PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18053, 29 September 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

(Fbom Our Own Cobkespondent.) WELLINGTON, September 28.

BAT OP PLENTY ELECTIONS.

The difficulty of distributing ballot boxes for the by-election in the Bay of Plenty district was referred to in the House' of Representatives this afternoon, by ,the Leader of the Opposition (Mr*T. M. Wilford), Vho asked the Prime Minister if ho had been informed that it would be impossible to p'rovide boxes at each of the places where votes were .to be taken.' The roads were too bad for the distribution to be made. There were between 70 and 78 voting places. Ho knew quite well it was impossible to get round the district in less than six weeks, and the boxes would not be at the necessary places. He asked what was to be done in the circumstances. Mr Massey said that he had seen the statement concerning the position in the electorate. He had taken it for granted that if any difficulty had been niet he would have received official information on tile subject. • _Mr YVilford: I- have had a comnrunicar tion to-day on the matter. Mr Massey replied that he had not -received any communication about it. MARRIAGE AMENDMENT BILL.

Notice was given to-day by- the Minister of Justice (the Hon-. E. P. Lee) of his intention to move to set np a select committee to consider the amendments made by the Legislative Council to the Marriage Amendment Bill, with the power to call-wit-nesses and hear evidence. The personnel of the committee is to be the Bight Hon. W. F. Massey, the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Messrs G. \V. Forbes, A. Harris, R P. Hudson, H. Poland, M. J. Savage, T. K Sidey. W. D. Stewart, R A. Wright, and the mover. / SULPHUR FROM TAUPO.

"In view of the necessity of providing sulphurio acid for the treatment of ' phosphate rock from Nauru Island,' will the Prime Minister see that, a report is furnished without delay by Dr Henderson, of tlio Department of Geological Survey, with, regard to the sulphur deposits at Rotorua and Taupo," was the text of a question asked by Mr F. F. Hockley (Rotorua) in the House of Representatives this afternoon.

Mr Massey said he admitted that the matter referred to was a very important one. He had heard a great deal of the sulphur deposits at Taupo, and -would he very glad to havo the Mines Department report upon them. : -

MAMARI'S IMMIGRANTS.

Mr Witty to-day brought under the notice of the Government that there had been some complaints about the food' by immigrants who came by the last immigrant ship. He suggested that inquiries should be made with a view to ascertaining if the complaint was justified. The Hon. TV. Nosworthy said the.matter had already been brought under his notice, and lie was haying- inquiries made with a view to seeing if an improvement could bo made. The Government, however, had' not control of the shins. Ho added that they could not be guided in such matters by only a few of the passengers. Thero had been a complaint from Port Chalmers from some of the male immigrants, but the-women 'had stated that they had no complaint to make. Where a crowd of men were tor pettier thero would always be some complaints. ' . TIMBER FROM THE WEST COAST.

Dr Tha-cker to-day. asked tho' Prime Minister about tho necessity for getting timber from the West Coast to: church, also if he was aware that largo shipments of red, as well as of whito, pine were beinp: made to Australia.

Mr Massey said in regard to tho first part of the question that he had nothing to add to tho reply he gave the other day. A steamer was to be sent round at the earlisst opportunity, and an. endeavour .was also to be made to get a part caj-go sent round by steamer then loading on the coast. Ho was unaware of the quantity of red pine beiing shipped to Australia. Dr Tbackcr: Millions of feet are going l awav.

Mr Massey: The matter will have to be' taken into consideration, and if necessary the export will be suspended, at all events for tho present, because the t'nnberis wanted in this country. RIFLE CLUB CONTROL.

Tlip Minister of Defence has informed tho New Zealand rifle clnbs that they are to remain under the Defence Department. Up to the present there has been some doubt ."bout this, as it is generally .recognised that the war has proved that ths shooting of such clubs is not on the lines shown to be necessary in modern warfare, and there is apparently a general disposition to cut down the expenditure on defence to what is absolutely necessary. The* Minister of Defence, however, has stipulated that tho expenditure under the heading of rifle clubs must appear as a separate item in the defence vote.