PARLIAMENTARY.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 22 September 1920, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

The House of Representatives met on Monday evening and sat for normuch more than two. hours.- After some questions without notice had been asked and answered, the Prime Minister made a statement regarding the wool market. Then an Order Paper containing Ministers' answers to a week's notices of question was circulated, and members made use of their privilege of brief comment and protest.

Local Bills were the order of the day, and several of them were put through their stages in quick time. The House was very thin and members evidently had no desire to stay late. Lake Papaitonga Property. Mr Field (Otaki) asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he would fav durably consider the question of purchasing the late Sir Walter Buller's beautiful and historic Lake Papaitonga property, adjoining the Levin Experimental Farm. Mr Field said that the property would form a magnificent adjunct to the State farm and the agricultural college to be built, on the farm. •

The Minister replied that he would consider the proposal after he had had au opportunity of inspecting the property in question. The Paekakariki Deviation.

The member for Otaki (Mr Field) asked in the House if the Minister of Public Works would supply information as to the number of men required to construct the proposed PaekakariktPliinmerton deviation of the North Island Main Trunk railway, also the wages which would be paid, and other information necessary to enable the Wellington Central Progress League and others interested to ascertain whether the requisite labour was available for the important work. "Until it is definitely decided to proceed with the Paekakariki-Plim-merton deviation," replied the Minister yesterday, "any action on the part, of the Wellington Central Progress League in the way of securing labour would be premature." Railway Improvements Wanted. During the railway debate, Mr W. H. Field complained of the out-of-date appointments at the railway stations at Otaki, Waikanac, and elsewhere in his electorate. The convenience of (he settlers was not sufficiently studied. He also suggested that the long waits of the trains at small stations .should be .reduced. He did not think a passenger should be required to attend at the Thorndon station fifteen minutes before the departure of a train to retain a reserved seat. Five minutes should be sufficient.