PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18464, 27 January 1922, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

NOTES FROM THE PRESS GALLERY. (Fbom Oob Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 26. LEAGUE OF NATIONS. The question of New Zealand’s contribution to the funds of the League of Nations was raised in the House of Representatives by Mr Clutha Mackenzie (Auckland East) to-day. Mr Mackenzie asked the Prime Minister whether New Zealand was still paying £25,000 annually to the League of Nations. If so, in view of the fact that the League of Nations was fading from the field of international politics and that its place was being taken by such more practical gatherings as the conferences) at Washington, Cannes, and Genoa, would the Prime Minister consider reducing the sum to, say, £2OOO annually? . , , , . , . , Mr Massey said that he had only ]ust had the opportunity of looking .at a document giving the details of New' Zealand e liability. This showed that the sum for the year 1920-21 was £1948, and for 1921-22 £8261; or total payments to date of £10,209. Ho did not think that he could quite agree with tho opinion expressed by his questioner, because he was anxious in every way to promote peace so far as it was possible to do it. He was watching Old position very carefully, and if He thought it necessary at any time to make a recommendation to the House for a revision he would be glad to do so. LAND AGENTS BILL. The Legislative Council passed the Land Agents Bill to-day with the amendments proposed by tho Statutes Revision Committee These amendments have already been described. One of tho most important is a new clause providing that a land agon, who is also a licensed land broker under the Land Transfer Act shall not act as a land broker for either; party in connection with any transactiori>in which he is employed as a land agent. There is a. new sub-clause empowering tho Governor-General in Council to prescribe the maximum rates of commission for land agents. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. The Public Works Statement and Estimates will bo brought down to-morrow. Though belated os compared with recent years the Statement, it is understood, is only just finally ready for presentation to Parliament. The discussion of the Statement and Estimates will not proceed tomorrow. Tho document will merely po produced, and further action deferred until next week.