JOTTINGS. FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1920, Page 4

JOTTINGS. FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

ELECTRIC LIGHT. WELLINGTON, August 24. Parliament expected to have to adjourn at 5.30 to-day rawing to the failure of tho electric light, but Mr Massey was able to announce late in tho V-ftcrnoon that a supply of current would bo available, despite the waterside stoppage, until 10.30 p.m.

LENGTH OF SESSION Tlie Prime Minister was asked darling the afternoon about the course of the session’s business. He replied that the most important work of the session was still ahead, and he did mJt think members could finish before the end of October. A very important Bill dealing with banking was ready, but would have to wait until measures affecting land and income tax and death duties had been considered. About ten other Government Bills had still to he introduced. LOYALTY TO EMPIRE.

Last week Labour members of the House sent, to London a cablegram expressing approval of the proceedings of the “Council of Action.” To-day the Prime Minister told tlie House that he had consulted the Loader of the Opposition and had agreed with him that .Government should submit a motion as follows:—•

“That this House expresses the continued loyalty of this Dominion to the ('Empire and its sympathy with the Imperial Government in the difficulties with which it has to deal, and expresses the confident hope that the Empire will emerge from the troubles, which judging by past history, are inseparable from a period of reconstruction, more solid and more powerful than ever before.”

Confused interjections came from the Labour benches. Mr McCooinbs, (Lyttelton), declared that the motion laid nothing to do with the Labour Party’s cablegram, and Air Holland, (Buller), stated that Government was “simply shirking tlie issue.” Mr Fraser, (Wellington), Central who had signed tlie

cablegram ns President of the New Zealand Labour Party asked if the Prime Minister would alter the motion to one directly concerning the oablo-

gram. Mr Massey replied that he would not do anything of the sort. Mr Holland tried to pursue the subject, but was ruled out of order. COAL SUPPLY. Mr Holland asked if Government would try to get out ol the coal difficulty by making available the foal deposits in Duller Gorge by allowing the State to work them instead of leaving them, to private enterprise. Mr Massey said the matter would be considered, but lie added that if the people had to wait for relief until coal could lie got- from a new mine in the Buller Gorge there would be very serious hardship in this country in the meantime. WAR REGULATIONS. 'i’he House had a night on the War Regulations The War Regulations Con tinuance Bill repeals some of the war enactments and continues others dealing with seditious strikes and documents, possession of firearms, control of wharves, enemy trade passports and permits and other matters. Labour members proceeded to make a protest against the continuance of these regulations and had most of the debate to themselves. They were able to talk about the trouble on the Wellington wharves and demanded that Government should insist upon other cargoes being unloaded while the phosphates cargo remained a. subject to dispute with employers. Ministers said the Labour members wore conspiring to prevent the coal be-

;ing landed at a time of the coal famine.

Country members interjected that superphosphate was as important as coal.

Mr Hunan said that as a member of the National Government he had approved of the Regulations during the jwiar, but he was not sure they could 1)0 justified now. Ho believed that Parliamentary Government was showing signs of breaking down and that the watersidei's’ dispute was sympathetic of the general, unrest afflicting the world, At 10.30 p.m. Mr Fraser, who is Chairman of the New Zealand Labour Party was telling the House that the Workers would insist on organising in their own way, regardless of restrictive laws. He was cut short hy the threatened exhalation of the decline li'glik and the debate was adjourned.