THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19622, 17 October 1933, Page 3

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

A DULL PERIOD (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, October 13. The Legislative programme of the Government has been at a standstill during the week on account of the death of the Leader of the Opposition, and the sole business has been the debate on the Prime Minister’s report on the Monetary and Economic Conference, which occupied two days when only one was anticipated. The major happening of the week was the selection of Mr M. J. Savage as leader of the Parliamentary Opposition. There is considerable speculation in Parliament circles as to the outcome of the Buller by-election. Indications are that the labour candidate will be Mr P. C. Webb, who represented the Grey electorate in 1913, 1914 and 1917. In 1918 Mr Webb lost his seat owing to being absent without leave for one whole session. Mentioned in conjunction with Mr Webb is Mr Roy Holland, a son of Mr H. E. Holland, but indications are that Mr Webb will be the Labour candidate. At present the attitude of the Government is not clear, but it is understood that there is not likely to be a candidate sponsored by it should the Labour interests present a strong man. However, should there be some person in the Buller electorate desirous of contesting the seat on behalf of the Government" he will be assured of its support. There is reason to believe that at least two of the three proposals contained in the Gaming Amendment Bill sponsored by Mr E. F. Healy (C. Wairau) will be passed this session. The three amendments provide for the telegraphing of bets to the totalisator, the establishment of a double totalisator and the publication of dividends. The doubtful provision is that of the telegraphing of bets. It is understood that so impressed were the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Internal Afiairs by the case put forward by the deputation from the New Zealand Racing and Trotting Conferences that there is a possibility of the Government taking up the measure itself. While it is doubtful whether the clause legalising the telegraphing of bets will pass the House, Mr Healy is confident of sufficient support to pass the whole measure this session. The Labour member for Auckland Suburbs (Mr H. G. R. Mason) provoked considerable laughter in the House on Thursday by remarking, “In my electorate whenever the Prime Minister’s name is mentioned, I find it hard to say anything good about him, but I can now tell them that, ‘well, he went to the Conference and he did no harm’.”

Criticising a remark of the Prime Minister to the effect that the Douglas Credit Theory was dead some years ago, Mr H. M. Rushworth (Ind., Bay of Islands) instanced the debates and discussions that were going on daily in the Home land and continued, “This is the matter the Prime Minister said was dead. I think the Prime Minister is referring to some other death. Probably he was thinking of the death of his one and only idea. (Laughter.) However, it is not my intention io discuss the Douglas Credit Plan. The prisoner in the dock is the present system.”

In a vigorous attack on the Quota System during the discussion on the Prime Minister's report on the World Conference, Mr H. M. Rushworth (Ind., Bay of Islands) made the follwoing statement: “There is only one place we should put the quota and that is in Hell.”

The report of . the Director of Forestry which was tabled In the House on Thursday, contains much interesting information. Amongst the points are: “The area of new plantations established during the year aggregated slightly under 16,000 acres, the lowest since 1925. The total plantation establishment (in round figures) is 363,700 acres. As nearly all the South Island plantations are now fully planted up, future planting will of necessity be confined to the North Island. The projected planting programme for the coming season is 35,00 acres of which approximately 30,00 acres are located in the North Island.” In the annual report of the Forestry Department which was tabled in the House on Thursday reference is made as follows to a reservation in South Canterbury:—“A third Canteibury reservation was that of some 30 acres of which approximately one half is in dense native bush situated in Raules Gully, South Canterbury. This land was set aside some time ago for the purposes of scenic preservation, but its actual proclamation was ove-looked. The omission has accordingly now been l ectified.”