PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16585, 18 November 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESEN« TATIVES. (-IFridged from Press Association.) AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. SHOPS AND OFFICES. Mr Fraser gave notice of his intention to introduce the Shops and Offices Act Amendment Bill. WOOL SALES. Ite-plying to Mr Witty, Mr Massey said lie regretted that no settlement had yet been arrived at which would permit the Wellington wool sales to prooeed. So far no great harm had been done by the delay, as only about five thousand bales had arrived for sale, and that was only a small proportion* of the quantity which usually comes to- hand. He was, however, hopeful of a speedy and satisfactory settlement of the difficulty that was holding up tfcfi sale. PENSION. Replying to Mr Sullivan Mr Massey said he had no intention of providing tor increased pensions for disabled soldiers, widows and orphans, until he had got the expenditure of the country well within its income. He was constantly asked to economise on one hand and ior increased expenditure on the other. He could not do both, and ho did not propose to increase expenditure by a penny piece until the revenue balanced the expenditure, which he hoped would not be long delayed. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. Replying to Mr Burnett. Mr Massey said it was well known that Christmas Day tliia year fell on a Sunday. With that it was not proposed to interfere, as was done on a previous occasion, but the Government did propose to introdue a Bill which would make the Tuesday after Boxing Day a general holiday, so that the public would not be deprived of the usual quota of holidays. FINANCIAL DEBATE. The debate on the Budget was continued. (A report appears in another column). ,