THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 25

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, August 3. SECONDARY SCHOOL HOSTELS. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. Mr M. Cohen moved for a return in regard to the cost of sites for secondary school and technical school hostels, the cost of erecting buildings thereon, and the cost of maintenance, etc., but the Leader of the Council (Sir Francis Bell) objected that the cost entailed would be too great, and the motion was withdrawn. EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

Mr Cohen then asked for returns in regard to the increased administrative costs of the head office of the Education Department, and the cost of educational commissions since 1919. These motions were carried.

PIG PRODUCTS EXPORT INDUSTRY. Mr E. Newman intends to move—“ That in the opinion of the Council, in view of the paramount interest of establishing a pig products export industry, the question should be considered of remitting the customs duty on maize and other food products necessary for the economical operation and development of that business.” The Council adjourned at 3.15 p.m. AVELLINGTON, August 5. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. LOCAL BILLS. The Whakatane County Council Empowering and Loan Moneys Diversion Bill and Christchurch City Sanitation Empowering Amendment Bill were received from the House and read the first time. Subsequently, the latter measure was put through all other stages and passed without amendment. MOTOR ACCIDENTS. Sir Thomas Mackenzie gave notice to move—" That in view of the great risks pedestrians are constantly exposed io through the reckless driving of motor vehicles, together with the alarming increase of fatalities, this council is of opinion that the laws dealing with such matters require amendment in order that reasonable protection may be provided for the people.” PIG PRODUCE. Mr E. Newman moved —“That in the opinion of this council, in the paramount interest of establishing a pig-produce export industry, the question should be considered of remitting the Customs duty on maize and other food products necessary for the economical operation and development of that business.” After some discussion, the debate was adjourned. The Council rose at 4.22 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AVELLINGTON. August 2. The House met at 2.30 p.m. UNEMPLOYED RELIEF EXPENDITURE. Replying to Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South), the Minister of Finance (Mr AV. Downie Stewart) said that before he could say whether or not the Government would bring down legislation validating expenditure by harbour boards on unemployed relief he would have to look further into the matter. This involved an important policy question, inasmuch as he was informed that under the Harbour Boards Act any revenue raised by harbour boards must be expended in the interests of the shipping or of goods dealt with by the shipping. If harbour boards were to be authorised to expend some portion of their funds on relief of the unemployed it might be necessary to hold a conference at which the views of the boards could be consolidated. At present, the spending powers of harbour boards seemed to be somewhat restricted. Possibly city councils had larger powers. At all events, a large question of policy was raised, and before he gave a final decision he would require to give the matter more consideration.

This question applies only to harbour boards that have reached the limit of their unauthorised expenditure. STORES CONTROL BOARD. Mr K. S. AVilliams (Minister of Public AVorks) brought down the report of the Stores Control Board. Mr V. 11. P-otter (Roskill) raised the question of purchasing British-made typewriters fcr the Government service. At present, he understood, most of the typewriters in use in the Government offices were of American make. Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland East) suggested that in the railway refreshment rooms all confectionery used should be of New Zealand make. This view was endorsed by Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South). Mr F. F. Ilockly (Rotorua) commended the work of the board, which had performed a most useful service in the past. Mr AVilliams, in reply, said the Government was now making arrangements for British-made typewriters co be used in various departments. All British makes of motor cars were being tested for the most suitable classes of work for which they were required. New Zealand-made goods were being used wherever possible in refreshment rooms on the railways, and

