JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1920, Page 2

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

LEADER- OF LIBERALS.

MR WILFORD ELECTED

WELLINGTON, September 7

Mjr T. W. Wilford (Hutt) was elected Leader of the Liberal Party,, at a meeting of Liberal numbers tonight, and ho made Ms first speech as Leader of the, Opposition later in the night. He twitted the Government ;ivith having dropped into the habit of looking' to Committees of the House for policies for it, and mentioned the work that had been done by ‘the Finance Committee, Defence Committee, and Agricultural Committee. Another Committee was to decide how much the people of New Zealand were to pay for their butter. , Mr Massey—To take evidence. Mr Wilford—And make recommendations. The Liberal Leader suggested that the Government should produce its own policies, and he proceeded to urge that more taxation should be placed on large estates, large incomes and deceased persons’ estates. Land tax in its highest graduations \ 'ought to be large enough to compel sub-division. He was tired of hearing that the large landowners must be given “time to unload.”

SUGAR SHORTAGE

WELLINGTON, Sept. 8. Hon Lee stated in the House to-day that Government was in no way responsible for the continued stoppage at the sugar works. He had endeavoured to get raw sugar carried from Auckland to Wellington and other parts of tile Dominion, but there had been no men offering to load the boat, and. consequently there was no sugar-forthcom-ing. Government had requested the

Company to allow all the men to return to work. i Mr Hamilton (Awarua) asked whether breweries were still getting full supplies of sugar. ■ Mr Lee replied that as a matter of fact the supply to breweries is the last on the list. ( Mr Witty (Riccarton) asked whether it would not he possible to bring sugar direct from the Islands to any port in New Zealand instead of taking it to Auckland where at present they would not refine it. "

Mr Lee said he thought it possible the next shipment of raw sugar from the Islands could be delivered at Southern ports, provided that there were no difficulties in the handling of it. PENSIONS REPORT, The presentation of the report of the Pensions Department to-day gave members an opportunity to urge again that Ministers should increase the pensions of various kinds. Government has announced already that a Rill dealing with pensions is being drafted apd will be introduced during the present session. Members argued to-day that the matter was urgent and that Parliament which was increasing its own salaries on account of the cost of living, should not keep pensioners waiting for help. Mr Hunter (Waipawa) made an appeal on behalf of the blind people, who ought to receive State pensions. The plight of some of these people was pitiable, and the cost of providing for them all would not be large.

3lr Seddon (Westland) asked Government to give prompt consideration to the resolutions of the returned soldiers’ conference regarding pensions. The conference had pointed out anomalies and suggested increases. Mr Young '(Waikato) had something to say on behalf of widowed m&iliers'. The Minister for Defence said that returned soldier? had ashed for 15 per cent increase i<i war pensions. This would cost' fiver ene mjtlioi} yearly, in' addition to the present charge. He was referring tAip matter to Cabinet. Mr Massey remarked that the amending Bill would be introduced, but an increase of a million or more was out of the question., MEMBERS SALARIES.

The Civil List Bill proposing to increase the ‘salaries of members of Parliament is to be referred to ft committee for consideration. This committee, consisting .of Messrs Massey, Lang, Luke, Wright, R. W. Smith, Sidey, and Wilford, is to have power to confer with a similar committee of the Legislative Council. The committee will probably suggest the amendment pf the Bill in' the direction of larger increases of salary than Parliament has proposed. NO LICENSE LIQUOR. The appearance, pf returns showing the popspipptjpn pf Jipuor |n no-lfcense districts, gaye*risp tp a discussion on the liquor question in the House. The population of no-license areas is 205,268 and the amount of liquor consumed in

these districts last year? according to official returns, was 381,504 gallons, or 1.8 gallons per head. Mr McCombs (Lyttelton) claimed that the return showed the success of prohibition. The consumption of liquor in the Dominion as a whole was at the rate of just upon 14 gallons per bead. He stated during the last eighteen months there had been an alarming increase in the consumption of liquor in New Zealand. Mr Lysnar (Gisborne) said the official figures purppj'tii|g to show the consumption of liquor ip npdieense districts were worthless. He contended that since they” did not take into account the liquor that was carried into these districts in retail quantities, the return was really a record of permits, and no permit was required if s the quantity did not exceed two gallons. “It is no-lincense drinkers who are swelling up the drink returns of the Dominion,”: added Mr Lysnar. “They are getting so very much info the no-lieense districts.” A general discussion followed, partisans of both sjdse entering the fray. Mr Wright had something to say about American workers owning motor cars under prohibition. He drew a reply from Mr Frase'r (Wellington Central) who said that poverty was not caused by drink, and that prohibition will not ' solve industrial or economic problems.