JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1920, Page 1

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) THE CLOSING SCENES. ! : ' WELLINGTON, This Day. The session of Parliaiiient was brought to a close Info last (Thursday) night. The House after subjecting Ministers to a. bombardment of questions without notico for more than an hour proceeded to put through.the Insurance Amendment Bill. Then the Supplementary Estimates appeared and the House started to pass votes almost beforo the printed copies had. reached the hands of members. The clauses did not all escape debate. There was talk about museums, superannuation payment and some other matters, but the House was in a hurry and did not brook much delay. -Just before the dinner adjournment the Chairman of the Defence Committee presented the report containing the new defence policy. The report seemed to escape the notice of most members, and there was no debate.

The Appropriation Bill was the business of tlio evening. The Council was finished early and had to wait then until the House sent along the hill. A few most determine ' talkers had speeches to make and the Bill provided plenty of topics, but the, Council got the Bill without much debt/. Then there was a pause while the signature of the Governor-General was obtained, and the session ended just after 11 p.m. Tt is usual when the Speaker puts the motion for the adjournment on this occasion, for the House to divide. When the division lists were returned toight, tile Speaker had to declare that the noes had it by 27 to 22, but lie did not attempt to take another vote. He left the House in possession of the noes. The National Anthem ended the proceedings.' , The Appropriation Bill passed' to-day appropriates £15,982,356 from the ordinary revenue account for the year ending March 31st next, and £3,660,600 out of the Public Works Fund. The group from separate accounts amount to £6,624,207.

Provision is made for the new butter subsidy. Tho Minister for Finance is authorised to pay in addition to £600,000 for tho butter subsidy, other sums up to £750,000 to meet any emergency which may arise affecting public health, interest or safety, or in providing for such essential '.supplies as foodstuffs, coal and raw material.

The Bill] authorises payment of the cost of living’bonus to superannuated civil servants and dependents on the following basis—to pensioners in receipt of’less'than £IOO a year, a maximum bonus of £4O, the increased payment not to exceed £IOO to widows, a bopus of £26 for the current financial year) to children, a bonus of £2O.

Payments made by Government in purchase of Australian wheat and. by local authorities in reception or entertainment of tho Prince of Wales are validated. A new clause added to the Bill after it reached the House on the motion of the Prime Minister provides that government may reduce the rates of customs duty on tea. When the re_ Auction is declared:, tea in bulk is to be free of duty, if tlio product of British Dominions and 2d per pound in other cases.