investigations as to their suitability were being prosecuted. The report was laid on the table after the Minister had given the House an assurance that the Auditor-General had expressed his entire approval of the operations of the board. INTERNAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. The report of the Internal Affairs Department was brought down by Mr 11. F. Bollard (Minister of Internal Affairs) and discussed at length. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT When the House resumed at 7.30 p.m., the Minister of Finance (Mr AV. Downie Stewart) delivered his Budget speech. The Minister began reading at 7.35, and the task occupied 50 minutes. On tiie House resuming, the Minister moved formally that the papers connected with the Financial Statement be laid on the table. The papers were ordered to be laid on the table, and the House adjourned at 8.45 p.m. AVELLINGTON. August 3. The House met at 2.30 p.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House then proceeded to discuss replies given by Ministers to questions put by members during the past three weeks. Amongst others, Minister gave the following answers to questions of national interest : — That owing to the seasonable decrease in railway traffic it is periodically found necessary to dispense with the services of single men before putting off married men. In the ease of such men recently put off the men concerned were put off for a week, but the Railway Board has- given instructions that in view of their long service and the short period of the break in continuity of employment, the time lost is to be treated as leave without pay. The privileges to which these men are in the ordinary course entitled will, therefore, not be affected by their temporary absence from work. That it is not considered the expense of sending delegates from New Zealand to th© International Labour Conference at Geneva is at present warranted. AX 7 ere it not for this consideration the Government would be glad to arrange for representation. That a committee will be set up to deal with the report of the Rural Credits Commission (insofar as it was not dealt with last year), and the general question of rural finance will by this means come under review. That the question of bringing the tax on debentures issued before 1923 into line with the maximum rate of 4s 6d has not so far been considered by the Government. That the Government is considering amending section 18 of the AVeights and Measures Act, 1925, in order to bring it into line with the law of South Africa

and England, so as to provide that where meat is exhibited for sale in a butcher’s shop with a ticket showing the price for the piece, such ticket should also show the weight in order that the purchaser ig'it calculate how much per pound is being paid for the meat sold. That there is no proposal before -he Government to reduce teachc-s’ salaries, and there has been no reduction in the salaries of relieving teachers generally. That plans of the proposed Massey Memorial are now practically completed, and will be submitted at an early date to a meeting of the special board t. up for this purpose. That it is not the function of the Valuation Department to supply valuations for private borrowers and private lenders, and it is not intended to incur a large increase in expenditure which uc an an extension of its duties would necessitate.

That the fusion of meat and dairy boards is a matter for the boards themselves rather than for the Government. That to alter the present la— and allow local Bodies to keep one bank account only for loan moneys and general revenue would involve a change in the f .idamcntal principles governing kcal body finance, but there is nothing in the law to preclude a local body and its banker coming to an arrangement to set off credit balances in the loan accounts against debit balances in the general accounts when calculating interest on overdraft. That the purpose of the ’’ost Office Savings Bank system and its cou- ’-'tutiou makes it quite unsuitable for the operation of the cheque system, aud the latter could be undertaken remodelling at considerable expense would have to be introduced, largely at the cost of the benefits accruing to the present depositors. COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE.

When the House resumed at 7.30 p.m., Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland East) moved the second readinn of the Compulsory Military Service Repeal Bill. He said there was a growing feeling in the country in favour of the repeal of compulsory military service, and that was some encouragement to him to proceed with the Bill. He did not hope to carry his Bill to a successful issue, but at least- it would serve the purpose of creating a useful debate on the subject. The Bill would not prevent the Government carrying on the defence of the country by means of the permanent forces as provided for in the Defence Act. He believed that compulsory service was one of the “rickety” children of one of the Imperial conferences. The system created a good deal of hostility, but the war and its aftermath caused its repugnant features to be forgotten. For a time after the war the compulsory provisions of the Act were in abeyance, but during the past few years they had been revived, and an agitation against the compulsory svstem had also been revived. He would like to know if New Zealand had received

