Political Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 131, 24 August 1927, Page 9

Political Notes

(Continued from page S) Immature Veal Legislation is being asked for by Sir John Luke, member for Wellington North, to prevent, the export of immature veal. The reason for a question which Sir John addressed to the Government on this silbject was prompted by a desire to preserve our reputation on the Home market. * * # Mangahao Workers The probability of the dismissal of 100 men at Mangahao, who would be thrown Into the ranks of the unem ployed, was referred to in the House by Mr. P. Fraser. The Minister of Public Works, Hon. K. S. Williams, said that he had not heard there was any likelihood of that, but he would make inquiries as to what was the position. If the men had to go away from Mangahao every effort would be made to keep them employed on other works. * V * In the Air A new name for the Labour Party was suggested this afternoon hy the Hon. W. Norworthy, Postmaster-Gen-eral. He suggested the Labour Party’s name should be changed to “Wireless Party,” for all the criticism of wireless affairs had come from that side of the House. Mr. M. J. Savage, Auckland West: We have made it a pretty live subject. It’s a live wire. Mr. P. Fraser, Wellington Central: You have suggested that we were up in the air. Let’s all have one speech at election time. Mr. Nosworthy: We might have a general concert. Mr. G. W. Forbes, Hurunui: What about a quartette, or something like that? (Laughter.) . . * Forestry Does Its Bit A suggestion dropped in the House of Representatives to-night that the Forestry Department had not done its share in the relief of unemployment was refuted by the Hon. O. J. Hawken, Commissioner for State Forests, who said that this year the Department employed 800 men. The greatest number on the roll last year was 475. The department set its objective to plant out 23,000 acres, but as a result- of the extra men employed throughout the winter, the acreage would i-each about 30,000 acres. The number of trees available for planting was limited This year they were about 25,000,000, and the whole of them would be used up. It was not fairfi in the face of these figures, to suggest that the Forestry Department was not assisting unemployment. Railway Transfers "It is an exaggeration to say the Addington workshops staff is seething with discontent,” replied the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, in the House of Representatives. “Every possible consideration will be extended by the Government to get over the difficulties that are sure to arise from the transfers. In the meantime, workshops committees, composed of employees and departmental representatives, have dealt with the merits of the staff, and have nominated those that will be subjected to the least hardship by transfer. “Some 224 men will be transferred from Addington, of which number 119 are single men. The complete reorganisation scheme is the result of reports compiled by the very best experts available, and it was fully confirmed by Sir Vincent Raven, who visited New Zealand with the FayRaven Railway Commission into the New Zealand railways. . * * Balm Of Gilead It must have been pleasant for the Hon. W. Nosworthy, Postmaster-Gen-eral, to hear a few encomiums this afternoon from Mr. T. M. Wilford, member for Hutt, after the Tong day of sharp criticism to which he was subjected on Friday. “I cannot help feeling that it is time someone got up and said a good word in favour of the Postmaster-General,” said Mr. Wilford. “1 have sat here throughout the whole of this session and listened to him being splashed and daubed with verbal Invective. He looks terribly ‘down,’ but I want him to cheer up. After all, his good works have not been forgotten. I want to place on record a good work he did for my constituency.” Labour voices: Ha, ha. Mr. Wilford went on to tell of the expediency and efficiency with which certain telephone work in the Hutt district had been carried out. Mr. F. N. Bartram, Grey Lynn, said that he had been pleased to hear the member for Hutt pouring the balm of Gilead upon the Postmaster-Gen-eral. He hoped that now that Mr. Nosworthy was feeling in a better frame of mind, he would not forget the claims of Grey Lynn for a new post office. Many other members took the opportunity of making similar requests.