PARLIAMENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 2 December 1927, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THIS MORNINC'S SITTING. SAMOAN COMMISSION’S REPORT RECEIVED. (Per Press Association). Parliament Bldgs., Dee. 2. The House of Representatives met at 11 a.m. Replying to the Leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister said the report of the joint select Samoan Committee was ready for presentation and would be laid on the table at a suitable opportunity. The re port of the Royal Commission on Samoa was ready. It had been signed by the Governor-General and had just reached him. It had first to be considered by the Cabinet and he doubted if it would lie laid on the table this session but it would be made available to members and the press. He had a statement prepared on the business transacted at the Imperial Conference. He was quite prepared to lay that statement on the table but he did not think opportunity would arise for discussing it Mr. H. E. Holland: We don’t want it unless we can debate it. Continuing his remarks, the Prime Minister said that no change had been made in the method of communication between the Home authorities and the Dominion. There was optional power to do this if the Government thought advisable but thev had retained the existing channels as being perfectly satisfactory. As a result of further discussion 'the Prime Minister doubted his ability to provide a. day for discussion and Mr. Holland reiterated his objection to the statement, being laid on the table if it could not be discussed and matters were left at that Replying to Sir George Hunter (Waipawa) the Prime Minister said it was not intended to proceed with the Education Amendment Bill this session.

The Hon. W, Downie Stewart mov ed the second reading of the Finance Bill, emphasising the pointe already telegraphed. PURCHASE OF WHEAT. Mr. Holland asked how far the Government was prepared to go in carrying out the principle laid down m Clause 2G. under which the Government entered into the business of purchase of wheat from Australia. That seemed to be fine of those Socialistic tianactions in which the Government indulged from time to time. He was not objecting to it but he wondered how far the Government was prepared to go in that direction. Mr. G, W. Forbes (Hurunui) commented upon the fact that the bill authorised the raising of loans amounting to £7,000,000. It is true that it is not all to be expended in one year but the amount of money being raised must cause apprehension to serious thinking people. Was all this expenditure necessary? Were all the railways under construction needed? These works should be put under the most critical examination and unless they could stand up to a paying test they should not be gone on with, no matter whether thev are in the North or the South Island. NOT PESSIMISTIC. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) said he was not a pessimist. He had every faith in the future of the country, but in view of the fact that we were proposing to borrow a further £7,000,000 he issued a warning that this heavy borrowing could not go on unless we simultaneously increased the production of the country. Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) objected to expenditure on irrigation works while there was so much land lying idle. Settle those land first, he urged, before spending large sums on irrigation. He approved of the vote for the Singapore base ns an insurance.

The House rose at 1 p.m. until 2.30 p.m.