PFFS FROM PARLIAMENT

NZ Truth, Issue 985, 11 October 1924, Page 6

PFFS FROM PARLIAMENT

Th 2 Liberal "Strays '

Disciplininn Milk Suppliers

(From "Truth's" Parliamentary Rep.) Every supporter of the Liberal Party must regret the lack of cohesion among the Liberals m the House, and, it must be admitted that the division on the titfc . reduction proposals, m which Messrs. Atmore, Buddo, Corrigan, De La Perrelle and Forbes voted with the Government, was a blow to Mr. Wilford's prestige. Of course, it has to be remembered that the division was called for by the Labor Party and involved the acceptance or rejection of a reduction of 5 per cent, of the land , tax. Mr. Wilford was unfortunate m having his own amendments ruled out of order, and one is surprised that an old politician such as he had not foreseen this or at least had not prepared a counter move. He might have carried with him these five votes if he had moved the rejection of the whole clause (which Mr. Holland did) as an indication that the Liberals considered, that the 5 per cent, should be deducted only m cases where^the. unijnproved value on which land tax is payable does not exceed -£10,000. In that way the Government majority would have beeii one, and that one the casting vote of .the chairman cf Committees. .The whole thing was badly staged.

Under the Dairy Industry Amendment Bill veVy great powers are proposed to be given to co-operative dairy factories. The Bill makes it compulsory for a farmer who has once joined a dairy factory to continue supplying that factory so long as he remains on his farm. Once a supplier, always a supplier, irrespective of whether or not the factory is being badly run. Thus the farmer may find that the co-op, has branched out into some non-paying side-line which is eating up all the profits, and he is to be powerless to get out of the mess. ,He must send his cream along and accept whatever cheques are forthcoming. Opponents to the Bill feel there is something unsatisfactory behind the whole business, and Minister Nosworthy has wisely agreed to allow the Agricultural Committee to hear evidence on the matter before the Bill proceeds further.

The feud between Auckland and the rest of New Zealand has been given another fillip by the decision of the Minister of Railways to give the Queen City the first 'underground railway and underground station m the Dominion. The 1 Railway Department, no -doubt, is m a position to justify the lavishing of good things on Auckland, for one has only to study some of the interesting statistics that accompanied the Railway Improvement Scheme to see that Auckland has made more rapid progress m passenger and goods traffic than any other part of the country, and what is more, she' is' likely to keep the pace go,ing. The duplication of the Lyttelton tunnel will perhaps remind Southerners that half a, loaf is better than none, but there will be general disappointment that nothing is to ; be done meantime in' the matter of electrifying the hole m the hill. Considering the shortness of the run, the trip from Lyttelton to Christchurch is surely the dirtiest m the world.

A good joke, was perpetrated by the Post Office m connection with the sending out of numerous copies of the Improvements Report above referred, to. They were supposed to be sent to the chief newspapers of the two islands so as to. reach their destination m good time for publication. But, alas! the Post Office* forgetting perhaps that the Minister of Railways is also Post-master-General, decided that the bulky packag-es could only be second class mail matter and treated them accordingly, with the. result that for two days nobody could trace the bundles. Meanwhile the Minister, of Railways had tabled the report m Parliament and newspapers m various parts of the North Island were shrieking for copies. The net result was that the telegraphic service was held up one night while the Minister, m his capacity as Post-master-General, got thousands Cf words rushed across the wires to the morning papers, the messages taking precedence over every other telegram.

Mr. Speaker is one who recognises the dignity of his office, but unfortunately thex-e are certain members of Parliament who require to be reminded that every respect should be accorded to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The' other evening Mr. Massey was called to "order for" using the word "slander." ' In withdrawing' the expression, the Prime Minister said, "I always bow to the ruling of the Chair, whether. l agree with-it or not." That was surely . a decidedly left-handed acknowledgment. ; Another incident is also reported to 1 have taken place, this time m one of the lobbies. It appears that just as Mr. Speaker was leaving the Chamber/ a member of the Legislative Council happened to come along. Two of the messengers requested him to wait till the Speaker passed, but if .is reported that, with the exclamation "Damn the Speaker," the Honorable Member &f the Other Place marched straight on, alongside Mr. Speaker. If such an incident really took place, as reported, it is surely a matter for much regret and should not be allowed to pass unnoticed. "' ,

The New Zealand "House of Lords" have had a bad spin during the last week as a result of their chopping up the Bill dealing with the extension of the Moratorium. Many sarcastic remarks were made by Labor, one member, however, admitting that if he were placed m the Legislative Council by Mr. Massey he would probably do as he was tojd to do— just like the rest of them! it is significant that, the only time the Government has been defeated this session was when the 1 date of the finish fit the Moratorium was altered, and this decision of the House is the one that 'the Upper Chamber altered.

* . ■ '. '» ■",-.♦ It is all very well to advertise New Zealand's beauties abroad,, but there are thousands .of New .Zealand born children who know nothing of the wonders of pin- country. , Hundreds of school boys and/girls m the large centres, not to mention scores m every little settlejment?, never get away from their homes for a holiday and have no conception of the attractiveness 'of their own land. Meanwhile the film men are busy flicking pictures of the beauty spots of the Dominion for exhibition m America and other countries.* Surely the Education : Depart<ment might co-operate ' w.ith the Tourist Department m this matter and secure portions of these travelogues for screening m our own movie shows, so that young New Zealanders may learn to appreciate more thoroughly the land of their birth.