PARLIAMENT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 37, 13 October 1915, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

house of representatives, J,’pr Press 'Association. M&y, Wellington, October P2. The resumed at 2.-SO. when consideration "of Appropriations Bill‘was continued in ■committee. Mr Kscott ’-asked for an explanation ol the circumstances attending the wipping-ont of a loan of £14,031 to the Waitara Harbor Board. Prime Minister explained' tlialt tins money was borrowed by the HfckvAh over twenty years ago, on which 'neither principal nor interest had been paid. He■!understood that the late M.r Seddoti had the matter tinder consideration; and had agreed to wipe it-, oil. Aftefc going into departmental' eorrespondence. he earne to the same conclusion-, as it was thought desirable to give tile Board a iresh start, in view of having to make new financial arrangements to provide for the growth of Sthe port. The clause was agreed to. Or, Xewman returned to In's complaint against clause 25, providing for expenditure out of funds raised for the hospital ship. The Prime Minister explained that more money was .subscribed than was necessary {for the equipment of the “MahenO.’j and as the money was required iori iitting nj> a New Zealand hospital in England, the Governor had suggested that the surplus be expended on fitting up the auxiliary military hospital at Walton-on-Thames. He thought subscribers to the hospital ship did not object to this course. At clause 26, limiting th© borrowing powers of local bodies, Mr Hindmarsh moved that tbe limitation do not apply to loans by way of deposit. The amendment was lost by 11 to 32. On the motion that the Bill be read

a third time, Mr Hindmarsh complained ol the attitude of employers towards the Arbitration Court. He as--1 scried that their representative. Mr Ik F, Duthie. had been driven off the (,'nnrt because he had not proved v igilant enough in the interests ol the 'employers. This action, the speaker pointed out, had been taken by people who professed that they never used improper influence. j Mr Witty asserted that all papers connected with the State wheat transactions had not been laid on the table. Members had no right to ask for large sums of money at the pro* : f ,sent time, but Ministers should not trtjiM' members with indifference bevaiiffp' they were a National Cabinet, i Mr Anstey touched on the question v njf wheat importation, and urged that ,yY‘ttlLsi(lerablo loss must fall on millers as a result of the action orernineiit. j "Mr fsitt said ho had been astounded at the revelations made by the member ior "Wellington South, and hoped that before next session legislation would bp promoted to make 'such a state of things impossible. He made one more appeal to the Government to remedy the evils of the drink traffic, and specially advocated the 'abolition of “treating.” Ho appealed to the Prime Minister to give an answer upon the subject. Mr Tsitt also urged the compulsory drilling of all 'males between the ages of 18 and 55. | Mr Wilford referred to the ThithieScott incident in connection with the Arbitration Court, and outlined a 'scheme by which the Court might he comprised of men who were acquainted with the full details of the trade [they were'', investigating. By this 'means they might hope to see awards 'given which would give that satisfaction that everyone desired. I Mr Glover made an appeal to the !Prime Minister to pass some legislation which would reduce the cost of living.

Mr McCombs .commented on the wheat importations, and hoped th< export of wheat would not be permitted until flour was down to £lO per ton. He attacked tbe (Government for its hostilty towards labor legislation. The Prime Minister said that lie McCombs was particularly clever at

misrepresentation, hut at nothing else, 'and proceeded to deal with some of 1 the members’ statements. He justl- | lied the provision for fcjfio work jpg of extra hours in condensed milk factories. and argued that objections jtaken bv Labor members against the first Bill applied with equal force to jt.be second Hill. As'to ( tliQ,, wheat Idihiculty. the member for Lyttelton I has distorted and misrepresented ■facts. The loss on State transactions .was CM,both of which the people received the benefit. Against that loss jt.be cargo of the Hesperus had increased in value by £30,000 between the .time the vessel left Canada- and hoi Crrival bore. He made a comparison 'of tlie food prices in Australia, and the jllominion. to the advantage of the ilatter. Critics . should be fair to the '(Government. He stated that All jlsitt’s suggestion in reference to the ,suppression of “shouting” would be | brought before the Cabinet and carefully considered.

Mr ICII advocated planting unoccupied' railway reserves, extension, of peiiny-in-the-slot telephones, and - postJf notes. He complained that hi {the allotment of portfolios in the National Ministry the more important on as had been retained by the Massey party. Mr Webb said the Prime Minister bad not answered the points made hy the member for Lyttelton in reference to the wheat difficulty.

Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, referring to the bon. member for Lyttelton, said that the member had misrepresented the position in regard to a factory in. | Alvaro a and one in Raglan, evidently with the object of prejudicing Mr Massey and himself in the eyes of one section of the community. He resented the attitude of the,member for Lyttelton in this matter. He touched on one or two. other matters, and claimed that the action of the National Government had been', to make the country strong, to enable Us to help the Empire in her need. It was n 0 time was available, Mr -Massey and must disappear meantime.

M r Webb emphasised the necessity lof unanimity amongst all classes at thy present time, and deplored the fact that complaints of victimisation amongst waterside workers had been , ignored. He asserted that there "as exifhdtation in food prices. going, bn, i aii<|: looped the';first duty of the' Board jo! Trade would be to inquire into meat ivalues. j Mr Payne quoted from The Clarion to show what Socialists wore doing at ! Home to further the cause of the Km- ■ ,>i,e. He appealed to every young I man to enter into the struggle going on in Europe. Ho believed that "bon ■ people realised that help was needed 1 110 one who could go would refuse to 'get into uniform. j” Mr Eletcber, with reference (o the !allegations of victimisation on the 1 waterfronts, suggested that as soon as itidme was available, Mr Massey aoo 'Sir Joseph Ward should meet and investigate the wliole position, wild •' view to a settlement ol ddlerences. | The Bill was then read a third time ‘and passed, and the House rose till the ringing of the boll. The House resumed at RVJK P-vn.. v. imii the Speaker announced that hm Excel Cm-v the Governor had assented to (lie Appropriation Act. ! The Prime Minister expressed h«s iVlieita(ions to the Speaker. Chairman of Committees, and officers ol tin* House, while Sir J . Carroll addressed ~ )•,.. words of congratulation to the ’members of the National Government. ... j i'ho House adjourned on a division, a! 1 1. to p.m., by 2i to 10.