JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1920, Page 2

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

THE ESTIM ATES. | WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. ! The;House completed the Estimates before 1 a.in. -On the railway estimates the members were busy for several hours chiefly because many men bad something to say about local needs. ! New railway stations and • improved railway services were in great demand. 1 The Forestry vote was put through quickly after Mr Massey had stated that there was no need for- a bill to enable forestry conservation to proceed. Legislation will not grow trees, lie said.

Later in the night the House argued about housing for half an hour. Labour members wanted to know why Government had not agreed with the Labour Union to build homes for the people, and Sir W. Herries retorted that the Government’s experience was that agreements with Labour Unions were not particularly satisfactory documents.

Tire vote for Nauru Island gave Mr Holland an opportunity to complain that New Zealand, Australia and. Britain were holding Nauru Island without a mandate from the League of Nations. Mr Massey said the British countries had something a good deal more effective than a League of Nations mandate. They held authority from the Allied powers. He evidently did not care much what the League thought about it. Minor clauses were put through quickly.