POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17804, 31 August 1929, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

A LIVELY DAY. IMPREST SUPPLY PASSED. WARM PASSAGES EXCHANGED. (Times Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. Proceedings in the House of Representatives yesterday when the Imprest Supply Bill No. 3 was under consideration were lively. The first incident was the raising of a question of privilege by Mr A. M. Samuel (Reform member, Thames), who alleged that his military record had been slandered by the Minister of Education (Hon. H. Atmore), and then Mr J. A. Nash (Reform, Palmerston), and Colonel T. W. McDonald (United, Wairarapa). parried swords over a Manawatu difference.

A division, which might have threatened the Government’s retention of the Treasury Benches was narrowly averted when to secure the passage of the third Imprest Supply Bill, the Leader of the Opposition allowed a technicality to prevent the feeling of the House being tested on the refusal of the Prime Minister to table the much sought after correspondence relating to the London loan transactions. Both the Reform and Labour speakers demanded that the matter be cleared up in the interests of the present and former Ministers of Finance, and some warm words were exchanged in the many passages of the debate which lasted for several hours. The closing incident was the intimation of Mr Coates that he would lake a further opportunity of ascertaining the views of the House on the subject. The Bill was passed at 5.55 p.m.

SUMMERTIME BILL. A PERMANENT MEASURE. WELLINGTON, Friday. The Summer Time Bill was read a second time in the Legislative Council to-day. The Leader of the Council, Hon. T. K. Sidey, said the only difference from the measure of last, year was that it was proposed to put it on the Statute Book without limitation of the period of effectiveness.

POLITICS AND BUSINESS. WELLINGTON, Friday. The manner in which the Postmas-ter-General, Hon J. B. Donald, is administering his Department does not please Mr W. Lee Martin (Raglan). "It is generally known the Minister has large business interests, and that lie is devoting a lot of time to those interests,” said Mr Martin. “However, as he has taken this office he should devote more lime to the work of the Department of which ye is the head.”

NO BAN ON ALSATIANS. WELLINGTON, Friday. A motion suggesting the prevention of the breeding and importation of Alsatian dogs was defeated on the voices in the Legislative Council today. An amendment was carried referring the question of menace to the joint agricultural and Pastoral Committee for consideration and report.