WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20044, 6 September 1920, Page 7

WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

LOSS OF LIBERAL LEADER. PROGRESS WITH THE ESTIMATES, (Special to the “Star.”) "WELLINGTON, September 4. The House has been unable to settle down whole-heartedly to work this Mook. Tlio shadow of the death of tho leader of tho Opposition has oppressed everyone, and those who had boon associated with him for many years_ past have felt little inclined to exercise their powers of debate in tho midst of their sorrow. Wednesday, when the House passed its vote of a]>preciation o‘f the- work of Mr MacDonald and of sympathy with his rclatives, was a tragic day. Members found tho utmost difficulty in keeping a hand on their emotion long enough to pay the tribute, Mr T. M. Wilford, practised orator that he is, was unable to say moro than a few senten cos before he broke down. His experience was typical of what occurred to many others. There was assuredly nothing perfunctory about that vote of condolence. Iho House opened on Tuesday with tho usual budget of questions, and then' had a few minutes discussing prison reform following on the tabling of the report of the Prisons Board. The Houso adjourned, for the afternoon out of respect to the memory of tho late Mr Donald Reid, jun.. a former memIxir for Faieri. Odds and cuds filled tho evening, and then Labour carried out its promise of lighting tho War Regulations Continuance Bill to the lust ditch. They fought the thing verbally, but tho tide of battle left them swamped by numbers, and tho third reading was carried. Incidentally they will have something niorcTo fight in the measure when it comes hack "to them from tho Legislative Council, for Sir Francis 'Bell has announced his intention of adding the regulation, revoked last session, under which aliens, unless licensed to do so, camioi approach merchant vessels when they are loading or unloading at Now Zeal,.ad wharves. A great part of Thursday’s sitting was taken up with a discussion on the coal situation, tho chance’being offered by tho tabling of tho mines statement. Each member had his solution of tho difficulty of hoiy to increase tho output, and tho only tiling the majority seemed agreed upon was that Mr Holland’s proposal bring over the Broken Hill miners would, to put it mildly, he no good. The Prime Minister stirred up the Labour eight by remarking- that, one reason for the shortage of miners, was to bo found in tho fact that many men had conic to tho conclusion that they could not put up with tho go-slow policy forced on them by their loaders. After this period of general argument the unanimity of members on the next measure brought down was almost upsetting in its completeness. The measure in question was the Civil List (No. 2) Bill, which proposes to increase tlm salary of members of tho House to £450 a year and of Legislative Councillors to £’3oo. Mr -Massey said the Bill was merely given as a basis for argument, and lie was willing to accept suggestions. Evoryonfc immediately suggested £SOO and increases for Ministers. Some members suggested that tho loader of the Opposition should be paid more than the ordinary member, and at least, four of tho Liberal Party immediately looked self-conscious. Ultimately. after most of the members had explained that their constituents were in accord with the £SOO proposal, tho Bill was read a second time the Pi imo .Minister intimating that, he would move later to have it referred to a joint committee of both Houses, with a. view To having incorporated in it members’ views m regard to amount and superannuation. Tho Prime Minister came to the House On Friday with, a determination to get through a fair batch of the remaining Estimates. He achieved ins purpose by keeping tho House at work until after 3.30 a.m.. A great' deal of time was taken up with the Mental Hospital and Public Health votes. Mr Witty made his eighteenth annual speech on behalf of attendants at mental hospitals, and at last succeeded in getting an assurance from the Minister that he would fa.vourablv consider a suggestion that these attendants should be allowed to qualify for superannuation in a shorter period than oilier Civil Servants. ' Then country members held tho floor for a few hours discussing the trials of tho backblock mother; it was 14 p.m. before members felt that the Minister had heard enough- about tho mutter. Tho acting leader of the Liberal Party wanted an assurance that tho House would not bo asked to sit later than 1 a.m. Mr Massey, who had been comfortably curled up in his seat, agreed immediately, but he had a proviso that a reasonable amount of work must be done. Apparently lie ’ felt that the required amount had not been done, for it was long after that hour when tho House rose. The only satisfaction members did get was that Mr Massey agreed not to take education Hurt night,' and substituted for it agriculture. • Just to show that ho was serious about tho need for work he mentioned that Monday sittings would commence on -Monday week.