Council): “We should look at these things from a broad standpoint, and as they affect the Dominion.” Hon. G. J. Garland: You will never get me to look at it like that. The discussion was upon the electoral boundaries as they affected the North and tho South Islands individually. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS With the elevation of Air L. At. Isitt from the {louse of Representatives to the Legislative Council, went his Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, with which the members of the House of Representatives had become familiar. Air Isitt has given notice in the Council to introduce a Bill of this name. • * * * FINANCIAL RELIEF SOUGHT Financial relief is asked of Parliament by Airs Alice Jane Phillips, mother of Reginald Phillips, one of three men who were arrested at Roto rua on February 10th of this year on charges of stealing benzine. The prisoners, the petitioner states, were transferred from Rotorua to Auckland and she provided a bond of £250 for the due appearance of her son at RotoruA. Tlie other two prisoners appeared and were discharged, but her son did not appear. Had be done so, she claims, he would in all probability have been acquitted with tho others. Both sli3 and her husband are now 66 yeais of age, and thev have to exist on her husband’s wages of £1 per week. She asks whatever relief may be considered just in the circumstances. * * * • WANTED, AN ANGEL “It is of course impossible to convince a set of contending politicians that they are having a fair go. No journalist will ever achieve this.”—Air W. A. Veitch (Wanganui), in referring to the criticism of the newspaper re- • ports in political matters. # m * m THE PIP WITH THE PRESS “There was a time when people believed something if they saw it in print. But that day has past. The people have to take things with a grain of salt nowadays. In this way the newspapers are losing their influence in this country and reaping retribution for their own misdeeds. It is a satisfactory retribution, too.”—What Air J; AlcComhs (Lyttelton) thinks of the Press of the Dominion. That’s the worst of reading these Labour papers. • • • • SUMMER TIME BILL The president and secretary of the Wellington branch of the British Alcdical Association waited upon the Hon. J. A. Young, Alinister for Health, and placed before him the views of the branch on the Summer Time Bill. Tho deputation said that the Wellington division was wholeheartedly in favour of the hill as a health measure. The extra daylight obtained by all workers would be beneficial, while in the case of children nothing could do them more good. In the United Kingdom Sir Arthur Newsholme had characterised the bill as the greatest aid to health that had been adopted in the present age. The Alinister explained that the bill had passed the House of Representatives, and ; was now before the Legislative Council, which had referred it to h special committee to take evidence thereon. He personally had always supported the proposal in the belief that it would be a contribution towards assuring better health for many industrial workers by bringing them more in contact with the open air and sunshine. Air Young arranged for the deputation to be pre sent at the Legislative Council committee, and give evidence on the bill. MAORI WAR VETERANS The Maori wav medal and pension is asked by Chas. A. Grigg. of 6, Britannia street, Petone, who has petitioned Parliament, outlining his record in tli-p Maori wars. Upon the outbreak in 1360, be said, he enlisted in the militia, and later served in the volunteers at Wellington. Hp is now in receipt of a pension of 17s 6d per week. BLUBBER! The exclusion of foreign companies in the whaling industry in the Ross Sea is aimed at by the Hon. G. W. Thomson, who has given notice to move in the Legislative ' Council: “That the attention of the Government be drawn to the wholesale destruction of whales that is being carried out in the Ross Sea, and that representation be made to the Imperial Government that permits granted to foreign companies to kill whales and other oil-producig animals he cancelled at the earliest possible moment 1 CHANGE OF VIEW In declaring himself emphatically against a ten-year census, the Hon. G. J. Garland said in the Legislative Council that a ten-year census would place present boundaries safe for a whole decade. Rather would he see the natural increase of population and drift to the north prevail, and have the boundaries altered as the occasion arose. The Hon. AI. L. Isitt said if the question of north versus south was aggravated, with frequent reference to the greater control of the north, there was hound to by aroused a spirit which would ultimately tell against the welfare of the Dominion. In the old dnj-s, be reminded the council. Hon, Air Garland wn* not so concerned with the predominance of tbe north, hot bad stood soiidlv as half-and-half being the fair thing. BILLS PASSED The Census and Statistics Bill, the Evidence Amendment Bill, and the Death Duties Amendment Bill were committed and passed bv the Legislative Council yesterdnv Two amendments of the Hon. G. to increase tho iuterccnsal period were defeated*

