PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 21193, 20 September 1930, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

RAILWAYS STATEMENT.

DEBATE CONTINUED IN HOUSE.

(Abridged from Press Association Message.) Wellington, September 19. The House of Representatives met at 10.30 this morning. The London and New Zealand Bank Limited Amendment Bill was reported from the Committee of Selection without amendment.

MR P. FRASER (L., Wellington Central) gave notice of his intention to introduce the Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Bill ahd the British Nationality and Status of Aliens in New Zealand Amendment Bill.

The City of Christchurch Electric Power and Loan Empowering Amendment Bill (Mr J. McCombs (L., Lyttelton) was introduced and read a first time. Consideration of the estimate of £6,378,003 for the Working Railways Account was resumed in Committee of Supply. Reduction of Coal Orders. The leader of the Labour Party -(MR H. E. HOLLAND again raised an objection to the reductions of the coal orders. He said that the Minister had explained that it was necessary to work down the existing supplies of inferior coal, but even if this were necessary there should have been the same danger of creating unemployment. MR W. E. PARRY (L., Auckland Central) referring to the Waikato coal contract, suggested that it would have been wise to spread the order over a number of companies with a view to keeping a greater number of men employed. The HON. W. A. VEITCH said that the position of the coal mines, in the Waikato could not be permanently dislocated. The Taupiri Company would not be a competitor as formerly in the open market, which was still available to the other companies. MR J. O’BRIEN (L., Westland) urged that the Department should use nothing but New Zealand coal on the railways. MR VEITCH: As far as is humanly possible we will.

Progress was reported, and the House rose at 12.45 till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday next.