HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19367, 25 July 1925, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

| The House met at 2.30. The Speaker reported that, •accompanied by several members, ho had waited on his Excellency and presented Ito him the reply to his Speech and that 'his Excellency had made suitable ack- ■ nowlodgment. 1 The following Bills were introduced hand road a first time: —Mutual Biro (Insurance Amendment Bill (Hon. Sir (Heaton "Rhodes), T.ifc Insurance Amendment Bill (Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes), I Apprentices Amendment Bill (Hon. 1 Anderson), Popular Initiative anti Rejforendum Bill (Mr McCombs), Roto[rua Borough Amendment Bill (Hon. .Bollard), Counties Amendment Bill I (Hon. Bollard). REFERENDUM BILL 1 In introducing his Bill Mr McCombs said the Referendum Bill was a step in the direction of freedom hnd was (calculated to educate the people on political subjects, just as the licensing i poll had educated them on the liquor (question, about which they probably knew more than on any other public i issue. Mr Sullivan said (although there was ■ but little hope of getting the Bill on 'to the Statute Book this session it was !widely adopted in t,ho States oi Amorlipa. In some eases proposals were carried on a small vote. If the system ■ were adopted here he thought thut boi fore a vote could be valid a certain jpercentage of the possible votes should lie recorded. I AGRICULTURAL BANK i Mr Wilford gave notice of intention ■to introduce the Agricultural Bank ; Bill. i ADVERTISING AND TOURIST DEPARTMENT I The Hon. Nosworthy tabled the report of the Tourist Department which i provoked a lengthy discussion during which members took advantage of the opportunity to “boost” the scenic advantages of their respective districts. Replying, the Hon. Nosworthy said that in view of the many calls upon the Department ho could not promise to go on with the Milford Sounds accommodation house this year. Discussing the charges tat sanatoriums, he said they had to be increased after the war as the result of the increased cost of administration, but he hoped he would bo able to revise them at an curly date. The Department had more work in hand this year than they had since he had been Minister and he expected to have bettor results next year since the Dunedin Exhibition was likely to bring a large number of peoiplo to the Dominion. ( Mr Howard said people in Afnch were hungry to hear something about (New Zealand, but there was no one to tell them about it. A fine set of lantern slides were sent to a gentleman in Durban but no descriptive matter, land so the slides wore of no use to him. That was a sample of the sort of thing that was being done by the various Departments, which should be co-ordin-ated under one head. . Mr Veitch contended that in addition to encouraging tourists to come from Abroad conditions should be such that New Zealanders should be able to see their own country. | The Prime Minister gave details of the co-ordination of the Departments for publicity purposes. Films, slides, (leaflets, etc., were being sent abroad ami a great dehl was being done to bring our scenic resorts under the notice of people in other countries. This publicity was now having its effect and arrangements were being made to provide the necessary accommodation for large parties which wore expected to come here. The Public Works Estimates would show what it was proposed to do. Sir Heaton Rhodes said the Government was perfectly aware of the damage being done by deer to native bush hnd the finest plantations, and steps were being taken to minimise it as much as possible. Mr Wilford said the Tourist Depart--mont was paying too little to its oflieers in Australia and ho protested. The debate had not concluded when the House (adjourned at 5.30. —— THE BUDGET. The House, resumed at 7.30 p.m. and , having resolved itself into Committee of Supply the Hon. Nosworthy, Min- ! ister of Finance, proceeded to delivei the Budget statement. The galleries were not so fully occupied as usual on such occasions. (The statement is reported on page 12). The delivery of the Budget occupied one hour and thirty-seven minutes. At its conclusion progress was reportec (and the House adjourned at 9.17 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.