BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1929, Page 15

BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

IMPREST SUPPLY PASSED NEARLY £3,000,000 ALLOCATED WIDE VARIETY OF DISCUSSION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Notice was given in the House of Representatives to-day to introduce the Auckland Electric Power Board Amendment Bill and the Preferential Voting Bill (Mr. J. McCombs). Replying to Mr. W. E. Barnard, Sir Joseph Ward said it would be against all precedent to lay on the table the cables relating to the London loan negotiations. If the Government adopted such a course he was of opinion that responsible authorities in London would not answer cables of a confidential nature on the subject of loan negotiations.

The following Bills were introduced and read a first time:—Summer Land Vesting Bill, Christchurch Electricity and General Empowering Bill, Auckland and Suburban Drainage Amendment Bill, and the Christchurch City Reserves Amendment Bill.

The Imprest Supply Bill No. 2 was introduced by Governor-General's message. Mr. P. Fraser asked whether the returns of the Post snd Telegraph Department had been included in the Consolidated Funds. He thought if this were not so the finances of the country might not have been in as desperate a position as it had seemed, and it might be possible to grant more for unemployment. •Sir Joseph Ward replied that he could give an assurance that the deficit of £577,000 had been ascertained after the credit from the Post and Telegraph Department had been dealt with. PLEA FOR RADIO AMATEUR. Mr. E. J. Howard complained that the State was preventing many New Zealand amateurs from dabbling profitably in the science of radio through its regulations which, he considered, were hampering the development of local talent and creating the necessity for importing practically all radio apparatus. He stressed the importance of radio communication and asked the Minister of Education to include a scientific bias in his policy. The Rev. C. Carr said it seemed to him the Radio Broadcasting Company had been given too favourable treatment. and he advocated greater consideration for B class stations and better facilities for baekblock users of radio. Mr. A. Harris complained of delay in making preliminary investigations into

the plans for the Auckland harbour bridge and of the failure of the Government to form a tribunal, as had been agreed, to discuss the subject.

The Postmaster-General stated that when Mr. McNamara returned the question of B class stations would be favourably reviewed. The Government did not wish to hamper local talent in any way, and he could promise Mr. Howard a sympathetic hearing of any suggestions he might have to submit to him in private. Mr. W. D. Lysnar referred to the subject of news, stating that while New

Zealand received a plenteous supply of news from other parts of the world, New Zealanders abroad were able to read very little information of happenings in their own country. He suggested

the explanation of this partially rested in the higher rates for cables abroad. Mr. Lysnar appealed for the completion of the Napier-Gisborne railway. He criticised the position in relation to mental hospitals, stating that under the present circumstances there was a danger of people being kept in institutions longer than was necessary. The conditions under which discharge was possible should be improved. Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller) requested

that when the new Westport post office was erected care should be taken that it was suitable for an earthquake area and that the facilities for escape in

time of danger should be ample. He also urged the reconstruction as early as possible of all the main roads damaged. The counties in the stricken area would require assistance to repair their roads. AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE. Mr. J. S. Fletcher agreed with Mr. Holland’s -suggestion that they should lose no time in getting on with the work on the West Coast. Referring to the Auckland harbour bridge, he said he was in favour of spending more money on a preliminary investigation to avoid the possibility of eventual failure. There were a number of sites that might be recommended, and he hoped care would be taken that the best one was chosen.

The conditions of woolgrowers were discussed by Air. W. 11. Field, who asked for consideration of the marketing conditions and stabilisation of the price. Air. D. G. Sullivan appealed for an

increase in the number of nurses trained for dental clinics for schools and for more buildings and equipment. He said that if progress continued at the present rate it would take a generation to meet adequately the demands of the country. Air. Sullivan also referred to the need for invalid pensions. The Hon. A. J. Stallworthy stated that even at the present rate of progress the school dental service would be operating throughout the country in six to eight years. He had been informed by a responsible officer that to make immediate provision for the whole country would absorb the whole dental profession. However, every effort would be made to extend the service as broadly as possible. Air. H. S. S. Kyi© supported the appeal for greater expenditure on dental clinics and added he hoped it was not true that the Government proposed not to provide the usual grant from the Public Works Fund for the Highways Board. Air. F. Langstone drew attention to the expiration of grazing run leases and to Crown lands which, he suggested, should be used in the land settlement scheme. . . . The Imprest Supply Bill authorising allocations amounting to £2,953,000 was then put through the remaining stages and passed. Replying to Air. J. G. Coates, Sir Joseph Ward said there would be an adjournment one day next whek owing to the death of an ex-member. It would possibly be Tuesday. If not, the Standing Orders would then be considcrcd. Tlie House rose at 5.30 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.