JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1920, Page 4

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 3(1. OFFICIALLY ANNO UNCEI). The new Legislative Councillors were officially announced in the. Council today. A SHORT AFTERNOON. The House had a short afternoon’s work. Several minor Government Bills and a dozen or so private members’ Bills mostly from the Labour Party, were introduced and Ministers answered a few questions. MEMBERS’ PAY. The Civil List Bill provides for increases in the salaries of Ministers and members. The Prime Minister is to receive £1,600 and ten other Ministers £IOOO each. Members of the Council, £3OO, and members of the House £4OO. 1 All these salaries are to be free of taxation. It is understood that Government will bo prepared to accept an amendment further increasing the salaries of members, if the House approves. ALIENS BILL . The Registration of Aliens Bill intro, dueed to-day, provides for the registration of women who become aliens by marriage to aliens, of aliens whose nat_ uralisation is revoked, and of aliens on attaining the age of fifteen years. THE RAILWAYS. Replying to a deputation regarding railway matters today, the Prime AI blister said the Itatway Department was going to proceed with the Hiley system of railway improvement, but progress necessarily would be slow. Tenders had been called for trucks and engines, and he hoped that the position wouid bo much improved before the next harvest came in. An increased area was being sown in. wheat and on that account alone, an increased number of trucks would be required. The business of the railways was now greater than ever before, and the Government realised that the requirements of the people must be met. Nothing that the Government could do would be left undone to make the railways satisfactory to the people.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. The Address-in-Reply debate was opened by Mr Hockley (Rotorua), at 7.30 p.m. Mr Hockley who is one of the new members did not open fresh ground. He thought that this Parliament was the most important New Zealand had seen, and that Government had shown admirable courage in lacing tlie facts and warning the community of the difficulties lying ahead. Production was a pressing need, and Parliament should see that in the future no man was allowed to hold land without using it, and no man was denied land if he could use it. Mr Hocklcv dealt at length with the land question and other matters.

Mr D. Jones (Kaiapoi), another new member, was the seconder. The debate is expected to be lengthy.

Hon W. D. MacDonald (Leader of the Liberals) probably will move his want of confidence motion to-morrow.