£8,000,000 of value for the £8,000,0(30 which the compulsory service had cost. The scheme was condemned by the Government’s own departments, although the Defence report just issued claimed that the results were now more satisfactory. The apathy shown by these concerned with the carrying out of the scheme was responsible far its want of success, and while those concerned were apathetic it was little wonder that the public was indifferent towards it. The agitation against it wa s growing. The Christian churches were against it, and only the professional soldier was in favour of it. If it were necessary to teach our young people how to kill others, then, he maintained, they were not being taught how to do it under this military system. The system was defended because it was claimed it made good citizens. It did' net seem to be so when there were some’ 50.000 prosecutions of young men who refused to be driven, and brow-beaten into doing something to which they ejected. He maintained that the object behind this conscription was not the defence of our own shores, but to send an expeditionary force abroad, and it was just such military preparations that brought aboutthe war of 1914. It was not disloyal to suggest the repeal of conscription, because we would soon be the cnlv country in the British Empire which retained it. Mr F. J. Rolleston (Minister of Defence) saia that no one could doubt the sincerity or the consistency in the course Mr Leo was advocating, but he was mistaken when he said that compulsory service was unpopular in New Zealand, 'if so. where was the evidence of it? At the last election the Labour Party candidates advocated its abolition, and where weio they? Mr Lee had railed against compulsory service, but he had not .uggested what he would put in its nlace. Mr Lee: Nothing. The permanent service can do all wo want. Continuing, the Minister said that was just as much a military service as any other. Mr Lee: AA’e could train volunteers under that system. The Minister added that even the voluntary system was military, and he could not object to military training inder one svstem and agree to it under another. The difference between the compulsory and the volunteer systems was that under the latter a man could come and go as he pleased, while the the former was fair and democratic as it treated all alike. AVas it supposed that we were to discard our defence altogether or were we going to leave it to Great Britain? Mr J. M'Combs (Lvtteltonj ; And Britain has not got conscription.

The Minister said that Britain had her standing army and was in an entirely different position to that of New Zealand. He then proceeded to defend the system of military training in force in New Zealand. He admitted that in 1921 there was a falling off in the efficiency of the svstem. but that was not the position in 1926-27. and he had the report' of the <-»fnr»er emnmanding to show that it had now picked

up and was working well. He denied that there was anything like the number of prosecutions mentioned by Mr Lee. As a matter of fact since the camps were established the men were looking forward to them, and in the last year there had been only three prosecutions for nonatttndance in camp. Mr Lee was wrong in saying that compulsory training was abolished in South Africa, and it also existed in Australia. As already stated the position in Great Britain was quite different, while in Canada they had an organised military service of considerable size. ..New Zealand was part of the British Empire and had her obligations to the Empire, and if this Bill were agreed to then she would not be doing her share. If we abolished military service it would make no difference to anv other country. It was merely a matter of our doing what we believed to be the right thing in our own interests and in the interests of the Empire. He defended the system as an aid to good citizenship, and quoted the opinions of Colonel Fenwick in support of his views.

Mr H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East) contended that the success of the British Army was due to the fact that the British soldier was not a conscript, but was free. He would not refuse to fight for his country, but he obfected to the word “compulsion,” and there were hundreds of young men in New Zealand who “dodged” drill for the same reason. Mr W. T). Lysnar (Gisborne) supported the compulsory system of military training, but suggested reducing the age at which training began and ended. Mr W. .T. Jordan (Manukau). argued that if mon -went into war voluntarily they were heroes; if they went, under compulsion they were victims. Because we were loyal people, and because we were prepared to defend our country compulsion was not. necessary.

Mr V. IT. Potter (80-skill) contended that if Great Britain had listened to the advice of Lord Roberts, and had established compulsory training before the Great War Germany would not have found her as unprepared as she was. Mr H. G. R. Mason (Eden) said that while unlimited money could be found for war, yet no money could be found to help the disabled man who had been injured in industry in a time of peace. He was evidently not worthy of consi location r.nless he was injured in attempting to kill another human being. Mr G. R. Sykes (Mastertoi.) said that Ludendorff had- declared that if Britain had not whittled down her army and defence forces to a negligible quantity Germany would not have g. to war in 1914. The citizens’ army should be maintained for defence, not. defiance.

