PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 19658, 7 October 1922, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 6. The Legislative Council met to-day at 2.30. BILLS REPORTED. The Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill; the State Fire Insurance Amendment Bill, and the War Disabilities Amendment- Bill, were reported without amendment. SECOND READINGS. The Shipping and Seamen’s Amendment Bill and the Amusement Tax Bill were read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. LOCAL BILLS. The Invercargill Corporation Empowering Bill and the Auckland City and Auckland Hospital Board Empowering Bill were put through the filial stages and passed without amendment. The following local Bills were read a first time and referred to- the Local Bills Committee:—Wellington City Empowering, Wanganui River Trust Amendment, Christchurch District Drainage Amendment; Palmerston North Reserves Amendment, and Hutt and Pttone Gas Lighting. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. In reply to Mr Wilford, the HON. G. J. ANDERSON said it was not a fact that large quantities of printing were being given to private firms to the detriment of the staff employed in the Government Printing Office. Such complaints were part of the propaganda that was going on, and it was a question whether the head of the Department and the Minister were going to run the Government Printing Office or whether the staff was going to run it. It was no part of the policy of the Government to send printing to private firms to the detriment of the Government Printing Office. CARRIAGE OF FISH. Replying to Mr J. V. Brown (Napier), the HON. D. H. GUTHRIE said the question of carrying fish at reduced rates on the railways was under consideration. SOCKBURN AERODROME. Replying to Dr Thacker and Mr G. Witty, the HON. SIR HEATON RHODES said the Government- had not yet considered the question of taking over the aerodrome at Sockburn, as the matter had not been put up to the Government as a business proposition. In any case the Government was not going to pay a big sum of money for this aerodrome when it had land and a number of facilities at Burnham. THE ESTIMATES. The House then went into Committee of Supply to further consider the Estimates. The first vote taken was that of the Customs Department, £108,507. The vote was passed. Lands and Survey, £193,666, was the next vote taken.

The discussion ranged over such topics as National Endowment tenure, settlers’ grievances of various kinds, and the destruction of rabbits, wild pigs, and keas. In reply to allegations that the Government was not clearing rabbits and wild pigs from Government reserves, the HON. W. NOS WORTHY' declared emphatically that the Government would do its duty in this connection, and some of the settlers who were putting all the blame on the Government might find the Department was getting to work a bit faster than was comfortable for them. The vote was passed. A vote of £42,353 for the Valuation Department was not discussed and the vote was passed. Electoral Department, £84,548. MR WILFORD complained of the imperfect condition of the electoral rolls, which he declared were in a most unsatisfactory state. MR MASSEY stated that the rolls had greatly improved during the last few week.;. Two supplementary rolls would be issued, and he thought that by the time the last supplementary roll was issued it would be found that the rolls were fairly complete and clean. Even now it might be possible to notify by registered post those persons whose names had been struck off the rolls. The vote was agreed to. Department of Agriculture, £253,312. The discussion was proceeding when the House adjourned at 5.30. When the House resumed at 7.30 the discussion on the vote for the Agricultural Department was continued. Replying to criticism, the MINISTER said he agreed that the Lincoln Agricultural College work should be extended, even if it meant selling some of the North Island state farm property, but until financial conditions improved he would not make any definite promise to expend more money. MR W. A. VEITCH (Wanganui), while protesting against starting experiment farms such as Mournahaki, suggested that scientific assistance might be obtained from the Cawthron Institute so that the farmer might obtain the best possible returns from his land. The MINISTER, referring to the Weraroa State Farm, said this was now run under practical scientific lines and was showing a profit. He believed that were there a change in methods Mournahaki would also before long show a profit on working. Replying to further suggestions for aid to state farms, he emphasised the point that on all hands the Government was urged to practise economy and retrench expenditure, and in t-he light of that he would not be driven by the Farmers’ Union or any other union into expenditure on anything that would not produce practical and profitable results. The vote was passed without amendment. Tourist Department, £71,792. In reply to general discussion, the HON. W. NOS WORTHY said that the Mount Cook Hermitage had been let for five years at £2OO per year. A Bill was to be introduced setting up a Board to govern the Tongariro National Park. He would give representation to the Natives on the Board. The vote was passed. State Forest Department, £103,590. MR WILFORD criticised this department, contending that too much money was being spent on it. Everyone knew that the Department was the favourite child of a particular Minister and he was very enthusiastic over it, but he thought the money spent on it was out of all proportion to the benefits that were being derived, i MR H. ATMORE (Nelson) hoped the Government would go on speqding more money on the Department and achieve results similar to those achieved in France cut of timber planted forty years ago. SIR HEATON RHODES said the Government fully recognised their responsibility - in the matter of reafforestation and only sheer necessity compelled them to economise in this department. MR MASSEY: And we are going on economising, make no mistake about that. In reply to Mr T. Y. Seddon (Westland), SIR HEATON RHODES said the Government had not yet come to any decision with regard to the site of the School of Forestry. Replying to Mr R. Fraser (Wellington Central), the MINISTER said it was no use discussing the question when there was no money to establish the school. Tlie vote was passed. Mental Hospitals, £301,736, was passed after a brief discussion. Public Health Department, £221,473. MR G. MITCHELL (Wellington South) stated that he had been informed that some of the stores for the Department had been purchased by the firm of Sir Duncan Elliott, and that some of them were purchased in retail shops in London. The HON. C. J. PARR said he did not know if what Mr Mitchell said was a fact, but he could scarcely credit it. He would,

however, inquire into it. It might be that the High Commissioner had employed Sir Duncan Elliott’s firm to make purchases. MR WILFORD said Sir Duncan Elliott was a consulting engineer, and it looked as if his wings should be clipped. The vote was passed. The following votes were also passed:— Cook Islands, £20,521; State Coal Mines, £270,166; Scenery Preservation. £9396; Nauru and Ocean Islands Account, £175,000; Land for Settlement and Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Account, £592; Native Land Settlement Account, £5733; Housing Account, £149,917; Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Account, £40,000; Fishing Industry Account, £10,000; Westport Harbour Account, £23,500’. War Expenses Account, £799,252. MR WILFORD said it was impossible to check these accounts, and asked how and where they were audited. MR MASSEY said the accounts were audited in London by a very good man. He was pleased to say that so far as he know this was the last of these liabilities, and that they had sufficient funds in the account to pay all liabilities. Public Trustee Account, £187,397; Native Trustee, £6,216; Government Insurance, £97,655; Government Accident Insurance, £10,975; State Fire Insurance, £61,2-67; Public Sendee Superannuation, £6140; Advances to Settlers Branch, £392,357; Advances to Workers Branch, £105,926; and Advances to Local Authorities Branch, £lO4/548; were passed.

This completed the consideration of the estimates and the House rose at 12.55 aun. till 7.30 p.m. on Monday.