A Parliamentary Note-Book

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 173, 12 October 1927, Page 10

A Parliamentary Note-Book

Still on Customs j < TEE SUX'S ParliamcHtcTu WELLINGTON, Tuetf ' Satisfactory progress inti w consideration or the Customs ment Bill was made in the Representatives to-day when the ** mittee put through 120 more itenTt the tariff schedule. A total of i« * the 446 items have now been n& Principal discussions took articles manufactured in the Dc«°* ion such as ready-made dotW woollen textiles and boots, moving in vain for greater for local industry in these caset The House rose at midnight to-morrow, when the schedule will u proceeded with. Whau Canal The Government is being of the proposal to cut a canal the Waitemata and Manukau Harbour; Mr. A. Harris wished to know i,j' House of Representatives to-day steps were being taken to taeffitaq the work. A comprehensive setes, had been placed before the Goren. ment for consideration, and Mr. Hiiri, wanted to know whether the autkonties were going to act. St rH * Feminine Lures There was a twinkle in the eyt Mr. T. M. Wilford, member for Han as he rose in the House to-day u i speak on the subject of ladies’ ain hosiery, and recalled with aSactet sadness, that times had changed aim his early manhood. “I am toM * b, said, “that girls’ silk hose is no Lager regarded as a luxury. . . . Perhaps I am Early Victorian; I don’t know. Bai I recall the time when girls us ad to set their caps at the young men No. they set their knee-caps.” Notwithstanding his professed Barb Victorian ideas, there was jusl thisomething about Mr. Wilford tt- s»igest that he might not be so iisap pointed after all at the change in fen. nine fashions. What is Linoleum? Consideration of the tariff spot floor coverings has been deferred anti! the end of the schedule of the Cur toms Amendment Bill. The Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. Eowan Stewart, is not satisfied with the deanition of linoleums, and he sttfnd a the House this evening that he whted to have drafted a new defsit»i differentiating between linoleums med for floor coverings and those used for other purposes. Main Highways Fund Southern members of Parliament in still unsettled over the transfer at £350,000 from the revenue acceaat of the Main Highways Fund to the Cor struction Account. The Minis.W Public Works, the Hon. K. 8. Williams, has given his assurance, has ever, that legislation will be indndK In the Finance Bill of thin MMHi empowering the Minister of Fintao to restore the money transferred tt the construction account in such sans and at such times as he may decide after consultation with the Main High ways Board. “Briefly the understanding is tit the moneys shall be restored as sol when they are required by the revest! fund,” the Minister said, “but d»t« can only be fixed as requirement arise.” rK Hi ifc Graceful Evasion So persistent have been memliersd the House of Representatives in asking the Prime Minister wheu the Gaming Amendment Bill mid tM Licensing Bill are to come befoie Parliament for consideration, thfd HrCoates suggests that he should wise« point of order on the ground cf test ous repetition. However, when members asked nim these two questions to-day, he said tMt the requests having been made nkttw he would have to reply nicely. His gracious—-but equally nc-tKO®-mittal reply, raised a laugh 15 the Chamber. especially when HrCoates sat down without having F ra the House the slightest indieadcj when either of the Bills mention* would be brought down. “When we have made sufficient F* gress with Government bnsinesf, *' may expect to see the Bill," “j | reply on the Licensing Bill, wdh* respect to the Gaming Amendments* he promised due notice.