PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160739, 27 August 1920, Page 9

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 26. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The incensing Amendment Bill was put through committee without amendment and passed. The Bills of Exchange Bill, making provision similar to that struck out of the Law Amendment Bill, regarding bankers’ liability for fraudulent cheque transactions, was read a third time. Other third readings passed were the Arms and Crimes Amendment Bills. The Council adjourned at 3.30 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30 p.m. BUTTER SUPPLIES. Replying to Mr Mitchell, Mr Massey said there were ample butter supplies in New Zealand at the present time to serve tho population up to October IstThis was owing to the fact that largo supplies were carried over from last session. He was not in a position to say what tho Government would do in the event of an increase in price taking place, which increase he regarded as certain. He understood negotiations were still going on between tho Imperial authorities and the producers, and when they had come to a decision,, then in) would ):e able to say what the Government would do, He did not think the price of butter would rise to 2s 9d. RAILWAY FARES. Replying to Mr Sidey, Mr Massey said he did not think the Railway Amendment Bill would be introduced for some weeks. It was being prepared, but he thought pressure of other busi ness would keep it back. Replying to Mr Mitchell, Mr Massey said ho would consult his officers with a view to ascertaining whether it was possible to organise tho transport ser vices of the Dominion. COAL PROM AUSTRALIA. Mr Massey, in the course of a statement, said ho had received a further communication from tho Premier of the Commonwealth on the question ot coal for New Zealand, which was satisfactory as far as it went. Tho cable did not say we could get all the coal we wanted, but it did undertake that considerable supplies would be shipped to New Zealand, and which should ar rive hero in the course of £Hc next fortnight. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. Imprest Supply Bill No. 3, appropriating ,£3,264,900, was introduced by Adiminstrator’s message. On the question of going into Committee of Supply, -Mr McCombs advocated the immediate adoption of tho “Hiley scheme” in connection with our railways. Ho particularly stressed tho need for the electrification of the Lyttelton tunnel and tho running of “train trains” into Christchurch city. On the second reading, Mr Mac Donald (leader of the Opposition) said there were no new features in the schedule. The first item—-£2,100,000 for general expenses—might a:;cm a largo one, .but the fact was our expenditure was over two millions per month. The Hon. lianan said the time had arrived when several of our great public departments should receive an overhaul with a view to reducing expenditure. Our expenditure was increasing by leaps and bounds, and there wan urgent need to ascertain whether that expenditure could not bo curtailed. Ho suggested that a commission should bu set up to go into the whole question. Mr Wilford raised the question ot. the electrification of the Otira tunnel. He pointed out that a paragraph recently appeared in tho newspapers stating that a. contract lor this work had been let to the English Electrical Company. The only other tenderer wan the National Electric Company, a purely New Zealand company, and he wanted to know whether tenders had been given to a company of which Mr Evan Parry, late electrical advisor to the Government, is general manager, and whether at the time the tender of the English company was accepted Mr Parry was not still adviser to the Government, and had in his possession the specification.-) prepared on this work by the National Company. He wanted the tenders laid on the table and the whole of the facts in connection with the transaction placed before the House. The matter was so important that he could not understand why this had not been done before now.

Dr. Newman complained of unfair railway expenditure in Auckland Province as against Wellington. Mr McCallum complained that no steps had yet been taken to construct a national road between the West Coast and Blenheim.

Mr Forbes regretted that the Government had shown no initiative in making the Don inion independent of outside supplies of motor spirits. He also wanted some definite information regarding the proposed motor tax. Mr Hockley urged that settlement of a great area of country between Botorua and Taupe should be undertaken at once. He, however, recognised that this could not be done successfully without railway communication, the construction of which railway, he submitted, was a national work.

Mr P. Fraser complained that the Government had given Now Zealand seamen no opportunity of being represented at the Genoa Conference, as provided by the Peace Treaty, and he wanted the Premier to give the House some reason why this injustice had been done to the maritime community.

The Hon. Ngata complained that the Public Service, under the Public Service Commissioners, was becoming too independent of Ministers. There was too little co-ordination, and as well as revising the Customs tariff next session, he hoped the Government would take in hand tho reorganisation of the Public Service.

Mr Massey incidentally mentioned that a Bill was coming down this session that would eliminate a number of difficulties under which the Public Service Commissioners laboured in co-ordin-ating the service. Continuing, Mr Ngata urged the great need of railway development along the East Coast and Bay of Plenty, which were the only districts in the Dominion in which there was any elbow room left. He concluded by warning the House against any attempt to too rapidly place the Maori race on an equality with the pakeha. Mr Eeed contended that the work of equalisation of the races should have been much further advanced many years ago. The present policy of drift advocated by Mr Ngata could only end fatally for the native race. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m.

Discussion on the motion to go into committee on the Imprest Supply Bill was continued by Mr Lysnar. who urg-