PARLIAMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18140, 14 December 1928, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

THE HOUSE IN SESSION. NEW GOVERNMENT’S FIRST BILL By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Upon formal business being called on, Sir Joseph Ward intimated that the Ministers did not propose at that sitting to answer questions put without notice. Later lie proposed to ask the House to adjourn and meet again at 7.30 p.m., when lie would place before members an important Bill, which lie would ask them to put through all its stages and pass before rising. Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) asked if the Government proposed to answer questions to-morrow or whether they proposed to complete the business of session to-night? There were one or two important matters requiring settlement. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said that to-night he proposed to put through necessary legislation. If the , lion, gentleman had one particular matter in view he would ask him to wait until he (Sir Joseph Ward) had an opportunity of making a statement. Fie might then find that there would he no necessity to put his question. When formal business had been completed, Sir Joseph Ward said he proposed to ask the House to adjourn till 7.30 p.m. His reason was that an important Bill was in course of preparation. The Hon. W. D. Stewart: “ An Appropriation Bill?” Sir Joseph Ward: “Yes, an Appropriation Bill; and it cannot be put before His Excellency until 5.30 p.m. He did not wish to go into details because there was no need to make two speeches, but at 7.30 p.m., in the course of an hour’s speech he thought he would be able to explain its provisions. Mr H. E. Holland (Buller): “Does the Prime Minister hope to finish the business to-night?”

Sir Joseph Ward replied “yes.” He thought his proposals would be so universally acceptable-that there would be no difficulty in finishing to-night. Mr Fraser pointed out that this was Thursday, and his Rent Restriction Continuance Bill was at the top of the Order Paper.

Sir Joseph Ward, Interposing, said that if it would relieve the mind of the hon. gentleman, he might say that the matter was provided for in the Bill to come down to-night. Mr Fraser accepted this assurance, and at 2.65 p.m., the House rose till 7.30 p.m. QUESTIONS BY MEMBER FOR TIMARU. (Special to the “Herald.”) WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. Notice was given in the House today by Mr Clyde Carr, to ask the Postmaster-General whether an extension of time has been to the Radio Broadcasting Co. of New Zealand, whereby the existing monopoly is to be continued for a further three and a half years? Whether, as he was credibly Informed, the sum of £IO,BOO more or less has been paid to Amalgamated Wireless Australia, Ltd., agents for the" German Company, by New Zealand, in satisfaction of certain unproven claims for the infringement of patent rights by the retail trade? Also whether it is Intended to increase listeners’ annual license fees by one shilling?