A Parliamentary Notebook

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 114, 4 August 1927, Page 11

A Parliamentary Notebook

Free Talking on Military Training (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Ministerial replies to questions caused comment in the House of Repreesntatives to-day. Some members were satisfied jjt, the settlement of local grievances, others were annoyed at State inactivity. The debate on Mr. J. A. Lee’s Compulsory Military Service Repeal Bill was heated in parts, and a spirited dialogue revealed a sharp difference of opinion on conscription. The House discussed Mr. Lee’s Bill till 12.35, and then rose. The Legislative Council passed the Samoa Bill and several other measures. Massey Memorial Plans of the proposed memorial to the late Prime Minister, the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, are now practically completed, said the Right Hon. J. G. Coates in the House of Representatives this afternoon, in reply to a question by Mr. S. Glenn, Rangitikei. The plans will be submitted at an early date to a meeting of the special board set up for this purpose. 5K 5k Teachers Salaries ‘‘There is no proposal before the Government to reduce teachers’ salaries, and there has been no reduction in the salaries of relieving teachers generally,” said the Minister of Education, the Hon. R. A. Wright, to-day in reply to a question by Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition. Auckland Transport Board “The question of the establishment of a Metropolitan Transport Board for the Auckland district the consideration of the Government, and it is considered that a request should come from the localities affected,” said the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. K. S. Williams, in the House of Representatives to-day, in reply to a question by Mr. W. J. Jordan, Manukau. Dental Nurses The request for dental nurses at Onehunga and Otahuhu, which was made by Mr. W. J. Jordan, member for Manukau, primarily on behalf of the children attending the schools in those districts, will have to take its place among many other similar requests from other parts of the Dominion. That is the most the Minister of Health, the Hon. J. A. Young, can promise Mr. Jordan at the moment. Rural Finance The Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, who was asked by Mr. G. W. Forbes how far the establishment of an agricultural bank would assist the farmers in their difficulties, stated that a committee has been set up dealing with the report of the Rural Credits Commission (only insofar as it was not dealt with last year), and the general question of rural finance would by this method come under general review. 5K 5K Freights on Fertilisers The Prime Minister considers that the present concessions to farmers in respect to the freight on fertilisers are generous, and in reply to Sir George Hunter, Mr. Coates said in the House that the reductions introduced on August 30 of last year comprised a 40 per cent, drop on consignments of a minimum weight of 6 tons and 25 per cent, on consignments of a minimum weight of 1 ton. Personalities A regrettable personal note crept into the debate on the second reading of the Compulsory Military Service Repeal Bill, when Mr. J. A. Lee and Mr. V. H. Potter exchanged sharp words. During Mr. Potter’s speech Mr. Lee interjected with a remark concerning Mr. Potter’s experience of trench warfare, and Mr. Potter retaliated with words which Mr. Lee construed as a reflection upon his war disability. In his reply, at the close of the debate, Mr. Lee took Mr. Potter to task and said that he was as mentally and physically efficient as the member for Roskill, and was prepared to put it to the test. Several points of order were raised and explanations exchanged before the affair was cleared up.