JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1920, Page 1

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

PASSING LOCAL BILLS. WELLINGTON, October 5 Hie House had a. short and quiet sitting to-night. After a few questions without notice had been answered by the Ministers, the local Bills remaining on the order paper were put through various stages and passed. Members were disposed to oblige' one another and nobody occupied much time talk-

ing. ORDERS FOR ROLLING STOCK. Mr Massey announced that the Government had placed orders with British firms for locomotives and Railway wagons costing about one million. American and German firms had sent in tenders but the British were the most satisfactory in all respects. He believed much of the new rolling stock woiild ..jjesjbere for next season. Quick delivery had been an impdflant part of the) conditions. I THE STRIKE POSITION. The Prime Minister told the House that the watersider stoppage wa s lookbig more hopeful. The dispute at Pukemiro was still unsettled. He intend'd to keep the railways running till lie last shovelful was reached. RAILWAYS AND MEAT. There was only one 'industry that came before the railways and that was freezing works. The freezing works must be kept supplied, on account of the fact that there were still millions of poundsworth of frozen meat it the works, most of it paid /for by the Imperial Government in the way of advances. That meat New Zealand was 'n honour bound to keen in as good condition as possible. It had not been possible for Government to find all the coal that was necessary for industries railways and domed' • ’•»nuirements. Mr Parry (Auckland Central)—Who is responsible for the trouble. Mr Massey—We bad better not discuss that at the moment, but I would like to tell the lion, gentleman in reply to his question that I am quite prepared to face the position, however difficult it may be, and however diastio the proceedings that may be found necessary to deal with it.

LAND IN CHATHAMS. WELLINGTON, Oct. 4. Replying to Mr Seddon, the Minister for Lands said any application by a discharged soldier _for an advance to acquire land in Chatham Islands will receive consideration by the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Land Board for Wellington district. ITp to the present, only one application has been received and this is being dealt with. Suitable arrangements for valuing lands can be made. DOBSON COAL LEASE. Mr Seddon asked the Minister of Mines whether lie will cause to be published ns soon as possible, the recommendations of the Warden in connection with conditions under which Dobso coal mine is to be worked? Mr Massey replied that there is no statntorv authority which would compe or empower me to publish the recommendation of the Warden in c-onnecdum .with the issue of a lease respecting Dobson Coal mine. The application •was made in open court and a fulj u- ,- jo rt of the proceedings was publish iu the local press. The report contain in it the recommendation of the^Whu is also filed in the Warden’s Office, ami I any interested party *

ca nzeTcanteen funds Ropivinp;' to Mr Seddon’s suggestion tint the surplus of the Exped. io,nr> Co canteen funds should he devoted to the Trentham Scholarsh,p fund the Minister for Defence J.d tlu> amount to the funds land Expeditions > whole SrrtfheetpS into the con : solidated r—l canteen has been count, and pottion o of the fund. It is proi t goss! „r legislation d^«g^ get up a authorising Govetnmei the special committee to admin, special f ex . m emhers of me £s? e “ Sneideratio,. «n Om «* to Urn honourable member s .ucgestion.