JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1920, Page 3

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) ENDOWMENT LANDS. WELLINGTON, August 6 Hon. Guthrie stated in the House to_ day that the proposals of Government for u settlement of poor lands under tho homestead system had not progressed because the poor lands were national endowment and could not lie alienated. - He proposed during this session to ask Parliament to give the people the right, if they broke this land into productivity, to make it their own. This renewed attack on the national endowment is likely to produce considerable opposition. LIMIT OF RATES.

ALr Alassey stated tlmt the House probably would have an opportunity shortly to consider a proposal for iuI creasing the limit of rates for local bodies. Many found it difficult to carry ! on with the present maximum rates, j INCREASED PUBLIC S..\I.A IMKS. The payment of increased salaries to public servants is to commence on Mon | day week. The House went into Committee on the Estimates this afternoon and commenced the annual argument about pounds ! and pence. Many members appealed to ■ Government to help retired civil- scr- , vants who are utterly unabje to make ' ends meet on the present superannuation allowances. Mr Massey said again that Government must guard the expenditure, but he would do something for old civil servants later in the session, when the financial position was cleared. THE NATAL POLICY. Air Wilford launched a discussion, on the naval policy. He moved a re- | duction of the vote by £l, as an indication that the proposed expenditure of £26,C00 annually for the up-keep of the cruiser Chatham was unwarranted and useless. Parliament had been given no opportunity to discuss the naval policy and Government, in a high handed I fashion, had committed the country to I a heavy and unnecessary burden. The Chatham would ho useless in wartime I since any enemy would send better j ships. New Zealand could not afford ! a modei'ii fleet and therefore should ; concentrate on submarines and niri craft. | Mr Massey retorted that the policy j was in accord with Admiral Jcllicoe’s ! report and Admiralty opinion. Ihe '■ House would have an opportunity for discussion. Tho Chatham could have ! beaten the raider AYoll'e, which neared New Zealand waters during the war, or the Emden. He had held in his -’hand a letter written by a German, showing that the attack on transports j carrying the main body had been mI tended by the Emden. j The diseu«sioli indicated that a fairly strong body pf opinion in the House is ! against Government’s policy on the j ground of cost and its ineffectiveness.

NAVAL DEFENCE, WELLINGTON, Aug. 6. The House discussed naval defence until towards midnight. Air Massey said the Chatham would not he the only British warship in the Pacific. It would join with the Australian ships. TJI ice would be two British ships coin- ! ing into New Zealand waters. Toero | would he several destroyers and subi marines and most important of all there ! would be British battleships and batJ tie cruisers in the Pacific. I am not j giving awav any secret in saviny that, remarked Air Massey, but I cannot give any more information at present. It is not fair to suggest wo are relying tor defence on one cruiser. The Chatham will be only a small part- of tilt* •Empire’s naval forces in the Pacific. Air Wilfnrd’s motion was defeated on the voices. COST OE LIVING. When the House proceeded to discuss the cost of living with special reference to the wo-rk of anti-profiteering tribu. i nals. Alemhers had not much that was new to say. A reduction proposed for Labour benches as ail indication that I tribunalsli ought to be more effective I was defeated by 34 votes to 8, after Afinisters had insisted that the tribunals were doing useful work. THE NAVAL POLICY. Air Sudden said he would support the amendment. He'emphasised the importance of AYest Coa"?t coal for naval purposes and asked what protection the ! Government proposed to give, to the ports. He deprecated any tendency to belittle the American naval authorities. ' Americans had interests much akin to New Zealand’s and a better understanding might he encouraged. The right policy for New Zealand was to support the British Navy. This policy had proved sound in the past and was still sound