Mi Lee. in reply, sahi Jiat Viscount Grey of Ealloden had stated that the Great War grew out of the fact that Enrop • was divided into groups of ration i. each indulging in competi'ive armaments. Tlmri fore to avo : d a s : m : >

occurrence we should get rid of compulsory military service. At 0.25 aim. a division as taken, when the second reading was rejected by 51 votes to 11, and the House rose a + 0.130, a.m. WELLINGTON, August 4. The House met at 2.30 p.m. FIREPLACE EXPLOSIONS. Replying- to Mr V. H. Potter (Roskill) Mr Coates (Prime Minister) said he would be pleased to take up with the Minister of Mines the question of asking the coal miners of the Dominion to exercise greater care in the use of explosions in order to prevent accidents in private homes, which have been fairly frequent of late. Mr Coates said he could assure the House that the matter had not been lost sight of, and precautions were being taken to prevent this class of accident. EDUCATION LEASES. Replying to Mr M. J. Savage (Auckland West), Mr A. D. M'Leod (Minister of Lands) said that legislation would be brought down this session giving full protection to tenants of education leases for improvements, and the perpetual right of renewal. LOCAL BILLS. The Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Lighting Amendment Bill and the Napier Harbour Board Empowering and Loan Bill were introduced and read a first time, on the motion of Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) and Mr J. Mason (Napier) respectively. On the motion of Mr F. F. Hockly (Rotorua) the Whakatane County Council Empowering and Loan Moneys Diversion | Bill was read a second time. Air D. G. Sullivan (Avon) moved the second reading of the Christchurch City Sanitation Empowering Amendment Bill, which, after a brief debate, was agreed LEGISLATURE AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2).

Mr 11. E. Holland (Leader of the Opposition) moved the second reading of the Legislature Amendment Bill (No. 2), which, he claimed, was intended to purify the politics of the Dominion. He said it was quite unfair that the party possessing ■wealthy men and representing wealthy interests should have the right to spend money freely on the elections, while the law said that candidates should be limited to £2OO. Anyone acquainted with the elections for the past 20 years knew that the Legislature Amendment Act, 1908, was the most, violated law in New Zealand at present. While a candidate’s expenditure was limited by statute, the party's expenditure was not, and the Bill sought to enact that all advertisements must be signed by the candidate in whose , interest they were inserted. This would give legislative effect to the intention of the Act’ of 1903. At the last general election the amount spent on the personal campaign of the present Prime Minister must have exceeded by 10 or 20 times I the amn-T» prescrilied in the Legislature ■-! •■■f 1903.

Mr A. D. M‘Leod (Minister of Lands) said no one could object to such a Bill being given a second reading, because, whether it was the question of large or small funds, everyone should unite to keep our politics as pure as it was possible to do so. To use election funds for the purpose of discrediting opponents was something no one would stand for. So far as the Reform Party was concerned at the last election, no money was accepted from any organisation. Anything that was given was given by individuals. He saw no reason why the Bill should not be further discussed with a view to keeping our politics pure. Mr G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) supported the Bill, because the influence of money in politics was a dangerous element. He was satisfied that much of the money given to the Reform Party at the last election was secured by using the Labour Party as a bogey. In these circumstances I he thought the party should share its funds with the Labour Party. Sir Joseph Ward (Invercargill) said that the system of contributing funds to political parties could be defended in every way provided no stipulation was made that some consideration should follow. So far as his administration of party funds was concerned he had never paid out any money himself. It was always done by a responsible treasurer, and the accounts were always audited. So far as the present position was concerned he thought the conduct of the Reform Party at the last election most unfair. It was not fair that a special train should be put on at Lyttelton to run to Invercargill to carry a Obinet Minister to take part in a contest against him (the speaker). Personally he did not complain, but it was not right that facilities of the State should be so abused. There was ’no harm in candidates advertising in a reasonable manner, but the Reform advertisements at the last election were an evasion of the law, and the last people to evade the law should be members of the Government. If £2OO were not sufficient for election purposes by all means let them increase it, but after increasing it let them stick to it. He urged the Government to bring down a good electoral law and put the elections on a sound basis.

