Session Incidents Queries and Asides

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 394, 30 June 1928, Page 5

Session Incidents Queries and Asides

(THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, To-day. Unemployment was discussed at length in the House of Representatives yesterday, but little was contributed toward a real solution of the problem. Labour members, lead fcr 31r. M. J. Savage, had a plentiful supply of criticism for the Government, but Ministerialists met the attack with little concern. The Imprest Supply Bill was passed by the House in the early hours this morning and at 10 o’clock the measure was put through by the Legislative Council. The Local Authorities Empowering Relief of Unemployment Bill to give local authorities power to raise loans for public works for the relief of unemployment without taking a poll of the ratepayers was also put through by both Houses. The Bill extends the Act which was passed in 1926 and which was renewed last session. It also authorises' the Government to pay subsidies up to £300,000 instead of £150,000, the limit of the previous Acts.

The Question Box. —Questions asked in the House yesterday fell a long way short of the imposing volume reached on the opening day of the session. Less attention was devoted to unemployment, pensions and other matters that promise to be used largely as weapons in the vigorous parts'- cpnflict that will undoubtedly rqark the session. Regulations covering the sale of honey were mentioned by Mr. D. Jones (Ellesmere), in asking the Minister of Labour to amend the regulations to permit the sale of honey by fruiterers and dairymen. Mr. E- A. Ransom (Pahiatua). possibly with recollections of a recent brush with the Minister of Lands, asked for a return of the number of holdings, now held and farmed by the Government, which were originally purchased by the Government for close settlement. Mr. Howard’s Card. —“ls it the Minister’s intention to legalise euchre tournaments?” asked Mr. E. J. Howard at question-time in the House yesterday. The answer to this question, when given later in the session, will perhaps indicate whether suburban euchre parties will again be placed within the law. * * * Summer-time Debate. The announcement that the second reading of the Summer-time Bill was set down for July 25 followed Mr. T. K. Sidey’s request, put before the House yesterday, for leave to introduce the measure. The Summer-time Bill was read a first time, and notice was given of one or two other contentious measures sponsored by private members. Mi*. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) asked permission to introduce (he Unemployed Workers’ Bill, and Mr. HHoiland (Christchurch North) asked leave to introduce the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill. * * * A Road in Raglan. —There is no appeal from the decision of the Main Highways Board. This, in effect, was the pronouncement of the Hon. K. S. Williams, Minister of Public Works, when asked by Mr. W. Lee Martin, member for Raglan, if the board’s rejection of the wish of all people in the district to have the Town- Hill road, near the town of Raglan, declared a main highway, was the last word in the matter. Although he stated that there was no appeal from the decision, the Minister indicated that further representations which would have to be considered by the board, could be made. * * * Three Meals and Bed. —Mr. Peter Fraser asked if the Minister of Health could induce the Wellington Hospital

Board, in extending unemployed relief, to grant single men three meals and a bed daily, instead of two meals and a bed daily only, as proposed by the Social Welfare Committee associated with the board. The Minister, the Hon. J. A. Young, replied that lie had no control oyer this phase of the board’s activities. The Social W elfare Committee was a very humane body and undoubtedly anxious to do the best thing possible. * * * Dairy Control Board. —That muchdiscussed institution, the Dairy Control Board, formed the subject of a question asked by Mr. J. A. ZCash (Palmerston North) in the House yesterday afternoon. Mr. Nash, in a question to be answered later, invited the Minister of Agriculture to state whether he proposed to amend the Dairy Produce Control Act so as to reduce the number of members on the Board. Grafton Bridge Dwellers. —“ls the Prime Minister aware that unemployed are sleeping under Grafton Bridge?” asked Mr. W, E. Parry. Auckland Central, in the House of Rd*f>resentatives this afternoon. In referring to this problem, which was discussed recently in The Sun, Mr. Parry asked if the Prime Minister would assist the committee which is rs.ising funds for a doss-house to accommodate 90 to 100 beds. Mr. Coates said he had not had the matter brought to his notice, but he would be glad to do what he could in the way of finding work for the unemployed. So far as Auckland was concerned, up to date work had been found for 900 men, aAI instructions had been given to provide work for some 250 or 300 more. Radio Profits. —Will the PostmasterGeneral have the balance sheet of the New Zealand Broadcasting Company placed before the House? was a question of which Mr. W. J. Jordan

gave notice at question time yesterday. Another question raised by Mr. Jordan was what he termed the intolerable conditions -at relief camps. He gave notice to ask that floor boards be provided in tents, along with free transport to and from camps. * * * Epsom- Remuera. —The vague outlines of certain Auckland suburban districts, particularly Green Lane, Great South Road, and Harp of Erin, were the subject of an inquiry by Mr. W. J. Jordan when the House of Representatives opened yesterday aftei'noon. Having in view the fact that the large district between Epsom and Remuera lacks specific designation, Mr. Jordan gave notice to ask the Post-master-General if he would take steps to have this territory formed into a separate postal district, for which a site for a post office should be acquired at once, in readiness for the erection of the building later on. * • • Pokeno-Paeroa Railway. —A question dealing with the important Po-keno-Paeroa railway, the construction of which would avoid the necessity for the large amount of dead haulage involved under the present system, by which is sent round via Morrinsville and Frankton, was put to the Prime* Minister to-day by Mr. A. M. Samuel, Ohinemuri, who inquired whether, in view of the fact that the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers improvement scheme now nearing completion and that the staff, equipment and organisation were available on the spot, the Government consider utilising these resources to begin work on the desired link line. In reply Mr. Coates said that the Government would investigate the fig- ! ures and other data to ascertain if the I proposition were practicable.