JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1920, Page 4

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

THE RIMUTAKA INCLINE. WELLINGTON, August 19. A deputation numbering 350 persons representing 43 local, public and business bodies came down from Dairarapa this morning to urge upon tho Premier and Minister of Public Works the necessity of immediately making a deviation railway lin e over the Rimutaka Range. The speakers were representative men of the city and country districts, the first of whom said that 50 years ago they were unhappily married to the c ity by means of the Rimntaka incline. Today, they xpplied for a divorce. They asked for a decree nisi and hoped something absolut e would be .done in three months. Mr Massey in reply, said the survey of the work for which they asked had been placed on the list of urgent surveys some time ago. That would he done at tho earliest possible moment. Then would come tho question of the selection of the route, over which lie advised them not to fight. When the route was decided they could come and ask Parliament for authorisation, and if lie was at the helm ho promised them there would be no delay. That awful piece of lino could not go on for ever. It must come to an end.

THE GAMING BILL. WELLINGTON, August 19. The settlement of tho difference between the two Houses as to the Council’s amendments in the Gambling Bill was delayed by the discovery that the House had inadvertently disagreed with the wrong clause. It is considered c el '- tain that tho Council will agree to abandon the amendments objected to by the House, legalising the publication of dividends and betting telegrams to racecourses and reduction of races at winter meetings.

SAVINGS BANK DEPOSITS. Tlie Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill introduced in the House, increases tho amount of deposits on which interest will be paid in tho Post Office Savings Bank. Interest at a higher rate is to be paid on deposits up to £SOO and at a lower rate on deposits up to £5,000. Tho Savings Bank at present refuses to pay interest on deposits beyond £I,OOO. Tho Bill also authorises the issue of licenses to persons or Associations for the use of wireless telegrams. TERRITORIAL TRAINING. Tlie House, discussed the Defence Department’s report this afternoon. Mr Wilford, acting Leader of the Opposition, objected to any increase in tlie defence staffs, or defence expenditure. II C believed the war bad shown that men could be trained quickly when required and that public opinion favoured a reduced peace expenditure and reduoed training for territorials. The discussion that followed indicated that very many members of the House supported this view. The speakers seemed to !be agreed that territorial training should he reduced to a minimum, and that any scheme for conceittrated training in camps should be discountenanced. Mr Malcolm (Clutha) urged again that the Dominion should practically abandon the training of a local army, but should provide for training of a sufficient number of officers and noncoms. He believed the real defensive force was the Navy. Th 0 debate was cut short by th e 5.30 p.m. adjournment and will eomo up again later. A BILL PASSED. The House this evening passed the Statutes Repeal and Expiring Laws Amendment and Continuance Bill, which provides for tho extension of rent restriction law, in continued protection of tenants and particularly returned soldiers from eviction. Tlie definition of returned soldiers has_ been limited to men who have actually served overseas.

QUESTION OF DEFENCE. WELLINGTON, August 19. Speaking in the House to-day Mr Seddon drew attention to a suggestion by General Birdwood, for the exchange of officers within the Empire. He thought this a good idea. He asked whether the Defence Council had been set up and what it is doing. He urged Government in framing- the new defence policy to study the physiology of the people and to remember that there was much war weariness here, as well as elsewhere. He believed there was a danger of naval defence bulking too ■ large, to _thc exclusion of effective land ! defence. The Minister for Defence told Mr Seddon that tlie Defence Council had been established and would presently deal with the new training scheme, which had been referred by Cabinet- to tho Commandant for consideration. He agreed that land defenco was essential and must not bo neglected. DEFENCE MATTERS. After dealing with somo minor bills tlie House resumed the discussion on

the Defence Report which eventually was laid on tho table. Tho Minister for Defenco made a statement regarding the defence policy. Ho said he bad placed a, rough scheme before Cabinet drafted in part by bis predecessors in office, (Sir .James Allen, and Hon. J. G. Coates.

This scheme had. been referred to tho Commandant who was working out details and eventually it would be placed before the Defence Committee, which consists of several senior officers including General Russell and General Richardson. Government did not intend to hold any territorial camps this year, but camps were not being abandoned altogether." Ho could not give details of tli 0 future training scheme, but lie (could say there would be a. cadet force, and that later youths would have a period in camp. He hoped to abolish the half day and whole day parades If cadets could attend one camp and then be passed into the reserve, ho thought the arrangement would meet the wishes of the country. He would like to encourage efficiency by reducing camp training for an efficient man. It was true that soldiers could be trained quickly, but this did not apply to officers and non-coms, who required longer training and it was necessary to have an adequate staff in order that officers and non-coms might be trained.

PUBLIC WORKS. 'JFlie Prime Minister speaking with reference to public works said the scarcity of men and materials was as great, or nearly as great as during the war period. The Public Works Department had not half the men it required. He was not certain that Government would not have to close down on the construction of several railway lines, to close down some works while others were pushed to completion might be more economical than spreading the c uergies of the Department over a. great many lines. Nothing had get been decided upon in this matter.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers stated:— That so far as the Post Office is concerned, the reduction of newspaper postage from Id to id cannot be recommended. It is not found practicable to exempt newspapers from the general increase in the postage charges. That the experts who accompanied tlie Parliamentary party to Samoa were instructed to submit their reports for the confidential information of the Government, and it is not intended to lay these reports on the table of the House.

That the revision of the Customs tariff next session will give Parliament an opportunity of encouraging New Zealand industries, and it is hoped that by taking advantage of all the opportunities that may offer, much of our wool will ho exported as manufactured goods, rather than as raw material. That the Railway Department has already given the fullest effect to the promise made to the railway men who joined the Expeditionary Force, and as far as possible these men have been suitably placed. In each case tho men are in receipt of the classification rate of pay for the positions they hold. Arrangements have been made to have them re-examined by the railway medical officer with a. view of seeing whether they have yet recovered sufficiently to make it safe to place them in other positions in the service. That the proposed increased railway charges arc being made to cover the additional expenditure due to the increases in pay granted to employees of the railway service. In framing the charges clue consideration is given by tiie Department to representations that are made by the commercial and other sections of the community.

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