Mr O. J. Hawken (Minister of Agriculture) said his recollection was that in the time of the late Mr Seddon it was customary to use special trains in connection with elections. The reasons why the Reform Party spent so much money on the last election was the threat by the Labour Party that it intended to raise a fund of £25,000 for election purposes, and the Reform Party felt that it had to do something- to counter that. After the Leader of the Opposition had replied the second reading was agreed to on the voices, and at 11.30 p.m. _the House rose. WELLINGTON, August 5. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NEW ZEALAND-MADE GOODS. Replying to Mr E. P. Lee (Oamaru). Mr A. D. M'Lcod (Minister of Indus-

tries and Commerce) said he would have inquiries made as to the use of New Zea-land-made goods by Government departments. RABBIT AND STOCK ACTS. Replying to Mr G- W. Forbes (Hurunui), Mr O. J. Hawken (Minister of Agriculture) said that amendments to the Rabbit and Stock Acts were ready, and would be introduced as soon as the business of the House would permit. DEBATE ON THE BUDGET.

Mr 11. E. Holland (Leader of the Opposition), in opening the debate on the Budget, complimented the Minister on having reduced the Financial Statement to smaller compass, and he hoped a still further condensation would come, and that they would have eventually a Budget speech from the Minister, hot a reading. Commenting on the financial position, Mr Holland stressed the seriousness of the conditions that required one-half of our national income to pay the interest bill. A problem which the country must face and try to solve was to lessen borrowing and find a method of carrying on the country's affairs economically and effici- ] ently. During the Reform Partv’s term of office since 1912, omitting the war debt, the public debt of the country had increased by £87,000,000. The country’s internal financial resources had not been properly organised to carry out the various public works. The Minister’s statements as it affected the railways indicated a loss of £500,000 during the past year on branch lines. For this a subsidy was paid, and the railway system as a whole would apparently be shown as giving either a profit or a very small loss. Instead of this they ought to let the loss be shown for what it was. The railways were a national system, a:., any loss should be borne bv thewhole system. Referring to soldier settlement, Mr Holland said the men appeared to bo up against it all round. They were placed on land purchased at inflated values, and they were not able to carry on under the land was £17,333,000, and there had been a reduction of a little over £3,500,000, with a promise in the Budget of some further reductions. There had also been remissions of rent and interest amounting to nearly £792 000 and postponements of payments amounting to £4G7,000. No one would object to this writing down, but they did want to know what was to be the limit of the writing down. For his own part he had stated several years ago that writing off would have to equal about £7,000,000. These writings-off would never have been necessary but for the manner in which the original owner had placed exorbitant prices on his land when it was sold to the Government for soldier settlement purposes. Mr Holland asked why the original soldier settlers who had been foreclosed and forced off the land could not have been allowed to remain and get the benefit of the reduced revaluation. As it was, some other soldier or civilian settler had stepped in and secured the chance to make good on the land. The Lands Department officials in several districts disclosed that the land allocated for soldier settlement was generally of inferior quality. The Minister had said it was not possible to reduce taxation this year. Mr Holland said that would not matter if reductions were to follow the line of previous reductions, which did not benefit the poorer people to any great extent. Customs contributed over £8,000,000, and this was largely due to the fact that the imports were of foreign goods as a result of the industrial disturbance in England. Mr Holland stressed the large proportion of indirect taxation, such as Customs, which hit the wage-workers to a very serious extent. The wealthy taxpayers in NewZealand held a very much more favour-

