“When the Pie...”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 393, 29 June 1928, Page 1

“When the Pie ...”

PARLIAMENT SETTLES DOWN

LABOUR’S FUSILLADE OF QUESTIONS (THE SVN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, To-day. TOPICS pertinent and otherwise were raised in the sharp fusillade of notices-of-motion introduced by members of the Opposition when Parliament opened yesterday afternoon. No sooner had members settled in their seats, after listening to the formal business transacted in the Upper House, than member after member, principally from the Labour benches, was on his feet.

Activity among the Labour members St this particular point in the day’s programme is always noticeable, but to-day it was even more pronounced than usual. Over 40 questions were asked, or requisitions propounded, and the bulk of them came from the Labour Quarter of the chamber. Many subjects of paramount topical importance were employed as ammunition in this barrage, but a good deal of repetition was evident, and the quality of the explanations appended as notes to a number of the inquiries prompted the Speaker to observe that many of the members were answering their own questions. PERSEVERING MR. PARRY Persistent among the questioners was jdr. W. E. Parry, of Auckland Central, Who was on his feet half a dozen times in the brief but active period that •lapsed between the conclusion of the Governor-General’s address and the adjournment of the Lower House until 2.30 p.m. to-day, when the Imprest Supply Bill will give members another opportunity to discuss any and every subject. Mr. R. McKeen, Mr. W. J. Jordan, and Mr. P. Fraser were others con-

cerned with a diversity of problems. In the Labour range of questions and notices, these covered old age and other pensions, payment for workers on undertakings set apart for unemployment relief, and the workings of the State Advances scheme as applied to both farmers and workers. On arrival of the awaited time for notices and questions, Mr. J. A. Nash was the first of half a dozen who were on their feet to catch the Speaker’s eye. He was concerned with the advisability of raising a loan to supplement the funds available for State advances to workers, and asked how many prospective home-builders were at present held up in the prosecution of their plans through lack of adequate State finance. The same question, or issues thereof, was touched upon by Messrs. H. T. Armstrong and Parry, the latter asking for a return showing how many workers’ homes, erected under the Government scheme, had fallen back Upon the Government’s hands. Pensions for the aged and infirm, Including sufferers from incurable diseases, a point raised by Mr. Jordan, were mentioned in notices given by Messrs. Parry. Jordan, and Fraser. Unemployment, it is plain, will give Labour members a great deal to talk about this session. Mr. Peter Fraser invited the Government to consider legislation vindicating the “right to work’’ principle, and the matter of a remedy for the annually recurring Wave of unemployment. Insurance for unemployment was suggested by Mr. L. G. Sullivan, M.P. for Avon, who was one of the first Labour members to secure the attention of the House at this session. SMASHES ON RAILWAYS Possibly it was a memory of the recent Pukekohe smash, in which a great deal of rolling-stock was reduced almost to matchwood, and livestock to pulp, that impelled Mr. F. N. Bartram, the second questioner of the day, to ask for a return of all mainline derailments on the New Zealand railway system in the past three years. Laughter greeted Mr. A. Harris when ne asked that the Government take steps to have the bed of the WaiteHarbour explored, and other preliminary data prepared, in readiness for the construction of the Waitemata bridge. Mr. T. K. Sidey rose to ask that summer time be made law, and the ev <?rgreen subject again engendered

Then Sir George Hunter (Waipawa) brought forward notice that the date Th aster b e made a definite fixture. The Hon. D. Buddo raised as an alarming feature the large and growing number of motor accidents in New Zealand, he suggested could be partly avoided by more stringent regulations: and Mr. McKeen, vaguely hinting that «is constituents had not been getting alue for their money, asked if the alorific value of Wellington gas could e .. 5 established. uill the Government provide for instruction in fire prevention and fire nghting among school children, as by the Firo Underwriters’ Association?” asked Mr. Jordan, and Mr. Parry wanted compensaion for workers suffering through the handling of basic slag. So the questions and notices were showered upon he Government, while with sonorous oice Mr. Speaker determined the precedence of the questioners—in itself light task. PARLIAMENTARY PANOPLY

The whole business did not take *°hg, from the moment when white moke drifting from Point Jerningham. followed by the boom of guns across he water to the city, announced that me Governor-General had left his residence, to follow liis mounted escort

through the streets to the smart guard of Wellington College cadets that awaited him under the garlanded columns of the Parliament House facade, until after the pompous processes of Black Rod’s solemn invitations had been concluded and answered, the Lower House returned to its chamber to open its session, and adjourn. BOUQUET FOR HER EXCELLENCY There was a large assemblage of people in the grounds of Parliament House to witness the brief military display customary on such occasions. Their Excellencies were attended by Captain Boyle, military secretary, Mr. A. C. Day, official secretary, Captain E. L. Orr-Ewing, A.D.C., and Lord Waleran, assistant-private secretary to his Excellency. The vice-regal party was received on arrival at Parliament House by MajorGeneral R. Young, C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., Colonel R. St. J. Beere, D. 5.0., V.D., Colonel-Commandant J. H. Whyte, D. 5.0., D.C.M., N.Z.S.C., LieutenantColonel F. Symon, G.M.C., D. 5.0., A.D.C., Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. Pilkington, C.8.E., R.N.Z.A., LieutenantColonel R. 3. Smythe, D. 5.0., N.Z.S.C., Lieutenant-Colonel N. S. Falla, C.M.G., D. 5.0., A.D.C., Lieutenant-Colonel D. J. Gibbs, D. 5.0.. V.D., Captain C. N. Reyne, R.N., A.D.C., and PaymasterCommander E. N- R. Fletcher, R.N. The guard of honour, consisting of 100 officers and men from Wellington College Cadets, under Captain W. F. C. Balham, and Lieutenant J. R. Cuddie, gave the Royal Salute as their Excellencies arrived, and the band of the First Battalion Wellington Regiment played the National Anthem. His Excellency, who was in fulldress uniform, accompanied by his military and navay staffs, then inspected the guard of honour. While the inspection was being made her Excellency was received by the Clerk of Parliaments, Mr. A. F. Lowe, and was conducted by him to her seat on the left of the dais in the Legislative Council Chamber. The Speaker of the Legislative Council, Sir Walter Carncross, handed a bouquet to her Excellency, and another to Mrs. Coates who, with Lady Carncross, and the wives of the Ministers, was seated in the chamber. The galleries were filled with spectators, the majority of whom were ladies, whose bright costumes made a brilliant spectacle. On entering the building, after inspecting the guard, his Excellency, preceded by the Black Rod- ©roceeded to the Speaker’s chair in the Legislative Council Chamber. Members of the House of Representatives assembled in their own chamber and were then summoned by Black Rod at his Excellency’s command, and in a few minutes they entered the Legislative Coun-

cil Chamber, headed by their Speaker, Sir Charles Statham. His Excellency then read his speech to the members of ooth Houses. The members of the House of Representatives, at the conclusion of the speech, returned to their own chamber. Ordinarily the next business on the programme would be the payment of tributes to legislators recently deceased, but the proximity of the ord of the month demands prior attention to the Imprest Supply Bill anu uie finances of the State. A late sitting is therefore indicated for to-day. The formal tributes to deceased legislators will be paid on Tuesday, after which the Address-in-Reply debate, with its amendment to be introduced by the Leader of the Opposition —who gave notice to this effect to-day —will doubtless furnish the occasion for another long and earnest discussion.