PARLIAMENT DAY BY DAY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18850, 13 April 1931, Page 4

PARLIAMENT DAY BY DAY.

POINTS IN MEMBERS’ SPEECHES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, April 10. All In the Same Boat. “We are all in the same boat so far as depression is concernedremarked the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. P. A. do la Perrelle) in the House of Representatives, speaking on the Mortgagors Relief Bill. "My candid belief is that all sides of the House should do their best to pull with their full weight in this particular boat. This is not a time for party bickerings; it is a time when we should sink our political party differences, as the country demands. It devolves on every member of the House, in connection with the ship of politics, to do his utmost and assist the Government to carry through its important legislation." The Governor’s "Cut. Refemce to the action of the Go-vernor-General in foregoing 10 per cent, of his salary was made by the Leader of the Legislative Council (the Hon. Sir Thomas Sidey) when replying to the debate on the second reading of the Finance Bill. Sir Thomas pointed out that there had been no increase in the salary of the Governor-General as a result of the increased cost of living due to the war. The only increase had been one of £SOO in the amount allowed for the salaries and expenses of his establishment. The Council would thus understand that compliance with His Excellency’s desire meant that the emoluments of the office of Governor-General were less than those of pre-war days. “It is His Excellency’s wish that the reduction should not attach to the office, but only to himself," said Sir Thomas. "A Scarecrow Bill" “I would describe the Bill as the scare-crow Bill," remarked Mr W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) in the House to-day, speaking on the Mortgagors Relief Bill. Mr Speaker: Order, the hon. gentleman is not In order in speaking like that about a Bill.” “Well, I will withdraw,” said Mr Parry. “But it reminds me very much of the statement made by the Minister of Lands about the gardener who stuffed a coat and a pair of pants." “Order,” commanded Mr Speaker again, “the hon. gentleman is trying to state the same thing in another way.” Mr Parry: “However, it does appear to me that the Bill is put up for the purpose of scaring the mortgagee and preventing him from taking action that he otherwise might take. That is not sufficient to satisfy the people who require assistance, and especially the farming community. The Bill does not go far enough." Steam Hammer and Peanut. The Labour member for Christchurch South, Mr E. J. Howard, was critical of the proposal in the Mortgagors Relief Bill that the Supreme Court should be required to effect | settlements as between mortgagor and ! mortgagee in dispute, i “It is like setting up a steam hammer to crack a little peanut,” said Mr Howard, “where the work could be done by a Government Department. There is no need for making use of all the elaborate machinery of the Supreme Court, which is slow in action, grinds very slowly, and usually grinds very small.” The Road To Revolution. “We are treading the road to revoluion,” declared the Hon. W. Earnshaw peaking on the Finance Bill in the Jpper House. “This Bill is deliberately designed to suppress and crush the underdog—the man who is struggling below the line of existence—and I Would be failing in my duty as a representative of Labour all my life if I did not stand four-square against this iniquitous proposal.” The Hon. R. Masters, Deputy Leader of the Council, said he regretted the remarks of the previous speaker, because he could not help but feel that they were of an irresponsible nature. “I say that advisedly,” he said. “I regret to hear a man of Mr Earnshaw’s years and experience giving expression to such an outrageous statement." Earthquake Prediction. An urgent appeal to the Government to avail itself of the services of Mr F. R. Field, of Auckland, who, it was contended, was able to predict earthquakes with great accuracy, was made by Mr A. Harris (Reform, Waitemata);, during the second reading debate on the Hawke’s Bay Earthquake Bill. Mr Harris declared that in view of the proved ability of Mr Field to predict disturbances, the Government would be criminally liable if it did not take advantage of his knowledge. For many years Mr Field had asserted that earthquakes could be predicted and he had done this on many occasions. He believed he had predicted the upheaval in Hawke’s Bay. Mr R. A. Wright (Reform, Wellington Suburbs): “There is no evidence of that.” Mr Harris said it was commonly thought in Auckland that this had been done. He did not wish to create any public alarm, but Mr Field was of the opinion that New Zealand would experience a recurrence of earthquakes and he had declared as late as last i Tuesday that he had fears in this re- i spect. The F. F,. Field Research Society was satisfied that Mr Field’s; information should be made available \ to the Government, and it was pre- j pared to guarantee his salary for six I months if it were found at the end of ! that time that Mr Field's value did not j warrant an appointment with the j State. Mr Field himself said that if ! he could have access to Government; records and instruments lie could state where end when *. serious earthquake would take place.