THE HOUSE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22831, 2 March 1944, Page 4

THE HOUSE

Questions Put To Ministers Meeting With Chiefs- Of Staff To-day (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON. Mar. A number of matters of considerable interest to members were discussed when the House of Representatives met at 2.30 o’clock to-day. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) announced that it would not be possible to resume the secret session to-day. and he proposed that the mover and seconder of the Address in Reply should speak in the evening after the Invercargill Licensing Committee Bill had been discussed during the afternoon. There was again an unusually large number of questions askey by members dur in" the period devoted to formal business. The matter of delays in' transacting the business of the Hous*, which had been prominent during the w’eek-end recess, got brie* mention when Mr Fraser discussed the programme for the rest of the week.

Flood Damage An assurance that the Government would take prompt action through the Public Works and Lands Departments to provide access to the flooded areas and to assist farmers to get their cream to factories in the Edgecumbe and Te Whaiti areas on the East Coast was given by Mr Fraser, replying to questions by Mr F. W. Doidge (National, Tauranga), Mr G. F. Sim (National. Rotorua) and Mr W. Sull’vsn (National. Bay of Plenty). Mr Frasjr also said the Government was prepared to provide financial relief to settlers by way of loan, and arrangements were being made with the Department -of Agriculture to report on any claims. In addition a comprehensive report would be made on remedial measures for river control.

Pay Without Work Notices of question presented bv members included two referring to the decision of the Waterfront Commission to pay 8 '4 an hour to watersiders for work actually done by American servicemen. Mr A. J. Murdoch (National. Marsden) asked the Minister of Stabilisation whether in view of this decision the Minister would review the refusal of the Stailisation Commission to agree to a request made by the Whangarei Dairy Company for permission to pay a bonus to all its employees for extra services rendered during the year. Mr K. J. Holyoake (National. Pahiatua) asked the Prime Minister whether, if the statement was correct that watersiders had been paid £l5O for work done by Americn soldiers. Mr Fraser would state whether this payment was made under reciprocal leaselend and came out of the New Zealand War Expenses Account.

The Dunedin City Corporation Empowering Bill (Mr J. W. Munro) and the Walpukurau Borough Milk Supply Bill (Mr C. G. E. Harker) were introduced, read a first time and referred to the Local Bills Committee. Mr R. McKeen (Government, Wellington South) was appointed Chairmen of Committees on the motion of Mr Fraser, the appointment being supported bv the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland), both of whom complimented Mr McKeen on the manner in which he had discharged his duties In the past. Course of Business Mr Fraser announced that members would be given the opportunity tomorrow morning to listen to the chiefs of staff and the manpower authorities, including the Minister (the Hon. A. McLagan. M.L.C.) and to ask any questions desired. It was not likely that this meeting would conclude before noon, and he proposed that the House should take formal business at 2.30 and then members would return to the meeting with the chiefs of staff, which would throughout be only for members of both Houses.

Mr Fraser asked If It would suit the Opposition for the usual adjournment to be taken after the mover and seconder of the Address in Reply had spoken to-night and for the debate to be resumed to-morrow night, or would the Opposition prefer to go on with the debate to-night. Mr Holland said Mr Fraser obviously was trying to continue the little controversy between them over the week-end. _

Mr Fraser: Forget about it. Mr Holland: “I will not be caught by that sort of chaff." He added that they would not deny the mover and seconder the customary compliment of adjourning after their speeches. The Opposition would play its full part in the debate to-morrow night. Replying to Mr Doidge. Mr Fraser said he hoped to complete the secret session on Friday.