HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17111, 12 October 1917, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 11. The House met at 2.30.

THE WHEAT SUPPLY.

Hon. Buddo »«ked! the Minster of Agriculture what was the position with regard to the wneat supply. The Hon. Mac Donald replied that there were no Jmrnediate prospects of getting wheat iiom Australia. New Zealand was facing a shortage, and the Government was ?n constant communication with Australian suppliers. The trouble was with the seamen, aud as soon as the trouble was over two shipments would be &fiit, one to Auckland and one to .Dunedin. Mr Nosworthy wanted to know what was the actual shortage. The Minister said the shortage wasi about a million and a quarter bushels. It was considered that the prospects were for an increased yield, but there Was an actual shortage. There was ! every indication1 that there would be (plenty of wheat available from Australia when the shipping difficulty was removed. ESSENTIAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES HELD UP BY SEAMEN. ™R£ pl?ing to T>. T' backer, the Hob. •Ii VMa ™? y, was in conference with the Wellington Harbour Board with regard to. the unloading from overseas, vessels of supplies of antitoxin and pther drupes which' were Oein,g held up by labour troubles. He added that the-action of the waterside workers could not be allowed to go on much longer. DEFENCE EXPENDITURE. Replying to < Mr Parr, the Hon. W, H . iMassey said the Government was considering the question of appointing a commission to go into the who'e question of defence expenditure. A -Parliamentary committee could not deal with iV before the end of the session, and Ministers: had too much Cabinet work to give it the necessary END OF^ESSION. In answer io aa interjection, Mr Massey said he hoped the session would close on Saturday fortnight. SP BLJP. WORKS STATEMENT. ♦v £ Sln^ r of Pubhc Works laid ,the Public Works Statement and Estimates on- the taUe. He stated that ttedebate woula oeUaken to-morrow njgnt< >

ELECTORAL' BOUNDARIES Mr Hornsby moved for leave to introduce the Electoral Boundaries Commission "Bill.-; He explained that the Bill was mainly designed to secure peater regard 1o community inteiest in determining the electoral boundaries, enumerated, apparent absurdities m- connection with the new bountatelh^lf ked *¥ Gover^ent to Statute" Bo B O k! UP PUt *°U the

Mr Ell contended the population wag the correct basis for representation. To nx the boundaries permanently, as was proposed in the Bill, would be aftogether a retrograde step. Personally fen JTS* creasi ?g the represent^ rn^h r HOUSe •** five additional DJembers, as many districts were much too weildyfor poon men to con-

. : Mr Anstey favoured preference being given to' community interests rather than to population. The new Waitaki Electorate Was a shocking example of what a district should not be. £l a £ pealed to the Premier to intervene a£d .Mr Forbes said the Boundaries ComTh T ? A vel>y task. mumty interests but to see that hotels £ere not transferred from wet areas into dry districts. It was time a betf ter system was adopted. Members had only to look at. the maps of the pro! posed new boundaries to see how ludicrous.the present system was. There was undoubtedly a good deal to be S in favour of proportional represents t^n .but there was a good deal of opposition to it in the country district^ Country electors desired represent^ tives who knew their requirements and were interested'in their problems. This m ght not be pos^ble in large districts. His own electorate was how 200 miles walk^t ; t^ °*¥r members could walk over their districts in a day which meant.a great difference^ celt to the representative, particularly to country members, who were nearly al Ways out of pocket. If ever he got the opportunity he would- do his best to get tne remuneration of members in efoased. He also thought SHSK Si presenting large electorates have a travelling allowance. " ihe Premier s&id he did not know what was m the Bill, but he Was afraid there was hot much hope of anyS W g f n,t *S h * session *H° believed the Commissioners had don* their best in difficult circumstances It w*s impossible for them to please everyone. He realised the dif& SFlf^if H^^ce to hotel-keen-XnC h halpalfmtion of boundaries. He asked Parliament three years a« to deal with the matter, and"? change had been put mto the Bill providiqV Jinn %l \ a' StnCte that Should 1)0 done. That was not possible, in every. rTti V Ah * mJP know what more could be done. If local option.was goculty but Parliament was not iike-V to make that alteration. In reeard to Maori lepresentauon, no doubt some reconsideration was required. p e r SS L c iIS not Prel>ared tb say th«t the Maori representation should be placed on the same footing as ibe European. An Klcctoral Bill would be necessary next session, as there wpr e qmte a number of anomalies to be dealt with He mtimated that objections would be received by the Com missioners up +:o 6th November, «o there was plenty of time for the public to take action.

The debate was earned on on shmhr lines till 5.20, when Mr Hornsbv replied, and the Eill was introduced Ine House rose at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. ■ # Mr Massey moved the second readmg ? fJJive, c D'scha-rged Soldiers' Settlement Bill. The second reading was agreed to on the voices shortly after midniaht A minor amendment proposed" by f-lio Premier was agreed to, and the Bill was reported. The House rose.at 12.15.