able position than similarly circumstanced [ men in other lands. These payers of direct taxation were on velvet in New Zealand, and the time had arrived when they should be called upon to pay very much more. Since 1920 they had received over £23,750,000 remissions of direct taxation. On a former occasion the present Attorney-general bad declared that remissions in direct taxes could not be thought of as long as the war debt remained, and, in any case, the small taxpayer would not benefit to any appreciable extent. Mr Holland, touching on defence, complained that since 1924 the increase in expenditure on the naval and military forces was over 62 per cent. Mr Holland, who was given an extension of time, urged greater encouragement to secondary industries. Coal and timber—two of the' primary industries—had also been neglected. This country should be self-supporting and must abandon the idea that it was always to be merely an exporting country. There should be completer reciprocal arrangements for mutual exports and imports between Great Britain and the dominions. At present New Zealand imported too heavily from the United States and Canada, which meant that we had a heavy trade balance against us in those countries. Mr Holland concluded by regretting the absence of any indication of a forward movement in public works and the absence of any clear financial policy and the establishment of a State bank. Mr F. J. Rolleston (Minister of Defence), replying to Mr Holland’s complaint about the size of the interest payment, said that, apart from the war debt, the people’s payment on the ordinary debt was nearly £2,750,000, of which the greater part was earning a return. The public works must be completed to bring them into profit, and they could not be completed out of revenue. The Minister said that borrowing should be reduced, but he pointed out that New Zealand could not organise its finance to raise all th ■ loans within its own borders. Tn other countries where Labour Governments had been in office borrowing bad been going on just as much as under their

predecessors. Even in the city of Christchurch, where Labour had a majority in the municipality, they were borrowing as merrily as previous councils. He noticed that they had raised a loan of £25,000 for unemployment a proceeding he regarded as wrong. Money for local needs should be raised through additional rates. Touching on soldiers’ pensions, Mr Rolleston said the appeal boards had dealt sympathetically with all cases, and tire total payments this year were greater than in previous years. Mr Rolleston, referring to soldiers on the land, said that 50 per cent, of these men had never applied for relief. No soldier had ever been driven off his property except as a last resort. In some cases the Government had come to the aid of soldiers and paid elf 50 per cent, of their second mortgage. Thus, the Government became the sole mortgagee and the man was enabled to remain on his holding. On the subject of a State bank. Mr Rolleston said that to establish such an institution would mean coming into competition with the Bank of New Zealand, of which the Government owned one-third. The better plan would be to buy out the Bank of New Zealand altogether. He could not see, however, how any State bank could be utilised to pay off the public debt. The increase in the defence vote was due to the additional expenditure on naval services. The military expenditure had been fairly stable all along. The total defence vote for the current — £958,000 —was rather less than that for last year. Even with the amount to be voted for the Singapore base, the total was very little more than last year. The Government felt that the defence expenditure was reasonable, as it could not neglect preparation for a possible war. The navy was the strong point of defence, and expenditure on this could not be avoided. Statements had been made about Singapore which were hardly in accord with fact. It was stated quite plainly now that the Singapore Base was necessary so that the British fleet could operate effectively in tbo Pacific. The provision of the base would simply restore the status quo ante bell.im by enabling the new larger warships to be accommodated. Under the Washington Conference the Hongkong Base had to be given up and Singapore was left outside the Washington agreement. The incidence of taxation was dealt with in the Budget, and the Minister could not see how Mr Holland based his complaints about Customs imports. The Minister of Finance promised legislation to remedy anomalies in taxation.

Mr T. K. Sidey moved the adjournment of the debate, which was made the order of the day for 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, and the House rose at 9.30 p.m.

NOTES FROM PRESS GALLERY. WELLINGTON. Auaust 2. “A FIERY PARTICLE.” When the report of the Internal Affairs Department was being discussed in tlio House of Representatives to-day Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland East) suggested that the Government should curb in some way tho incursions of tho High Commissioner into the columns of the daily press in London. He hinted that it might be difficult for tho Government to control this particularly “fiery particle” ; but he suggested that the Government might at least sec to it that what he said was correct. Mr Lee was referring to tho Samoan situation and Sir James Parr’s statement on this subject in the London press a’xmt there having been no deportations. Mr Lee admitted that a nice distinction might be drawn “between banishment .and deportation.

-XMAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD. A desire for the appointment of an additional representative of the motorists oil the Main Highways Board, the member to be a resident of the South Island, was expressed in a question of which notice was given to the Minister of Public Moi i-.s bv Mr D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) in the Jlonsb to-day. The member asked whether the Minister would take steps to have the Main Highways Act amended in the direction indicated. WELLINGTON, August 3. TRANSFER OF RAILWAY EMPLOYEES. Replying to a question in the House of Representatives to-day with reference to the proposed reorganisation of the railway workshops and the consequent transfer of employees, the Minister of Railways (Mr J. G. Coates) said that should any employee be required to transfer to another locality and to dispose ot his home on which a Government loan has been granted, he will not be barred, from making application to the State Advances Department for fresli linancicil assistance should he desire to set upa home for himself in his new location, lhe Railway Department has at present under consideration a comprehensive scheme somewhat similar to the Hutt Valley housing scheme for the building of houses at Otahuhu. Hutt Valley, and in the vicinity of Dunedin, for members transferred as a result of workshops reorganisation who desire to purchase homes on easy terms. It is regretted, however, that the Railway Department cannot take over the homes of the employees who may be transferred or compensate them for any loss that may result from a forced sale or inability to sell. -X- * BORROWING IN AMERICA. Replying to a question in the House to-day, Mr W. Downie Stewart said that up to the present Australian issues in the United States of America have demonstrated that borrowing there does not compare favourably with London conditions as to price and terms. CROWN TENANTS. In the House of Representatives to-da.yj Mr T. D. Burnett (Temuka) asked the Minister of Lands (Mr A. D._M?Leo<t)b whether, seeing that the majority of Crown tenants are unaware of the proper steps they’ should take so as to avail themselves of the benefits accruing from the land laws amendments of last session,