REGISTRATION OF MOTORS When the P. and T. estimates were under consideration Mr Forbes drew attention to the item £21.500 for motor registration. He sa*d it seemed a very large sum for the service rendered. In addition motorists had to pay a large sum for motor plate®. Sir John Luke advocated some sort of a button with the year on it instead of the plates. An lion, member: Jt would not be seen. Air Nash pointed out that with tbe registration fee the cost of tbe plates and fixing them on and the cost of collecting the fees there must be a large loss to the Highways Board. Tho Hon. Air Xosworthv said the charge made hv the Post Office amounted to only Is 6d per car and he did not sec how it could he done for less. Mr 11. Campl>ell. Hawke’s Bay. said the Highways Board was deprived of a lot of monov by the high charges for collection. Air Noswnrthv subsequently explained that the £21,SDO was for two years. NURSES’ SAVINGS The welfare of nurses engaged m departmental institutions insofar as superannuation is concerned, is being watched by the Hon. M. Cohen, who moved in the Legislative Council yesterday:—Whether it is tbe intention of the Government to bring down legislation to amend tbe National Provident Fund Act in the direction of conferring the benefits of superannuation thereunder on the nurses in the departmental institutions who are classified aa “non-per-manent,” and whether it is in contemplation to confer similar superannuation benefits on the Plunket nurses and others in the same category. The Leader of the Council (Hon; Sir Tl Heaton Rhode*) replied that he could not supply the information at the moment. A report was being prepared by the Public Service Commissioner, and this would have to be considered by Cabinet. Hon. Mr Cohen pointed out that if the nurses whom he included hi his question were not admitted to the privileges of the National Provident Fund, they would come under the Civil Service Pensions Act, in which the contribution would be much higher. NO COMPUNCTION “I’ll give it a go for a year,” said Air Nosworthy when referring to th* wireless broadcasting contract. Air J. AlcCombs (Lyttelton): We have had a year of it. Air Noeworthy: We have liad a year of a lot of things that we have had to put up with. Air P. Fraser: Well, if it is a failure, what about scrapping the company ? The Prime Alinister: Hear, hear; fire it out! Air Nosworthy: AVhat about scrapping me? Air Fraser: I assure you we would have no twinge of conscience in doing that! » • • • WELLINGTON'S GAIN People who visit the Wanganui rivet go away with a good impression, but this never gets to any of the banking institutions in the cities,” said Air W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) in the House. “It is an injustice to Wanganui that those people catch the first train to Wellington. They come to see the beauties of New Zealand.” (Laughter.) NEW ZEALAND FILMS The Hon. Air Anderson stated in the House last night that the Government had an understanding that the Zano Grey film will be shown in America. The Alinister said he thought it wa-t from America we would draw most of the tourist visitors. America being much nearer to New* Zealand than England, where, however, our agent was energetically advertising us. It had been said that New Zealand was at fault in not showing pictures of its farm life. The Government now’ bad two up-to-date cinema machines and he intended to ask Cabinet to provide a motor vehicle on which one of the machines could he mounted, with the result that* the publicity man could go round tbe country and take pictures of our people at shearing at fruit packing, hop-picking, etc. Such pictures could be sent overseas. JAZZ AND JUICE “Why ; on some of our concerts from America we can hear the latest jaz» music quite distinctly; and can almost hear everything that goes on in the room where it is played.” Mr J. AlcCombs (Lyttelton) in the House. Air P. Fraser (Wellington Central): Can you hear tho wine being taken round ? MR GLENN’S BRIGHT IDEA Air Glenn suggested that the Hon. Air Nosworthy, the Alinister in charge of Tourist Resorts, should display h’S attractions in a front window. This, cf course, is not the window in the ••Times’’ cartoon of Friday. That one was well broken: it has no pane, dear mother, new. • - • HIGH ’PHONE RATES Several members complained in tbe House of Representatives yesterday about the relatively high telephone rates paid by the country subscriber. The Lender of the National Party. .Mr G. W. Forbes, said that some time ago the Postmaster-General of the day had promised a reduction. The volume of telephone business had increased enormously of late, and it really seemed that the farmer deserved some consideration. Other members pointed out that the country subscriber paid several times as much as the man in town, though be put through comparatively few rails in the course of a day. Practically all his communications wore bureau calls, and it would be a relief to him if the charges for these <<:nM be lowered. The Postmaster-General. Hon. W. Nosworthy, m reply, said that the reduction of the rates for calls over long distances was being considered, but he regretted that lie con’d not roc his way to make any reduction on lhe shorter distances. FOR THE HUTT VALLEY In reply to a question by Sir Jebn Luke, who is looking after the interests of the Hutt electorate in the absence of Air T. M. Wilford. tiie PortmasterGenral. Hon. W. Nosworthy. stated yesterday that he was making an investigation of the telephone system of the entire Hutt Valley, with the object of placing the charges on a mr**' generally satisfactory basis. EVIDENTLY THE BETTER LAND •*1 would like to sec everyone enveloped in Abraham's Bosom and then ascend to Paradise. That would be a completion of the next visit to the Lord’* River,” said Sir Joseph Ward in the House last night. Abraham** Rusc.m, Paradise, and the Lord’s River ara scenic attractions of the south.