PARLIAMENT AT WORK

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 45, 28 June 1929, Page 5

PARLIAMENT AT WORK

THE OPENING DAY QUESTIONS AND NOTICES OJr" MOTION. UNEMPLOYMENT AND EARTHQUAKE RELIEF, WELLINGTON, Last Night. The House of ItepresenUtivcs resumed, to-day after returning from the opening ceiemqiif/ in the Legislative Council.

The Speaker ai.Uiounced the result of the Bay 'of Islands, petition and called upon Mr H. M. jtushworth to take the oath. This he did, sponsored by Mr W. J, Poison and Mr LeeMartin. Later Mr W. J, Jordan; (Manukau), who was lAot present at the short scission immediately alter the election, was also sworn in, his sponsors being Messrs M, J, Savago and E. J. Howard.

A large number of notices of motion were given and questions were asked principally referring to unemployment and earthquake damage and relief.

Mr W. A.. Bodkin (Otago Central) gave notice that he would move that a respectful address, be .presented .to His Excellency in reply to the speech delivered to both Houses, UNEMPLOYMENT SUBSIDY. Sir Joseph Ward, replying to Mr J. S. Fletcher, said Auckland! received exactly the same as other cities (£25,000) in the way. of subsidy for unemployment am) on similar conditions. In reply to Mr W. B. Parry, Sir Joseph Ward said the unemployment question throughout the country was being dealt with consistently by the Government, which was meeting the cases as it could. Mi- Parry: The numbers are s(n--creasinfr in Auckland. Sir Joseph: That is not our fault. Mr Parry: It i s not ours. Sir Joseph: I am afraid it is the fault, of somebody in Auckland.

Sir Joseph said money was being distributed •by the Government without any distinction. Notice of bis intention to introduce the Marriage Act Amendment Bill was given by Mr H. G. It. Mason.

EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE. In: ans\ve r to Mr H, E. Holland and! Mr J. G. Coates, the Prime Minister referred to the steps the Government -was taking to cope with the damage done by earthquake. Sir Joseph said a gre'at deal had already been done. It was big idea that there should bo co-ordination between the Government and the district committees. He bad suggested aTT the funds received by all the committees should bo paid into one committee, which should control them with tho advice of local committees. He hoped 'to be able to give, fuller details and a more authoritative statement tomorrow. Ho would consider the suggestion that members for the districts affected should be added to' the proposed central committees. In renly to Mr J. O'Brien (jWestland) Sir Joseph sai<] he would make a considered statement fco-morrow a? to what the Government could do t& assist in mating habitable the wrecked houses in the devastated area of the West Coast.

Replying to Mr Lee-Martin, Sir Joseph said! he would give the fullest consideration to the suggestion of ? week-end visit by members of the House to the locality of the proposed] extension' of the South Island main trunk railway.

AIR BASES. The Hon. T. M, Wilford, replying to Mr H, E. Holland said that of 44 aviation landing places, provided already in New Zealand there were four on the West Coast, of which one was. at Westport. At present he was not in a positiorS t 0 make a proon tbei Govern melt's scheme for landing places uistil legislation en the subject was cleared up. Two days.' leave of absence was grafted Mr G, Black (Motueka) on, the grounds of urgent public business. Six days' leave was granted Mr T. D. Burnett (Temuka) on account of illness. Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) was granted two days' leave and Sir Maui Pomare (Western Maori) six days' leave of absence on account of illness.

The Expiring Laws Continuance Bill was road a first tim e pr G forma.

Replying to. Mr «L G. C'oates, Sir Joseph Ward said he proposed,: to commence the debate on the Address-in-Reply on Tuesday, when there would be two speakers on.ly. To-mor-row he proposed! ta go on with, the Imprest Supply Bill. The House rose at 4.5 p.m.