SESSION NOTES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1735, 5 September 1919, Page 8

SESSION NOTES.

JOTTINGS FROM THE GALLERY. JAUNT TO SAMOA PROPOSED. [From Our Own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 4. Members sat up and took active notice of one suggestion made by Mr A. Harris (Waitemata) in his seconding of the Address-in-Reply in the House of Representatives this evening. Mr Harris was speaking of Samoa. "I think that hon. members should see Samoa," he said. Mr G. Payne (Grey Hear, hear! That's a very commendable suggestion! "I am going to sucgest," continued Mr Harris, "that after the general election Hon. members: No! No! Before it! Mr Harris: I am afraid there will hardly be time before, but after the ! general election the Government should invite members to go to Samoa. (Hear, hear.) Mr J. Payne (Grey Lynn—evidently with a thought of what polling day may bring): And pastmembers!

Mr C. H. Poole (Auckland West): In the Amokura? Mr Harris explained that the House could not properly legislate for the islands until its members had personal knowledge of the requirements of the natives. Dominion Training Ship. A question concerning the new Dominion training ship to replace the Amokura was asked in the House of Representatives by Mr W. T. Jennings this evening. Replying, the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) said that a more up-to-date training shiD was being secured. When he was in Europe a message had come to him from the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) suggesting that a ship should be secured to replace the Amokura. He had aoproached the Admiralty, and a ship had been offered at once. It was a matter of selecting, but he could not select a suitable shin, and arrangements had been made for Commander Hooper, then in command of the Amokura, to go Home and make the selection, and he had no doubt that he would get them one of the most suitahle ships in the Royal Navy for that purpose.

Prices of Wheat.

Mr C. J. Talbot (Temuka) has given notice to ask the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. Nosworlhy) if he will take steps to gazette immediately the minimum wheat prices for next season, as promised by the previous minister, at 5/6, 5/8 and 5/10, according to variety, and if ho will,also announce the intention of the Government with regard to the 1921 crop. As a Canterbury member the Minister must know, said Mr Talbot, that the wheat industry had been languishing for a considerable time, one reason being that the Government's prices for the next season had not been published in time to allow farmers to prepare and sow the land. Visitors to Parliament.

The claims of visitors from distant parts of the Dominion were urged by Mr G. Witty (Riccarton) when Mr Speaker was making a statement regarding the seating accommodation of the various galleries and the issue of tickets to members. The hon. member said that visitors from'distant constituencies came to the House perhaps once in their lives—and then their members found the galleries packed by Wellington people who could come any night. Mr Witty contended that a certain number of seats should always be available for these "visiting visitors" and Mr Speaker agreed to so set apart 10 seats in the ladies' and 20 in the men's gallery. This does not mean that no more than 30 distant electors can get accommodation as a general rule, but it guards a'jainst the complete tilling of the galleries by city people and the consequent disappointment of visitors to Wellington.