JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1920, Page 4

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, July 1 TOAROHA POWER.

Air Seddon (Westland) is asking the Minister of Public Works whether he will at once instruct the Chief Electrical Engineer to report on the Toarolia river, Westland as a source of hydro-electric power. NO TARIFF ALTERATIONS.

A discussion on tariff matters occupied the House, for half an hour. Several members urged Government to proceed with the amendment of the tariff this session, and they alleged the existence of serious anomoly and duinp-

Hon. W. H. Herrios replied that’ the Tariff Bill must wait till next year. He did not think anomalies were hurting anybody much, and Government in any case could not afford to reduce the revenue. Mr Massey was considering the whole sustem of taxation this year and the tariff should wait until other taxes had been adjusted. NO CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald resumed the Address-in-Reply debate, and moved his want of confidence motion. He regarded the Governor’s Speech as exexceedingly pessimistic bordering on tragic. He agreed that the financial position was difficult and said again that it would not be the aim of the Liberals, during the session, to hnrrass or embarrass the Government, but the Opposition had its duty, and lie did not propose to swallow The Reform dope ancl go to sleep. Some people were talking of the necessity for unity, lie regretted there had not been more unity at the time of the general election, when tile late leader of the Opposition bad been assailed with relentless malignity. Explaining his want of confidence motion, Air MacDonald said the Government had not dealt ably with railway matters, with labour or with other important matters. It had not sought the sources of the high cost of living. Air Massey seemed to he possessed with the idea that he ought to be the mouthpiece and forefront of everything. Air MacDonald filled his hour without saying murh that was new, or striking very hard blows, but he made his points, effectively enough. He pressed the need ef electoral reform. MR GUTHRIE FOLLOWS.

The Minister for Lands (Hon. Air Guthrie) followed, and devoted most of his time to surveying what the Go vernment had done for returned soldiers. He said the Government had a duty to other people as well as return ed, soldiers in land settlement. Mr Gutlirie did not traverse Air MacDonald's points beyond saying that other countries had not got good results from so-called electoral reforms, and that the Liberals sole reform, the second ballot, had been anything hut n success.

Other momlxirs carried on the debate during evening. The discussion obviousy lacked vigor.

COUNTRY MEMBERS PROTEST. Some country members are talking strongly in lobbies against the Government’s Standard Time Bill, which proposes to fix New Zealand mean time at twelve hours ahead of Greenwich time. This proposal means advancing the clock half an hour and is in effect a daylight saving scheme. The Government’s chief reason for making the proposal is the economy it would effect m power and light, and therefore in coal in the cities and towns, hut the farmers protest that as trains would run according to the new time-table their early rising will be earlier than ever.