he will direct hia departmental officers to circularise Crown tenants, pointing out how to secure these benefits.—Mr M'Leod replied that the suggestion has been noted for favourable consideration. The proposal may be extended to apply to land legislation generally, and to include a reference to any amending legislation which may be passed this session. GOITRE AND lODISED SALT. In reply to a question put by Mr J. Mason (Napier) about -goitre, the Minister of Health (Mr J. A. Young) to-day stated that the Department of Health has already provided by regulation for the sale of iodised salt in packages which are fully and clearly labelled to indicate the nature of the contents. lodised salt is at present obtainable in any part of New Zealand, and thus members of the community who so desire may avail themselves voluntarily of the benefits of this method of prophylaxis against goitre. It is not intended co make the use of iodised salt compulsory. WELLINGTON, August 4. HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE FUNDS. A question regarding highways maintenance was given notice of in the House to-day by Mr H. L. Tapley (Dunedin North), who asked the Minister of Public Works (Mr K. S. Williams) whether, in view of the fact that the Government is not this year exercising its power under the provisions of the Highways Act to borrow £200,000 for maintenance, but is transferring this sum from the revenue derived from the tyre tax: registration, etc. (which is earmarked for constuction work), he will give the House an assurance that the amount will be refunded at the earliest opportunity, so that the provisions of the Highways Act regarding this expenditure will not be defeated. ANIMAL WELFARE. There was considerable laughter in the House of Representatives to-day when Mr H. L. Tapley (Dunedin North) gave notice of a question bearing on the dehorning of cattle. The query, which was addressed to the Minister of Agriculture (Mr A. D. M’Leod) suggested that, in view' of the urgent requests made throughout the Dominion by the branches of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals the Minister should bring forward legislation making it compulsory to dehorn cattle in the interests of animal welfare. * * * RECKLESS DRIVING. In view of the prevalence of motor car thefts and the serious accidents that have resulted from reckless driving by irresponsible persons, Mr G. R. Sykes (Masterton) is asking the Minister of Justice (Mr F. J. Rolleston) whether he will introduce legislation this session to provide a severe minimum penalty for offences of that nature. COUNTRY SCHOOL CHILDREN. The attention of the Minister of Education (Mr R. A. Wright) is drawn in a question which was given notice of in the House of Representatives to-day by Sir George Hunter (Waipawa), to the statement of the Director of Education (Mr T. B. Strong) before the Farmers’ Onio . Conference that the Education Department contemplated abolishing the allowance now paid to children riding to school oh horseback over roads for vehicles. Sir George Hunter asks the Minister to give an assurance that such a step is not contemplated. * * * UNTIMELY END TO BILL. Mr W. A. Veitch’s Agricultural Bank Bill came to an untimely end this afternoon. The member for Wanganui had some notes ready, and was on his feet to make a speech on the second reading of his Bill when Mr Speaker called a halt in the proceedings. He said it appeared to him that the foundation of the Bill was the provision of £lOO,OOO of Government money as part of the initial capital of the proposed bank. That being so, an appropriation was involved, and therefore the Bill could not proceed to its second reading. Sir Joseph Ward suggested that perhaps the lion. member for Wanganui was himself going to supply the necessary £lOO,OOO. Mr Veitch, however, did not respond, and the Bill was thrown out. FINANCE FOR HIGHWAYS. Mr H. L. Tapley (Dunedin North) to-day gave notice to ask the Minister of Public Works (Mr K. S. Williams) whether, in view of the fact that the Government is not contributing this year the £200,000 provided for under the Highways Act by way of loan, but is transferring it from the revenue account of the construction fund, he will give his assurance that this amount will be repaid at the earliest opportunity, so that the original obligations under the Highways Act will not be defeated? Mr Tapley states that under the Highways Act the Government has power to raise £1,000.000 for road construction work, spread over 10 years. WELLINGTON. August 5. “ OPTOMETRY’.” Opticians Bill re-appeared in the House, of Representatives to-day. It is the same Bill as was introduced last session; but with two or three amendments suggested by the committee to which it was then referred. Mr Fraser, one of the Labour members, sought information as to the coining of the world “optometry.” The Minister in charge of the Bill (Mr J. A. Young) explained that the word was not the name of a racehorse, but meant simply the measurement of sight. Mr T. M. Wilford, in thanking the Minister for his explanation, mentioned the case of a waterside worker who was asked by counsel whether he had been ostracised by his union. The learned judge intervened with the suggestion that counsel should not put such a question as the witness would not know the. meaning of “ostracise.” Thereupon, the witness interposed: “Your Honor,” he said, “I understand the word perfectly well. It is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘to banish.’ ” Thereupon, added Mr Wilford amidst laughter, the court collapsed. « * * DRIFT TO THE TOWN. Speakinn- to-day to a Christchurch deputa- • tiqn. which asked, for a grant for a new building in addition to one which is already overcrowed with 2200 evening pupils,

Mr R. A. Wright (Minister of Education) referred to the large number of such pupils who came from the country to the town. There was, he said, a danger of giving country pupils a town bias. Parents had complained of this, stating that their children wanted to live in the town all the time. That was a very serious matter. There were, he added, now 51 per cent, in the town and 49 per cent, in the country. He remembered the time when it was 70 per cent, in the country and 30 per cent, in the town. * * * SOCIALISTIC BORROWING. In the House of Representatives in his speech in the Budget debate this evening Mr F. J. Rolleston (Attorney-general), who replied to Mr H. E. Holland (Leader of the Opposition), rather neatly turned the tables on the Labour Party in regard to borrowing. He pointed out to the House that even the new Labour City Council of Christchurch was borrowing very merrily—within the country, no doubt, but still it was raising money by loan. It had raised a loan of £25,000 quite recently for the unemployed. A Labour member: That is a job you should be doing. The Attorney-general admitted that the relief of unemployed was a necessity, even if the trouble were only temporary, but the Labour Council of Christchurch would not increase the rates or raise any money it wanted for the purpose in any other way than by borrowing, which, for that purpose, was unsound. Mr H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East): Are you going to increase taxation and stop borrowing this year? The Attorneygeneral: I am not going to say anything about that at present.