PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 227, 25 September 1929, Page 19

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

LONG NIGHT IN HOUSE.

SLOW WORK ON ESTIMATES. STANDING ORDERS SUSPENDED. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Keporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The new Standing Orders, under which the House of Eepresentatives rises automatically at 10.30, went by the board last night. Sir Joseph Ward moved at 10.20 the suspension of the Standing Orders, and asked that urgency be accorded seven classes of the Estimates, because the House had spent all day in passing one class. "The House has pursued the even tenor of its way, doing very little business," said the Prime Minister. "We all know that the new Standing Orders are on trial, but it looks to me as though members are not giving consideration to future business, because only one class of the Estimates, that of the Department of Lands and Survey, involving a vote of £186,795, has been passed. That is a quite inadequate amount of business for one day." The Leader of the Opposition, the Et. Hon. J. G. Coates, rose to speak, but he was ruled out of order, and Mr. Speaker put the motion. Some Eeform back benchers called "No," but when Mr. Speaker asked if a division was called for Mr. Coates, said "No," and the motion was declared carried. . On the resumption in committee the chairman endeavoured to get the Agricultural Department's estimates passed. Despite the fact that they had been discussed since late in the afternoon, members of the Eeform party immediately resumed the discussion. Only a remnant of the House remained to listen to the dreary stonewall which ensued, there being 24 members in their seats at 11.30 p.m. The rattle of typewriters in the Press gallery rooms soon ceased, and the Pressmen turned their attention to novels and newspapers. The class was passed at midnight, but when the last telegraph messenger left the gallery, at 1 a.m., the Mines Department's Estimates (£42,651) were still being considered. The House sat till nearly 3 a.m., and passed the following votes: —State Fire Insurance, £40,8.09; Govertinent Accident Insurance, £18,205; Government Insurance, £114,867; Audit Department, £28,399. Special Grants by Cabinet. Cabinet has authorised expenditure to erect a suspension bridge at Prentice Eoad, Taumarunui. Authority has been given by Cabinet to pay a subsidy on the basis of £2 for £1 for the formation and metalling of the Waipapa-Te Kuiti Eoad. The Minister of Education has secured Cabinet authority for the expenditure to erect a manual training school at the District High School, Otorohanga. A further appropriation has been made by Cabinet for roading at the Qrakei garden suburb. The establishment of a district high school and' additions to the Kaitaia School have been approved by Cabinet, which has also authorised expenditure for.a new. school at Matakana. Eaj-fhquake Restoration. • Cabinet has accepted a tender for the repair of the Butler Hospital, which was • damaged by the earthquake. Another restoration item dealt with at a meeting of Cabinet yesterday was the recommendation of the joint Library Committee of. the Legislature that the Seddonyille Library should be given 180 books from the General Assembly Library. This proposal was approved. The Milford Track. Cabinet has decided to proceed immediately with the replacement of Glade House, Tβ Anau, which was destroyed by fire.