PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18395, 31 July 1931, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

RAILWAYS BOARD. POSITION OF A MEMBER. MR FLETCHER’S ALLEGATIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. A question concerning a member of the Railways Board was asked by Dl r j, S. Fletcher (Independent—Grey Lynn) in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Fletcher asked the Prime Minister if he would investigate reports that a member of the board had been, or was, in receipt of remuneration for services rendered to an American oil trust, and if this was correct, would the Prime Minister ask for the member’s resignation, as the interests of oil trusts and the New Zealand Railways were diametrically opposed. Dir Fletcher .stated that there was no suggestion of any reflection on the personal honour of the individual referred to, hut the holding of the two positions seemed inconsistent from a business point of view. The Prime Minister replied that members of. the Railways Board were not precluded from holding other business positions. He had sufficient confidence in the board to believe that it.would deal with any matters before it solely in the interests of the public. Mr Forbes added that Mr Fletcher had not named the member of the board to whom he referred, but Mr Forbes declared he refused to believe that the conduct of any member would be influenced if he held a position of the nature mentioned. legislative council. BILLS PASSED. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Legislative Council met to-day. Replying lo the lion. R. McCallum. the Leader, Sir Thomas Sidey, said it was not proposed to introduce legislation this session dealing with the question of Hie Ashburton licenses on (.ho lines or the judgment, of Hie Privy Council upholding the decision of the Court of Appeal. The imprest, Supply Bill was received from the House of Representatives and was passed. The Local Bodies Loans (Bate of Interest) Bill and the Bent Restriction Extension Bill were put through all stages and passed without discussion. The Counci adjourned until August it.