HOUSE SITS ON SATURDAY URGENCY FOR ESTIMATES

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 October 1946, Page 4

HOUSE SITS ON SATURDAY URGENCY FOR ESTIMATES

(P.A.) Wellington, Oct. 5. For the first occasion this year the House of Representatives to-day met on a Saturday, urgency being taken for most, of the remaining classes of the Estimates.

There was an early exchange when the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, suggested that, as it was an extra sitting day. the Estimates should take precedence over ordinary business. This, he said, might avoid the necessity for sitting‘during the afternoon If the Estimates could be finished by lunch time.

Mr. W. S. Goosman (Opp., Waikato) : That’s all right for Wellington members, but we can't go home. Why stay here unless we get some work done?

' I Fraser said that nothing would suit him better. He had merely wished to consult the wishes of members. There was some cross talk from members oi both sides before Mr. Fraser repeated that it would suit him excellently if members wished to sit all day.

When, after question time, the House was about to go into committee on the Estimates, Mr. Fraser observed that if they were completed by lunch time the House could proceed to other business.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland: We'll see about that.

Mr. C. M. Bowden (Opp., Wellington West) asked an urgent question as to the reason for the delay in issuing the Abstract of Statistics for the three months ended June 30. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, said they would probably appear next week. The delay had been caused by the need for a' new set of accounts consequent upon the absorption of the War Expenstes Account into the Consolidated Fund. DELAY OUTSIDE LAW.

Mr. Goosman: There has certainly been a delay. Delay outside the law. Government voices: Still growling. How's your liver?

Exception was taken by Mr. Fraser to the form of comment attached to a question by Mr. G. H. Mackley (Opp., Masterton) who gave notice to ask the Minister of Defence to what extent had a loss of public money been incurred by unauthorised persons improperly using Air Department orders for lhe purchase of railway tickets.

Mr. Mackley asked how many such orders had been used irregularly, and by what means did orders come into the possession of persons not entitled to them, also what steps had been taken to prevent a recurrence of fraudulent practices? Mr. Mackley said in a note to the question that several hundreds of pounds were obtained by some unauthorised persons who were issued with Air Department orders for railway tickets, and then obtained refunds on the tickets in cash from the Railway Department. Mr. Fraser said that Mr. Mackley. instead of asking a question, had made a charge. He thought the matter should be referred to the committee of the House. There had been abuse of the form of question. Mr. Holland said the question was perfectly legitimate. The Prime Minister should think it over until Monday and see it he still wished the ques. tion referred to the committee. Mr. Fraser said he did not object to the tenor of the question but the substance of question was stated as fact. The comment went too far, however. It was no use magnifying a trivial matter.

On Mr. Speaker pointing out that the question would be examined and if necessary revised, before being placed on the Order Paper, tne matter was allowed to drop.