SLOW PROGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 225, 23 September 1929, Page 19

SLOW PROGRESS.

SLACK PACE IN HOUSE. "FIRE BUGS" AND "SLY GROG'? TWO FAVOURITE TOPICS. (By Telegraph.—ParHanientary Reporter.)' WELLINGTON, Saturday. That members of the House "of Representatives'' are generally becoming concerned over the lack of progress in the season's programme was evident from references during yesterday's' discussion on the Estimates. The House went into committee soon after 10.30 a.m., and commenced to deal with the votes for the Police Department, i Many interesting topics were raised, including the appointment of women police, the existence of "fire bugs" in Christchurch, and the alleged prevalence of illegal whisky distil'eries in tho wilds of Southland. The Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister of Justice, showed great patience, and only intervened at long intervals to answer definite questions. The topics recurred, and some members appeared to speak only "from a kindly desire to lighten the proceedings with somewhat laboured jokes.'

The. : Prime Minister, lo&t patience just before "the luncheon adjournment when the class was still awaiting approval. He conceded that conditions in Parliament were unusual, as there were three parties, at least two of which, no doubt, desired to be critical. However, he requested members to limit their speeches and itvoicl repetition, otherwise he realised that the now standing orders for reasonable hours would break down. He advised members that some of the questions'they had raised could just as well be talked over privately with the Minister.',A whole morning had gone with no progress to show for it, yet, he pointed out,;.the Estimates were those inherited frony the former Government, and were not .those of the present Ministry. T&svßt. Hon. J. G. Coatee: They are the'&timates of the- Government, and nobody elee'e. The Hon. T. M. Wilfords They are all yoiir-liabilities. MrVvH. E. Holland (Leader of the Labour party) supported the Prime Minplea for" greater dispatch, though the problem, he said, appeared to be how to get on without sacrificing the individualrights of members:. If something was; riot done the standing orders would break down. Mr. Parry (Auckland Central): No doubt about that. 'Mr. Holland (suggested that the solution, niight come, by mutual agreement between the party leaders. Sly Grog Production. When the House reeumed after luncheon Mr. Waite revived the question of ely-grog production in Southland, which he had mentioned several hours. before, but the Prime Minister endeavoured to

stop delay by setting a-definite programme for completion before the 5.30 adjournment for the week-end. He asked that the Police, Printing and Stationery, Mental' Hospitals, Health Department and Tourist and Health Department votes, be dealt with during the afternoon. To Opposition exclamations of surprise he replied that he had seen twice that amount of business done in the time. He asked members to curb their inclination to "talk about anything and everything." Mr Parry: I have seen more done m ten minutes at 2 o'clock in the morning. Sir Joseph: I have certainly seen more done on Estimates in an afternoon than we have passed all this session. Here is a member discussing Hokunui whisky, but, as a matter of fact, nobody cares whether the hon. gentleman has swallowed a hogshead of it. His interest suggests that he has been applying himself to the bottle. (Laughter.) Why should he talk about Southland being a sly-grog selling place? Mr. Waite: You know it is true. Sir Joseph: It's a libel on the whole district. Mr. Fraser (Wellington Central) created a good deal of amusement by raising the point of order that it was the' Prime Minister who was wasting time, and he was bluntly told by Sir Joseph, amid further laughter, that he was not going to be stopped by Mr. Fraser or anyone else. ■ Mr. Fraser: I was protesting against the waste of time. Mr. W. L. Martin (Labour): And some of our own party have wasted time. Mr. Fraser: I hope the hon. gentleman is only speaking for himself, i Mr. Martin: lam speaking about you. The Prime Minister's diplomacy had excellent results, for the whole programme he had indicated was put through in the time suggested. The final item (Tourist Department) was reached a few minutes before the adjournment, and when the Prime Minister suggested that he had better get the standing orders suspended so as to sit longer members advised him to reply to the points already raised. He did so, and after ten minutes of consideration the whole vote passed. "No need to get anxious, we are getting on very well, cheerfully commented the Leader of the Opposition.