N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18157, 23 October 1930, Page 7

N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS. RAILWAY WATTERS. DEFINITE POLICY WANTED. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. “ I want to put it to the actingprime Minister and the Government that it is both abnormal and unprecedented to ask for borrowing authority to the extent of £9,000,000 when the leading questions affec-tihg the Government’s policy have not been laid before the House,” said the Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Reform —Dunedin West) in criticising the Government’s financial proposals during the second reading debate on the Finance Bill in the House of Representatives this evening. “ The public wants to know and the newspapers are asking that this question should be brought to a head, even if the Government finds it necessary to call a-special session, because of the dangerous consequences that will arise if no definite policy Is laid down and approved by the House." Mr. Stewart said he desired to urge upon Mr. Ransom the crucial importance to the country involved in clearing up the railways problems as soon as possible. The Labour Party’s view was that the railways w’ere a social service and that it did not matter whether they paid or not, their losses being compensated by increased land values in the areas through which they ran. If that policy were pursued it would not be long before the New Zealand railways were in the same position as those in Australia.

FRANKTON RESIDENT. COMPENSATION PETITION. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The petition of Ralph Cleveland, of Frankton Junction, seeking compensation for the loss of health while employed by the Railway Department, or alternatively, a substantial compassionate grant, was to-day recommended to the Government by the House of Representatives for favourable consideration.

MEMBER FOR GISBORNE.

NOW AN INDEPENDENT. (Times Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. If any further indication-was nesessary from Mr W. D. Lysnar, the member Gisborne, as to the new position he now occupies in the House of Representatives in relation to the Reform Party, it was giyen by him -when the House met to-day. Announcing that'he wished to make a personal statement, Mr Lysnar asked Mr Speaker to dissociate him in the future from the Reform Party in calling on speakers in party order of rotation. “I would like to point out to the honourable gentleman," said Mr Speaker, “that now he has become an Independent he may not get the same opportunity to be called on.” (Laughter.)

SANDERS CUP BOATS. , NOT FREE ON RAILWAYS. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. In the House of Representatives today, Mr R. Semple'(Labour, Wellington East) asked whether the Minister of Railways would v he prepared to allow boats competing in the Sanders Cup race at Dunedin in February next, to be carrjed free on the railways. The Minister replied that while he was anxious to encourage the sport, in the existing financial conditions he could riot see justification for the concession askea lor.

AMENDMENTS TO BILLS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A message was received from the Legislative Council to-day asking the House of Representatives to appoint three managers to confer with three managers from the Council regarding amendments to the New Zealand University Amendment Bill and the Law Practitioners Bill. The Minister of Education, Hon. H. Atmore, moved that Messrs H. G. Dickie (Reform —Patea), W. E. Barnard (Labour —Napier) and himself be appointed. This was agreed to.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. MR. FIELD’S POSITION. (Times Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The suggestion that Mr. F. R. Field, of Auckland,' should be gx-anted an annuity to enable him to pursue his scientific investigations and to publish the results, was made by the M to Z Petitions Committee in reporting to the House of Representatives to-day on a petition from Auckland residents asking that Mr. Field be given a position in the public service in connection with his scientific work.