SESSION NOTES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2029, 16 August 1920, Page 6

SESSION NOTES.

JOTTINGS FROM THE GALLERf. PROFIT ON MOTOR-CARS. IFrom Our Own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON 7 , August 14. According to Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt), nobody has any idea of the profit that the middleman makes on a motor-vehicle. The Acting-Leader of the Opposition has informed the House that he bought in America a secondhand car, in first-class order, and that, I after paying freight and duty, he could have sold it in New Zealand at double its value. Disillusioned! To Br A. K. Newman, the pessimistic member for Wellington East, one of the refreshing things about new members of Parliament is the wonderful trust which they put in a Ministerial promise. He told the House that, and hon. members smiled, but Dr Newman only shook his head sadly, and advised the newcomers to remember the definition of a politician as "one who would circumvent God." Profiteering Investigations. The request that the proceedings of the Prices Investigation Tribunals should be made open to the Press was advanced by the Hon. J, lA. Hanan (Invercargill). The hon. member pointed out that, if this wero done, people would know what was going on. as they did in Australia, where all the investigations were carried out in open court. In reply, the Hon. E. P. Leo (Minister of Industries and Commerce) said that the retailers wished the investigations done away with altogether. That was one side—here was the other side. Meanwhile, he was inquiring just what was the procedure in Australia. When he had that information lie would probably have something further to say. Preference in Telephones. Maybe the ordinary man does not know who heads the preference list in regard to the installation of telephones. Replying to complaints of long delay in giving connections to applicants, the Hon. J. G. Coates (Post-master-General) said that members of Parliament came first on the list. He thought that members of Parliament, who got more kicks than ha'pence, were at least entitled to preference in regard to the installation of the telephone. Then came medical men, returned soldiers, business men and ordinary subscribers. Mr B. McCallum (Wairan): Don't Ministers come first? Mr Coates: Ministers of the Crownf Mr McCallum: Yes! Not of the Gospel this time. Mr Coates: No, they don't come first! Hon. members: Where does the backblocker come in? Other members: Last! Nowhere! Later, the Postmaster-General said that country settlers came under a different heading. Cheaper Fencing Wire. In the House, Mr A. I). McLeod (Wairarapa) asked if, in view of the fact that fencing wire was to-day costing farmers 600 per cent, more than before the War, the Government would seriously consider the question of making a vote frdm the Consolidated Fund to assist farmers to purchase cheaper wire. The House greeted the question with laughter, and various opinions were expressed as to which Minister should reply.

"I think." said tlie Prime Minister, "that it is necessary tha,t I should have first say. I am quite willing to take the suggestion into consideration, but I may just as well say at once that we cannot possibly subsidise the purchase of fencing wire by farmers." However, he added, if it were possible for the Government to obtain information that would result in cheaper supplies than at present, he would be very glad to get that. Mr McLeoil: That's what I want! Why Mr Horn Makes Speeches. Quite an original apology for speaking was offered in the House of Representatives by Mr J. Horn (Wakatipu). "You see," he said, "in Wellington they have four members of Parliament, and one in the suburbs—that's five—and they have three main newspapers. In my district tliery are nine newspapers published, and I have to talk for every one of those nine. (Laughter.) Elective Executive Proposal.

"When Mr C. K Statliam (Punedin Central) moved his elective executive amendment to the Address-in-Beply, the Prime Minister contended that the reform should have been attempted by way of a Private Member's Bill, and he promised to give such a Bill a "fair rim" if it were introduced. On Friday it was introduced, .hist as the House was going into Committee of Supply, on Mr Massey's motion, Mr Stathnm asked if he could have an opportunity of moving for leave to introduce his Bill. The Prime Minister said that he would be perfectly willing, but such a motion would-probably gi\c rise to an afternoon 's debate. Hon. .1. A. Hanan (Invereargill): There will be no debate. Mr 0. VV. Forbes (Hurunui): Tf the Government takes it up, there will be no debate! Mr Massey: Oh! T cannot promise that the Government will take it up! Mr Hanan: You promised that you would give this Bill a fair show! Mr Massey: And I shall keep my word I The Bill was introduced an I lead a first time without debate. Relations With United States. An appeal for better representation of New Zealand in the United States of America was made bv Mr T. M. Wilfonl (Hull) while the Estimates were being considered on Friday. The hon. member stated that the only Dominion representative in the States was an insurance agent in San Francisco, who received a salary of £IOO, and another £lou for office expenses, to act as New Zealand agent. Yet that was in a country from which '.\7 per cent, of the Dominion's trade had come last year. Hon. •'. .1. Parr (Minister of Education): Would it not be better if the man were in Washington f Mr Wilford: Yes! I believe it would!