POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20492, 10 March 1932, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our Parliamen?aht Refoktek.] WELLINGTON, March 9. Telephone Rentals. In the House of Representatives today, replying to Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston), Hon. A. Hamilton said he fully appreciated tho difficulty of farmers in respect of the charges for the use of party telephones, but tho Post Offico had to conduct its business mainly on business lines. At present there did not seem much chance of a reduction in the charges, which were fairly reasonable. Useful Employment. Replying to Mr W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier), the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates said in the • House to-day that the aim of the Unemployment Board was that men engaged under the No. 5 and other schemes should bo placed in useful work, but it was laid down that they should not replaco men already employed. The Government Departments had been asked to recommend in tho broadest terms work which could be undertaken by unemployed to the greatest advantage of tho country. Cabinet as Refrigerator. The idea of Cabinet as a refrigerator freezing men of ideas immediately they were appointed to the Ministry was conveyed to the House to-day by Mr 33. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South), who asked why it was that men who showed great promise of initiative and enterprise as ordinary members became as "cold mutton" immediately they entered the freezing chamber of the Ministry. "I have listened 'to members of this House, and thought they knew exactly what New Zealand wanted," he said, "but later they have entered Cabinet, and that is the last that has been heard of them."' Observing that he had the attention of the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, Mr Howard said, ''The Minister is smiling. Has he become chilled and pessimistic, too?" • "No," Mr Ddwnie Stewart rejoined, "I am an optimist. tam only pessimistic about tho future of the Labour Party." Mr Howard: Those we hate we fear. Mr Downie Stewart: You have been telling me that for twenty years. Mr Howard: Yes; but it has not made much impfession on you. Mr R. Semple (Lab., Wellington East)': He is well frozen. An Advocate of Prayer. Mr T. Makitanara (C., Southern Maori) suggested in the House to-day that the depression had a source beyond man's sphere. "Can man get through this punishment without Divine aid!" he asked, when advancing tho contention that empty churches were as a natural consequence, followed by empty cupboards. That in truth was what was wrong with the world to-day. Russia had turned its churches into dens of thieves; Spain had forsaken the Church of her forefathers, and the Churches in other parts of the world were becoming deserted. In America the bept man was he who the quickest' with the trigger, and kidnapping had become a profession. Sucu a state of things never prevailed in New Zealand even in the days of Maori cannibalism. Until man returned to prayer years of plenty would not follow years of trial. '

South African Competition. Serious competition from South Africa in the world's markets for primary produce is foreseen by Mr E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South), who, speaking in the House to-day, said the vigorous land settlement and irrigation policy of that country was in striking contrast to New Zealand's record of farming development and low expenditure on the irrigation of lands. South Africa, he said, was spending £1,000,000 a year in irrigation, and bringing great areas of land into intents cultivation. She was now challenging the wool producer of this country. 'Soon she would challenge the butter producer also, being fourteen days only from the market, and able to make two steamer trips to one from this Dominion. Se was in a decidedly advantageous position, while plenty of cheap Kaffir labour was waiting to work the land once a settlement plan had been instituted.