SESSION INCIDENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 434, 16 August 1928, Page 16

SESSION INCIDENTS

Queries and Asides

(THE SUN’S Pari WELLINGTON, Wednesday. PARLIAMENT yesterday spent a couple of hours in an earnest discussion of land settlement problems, which followed the presentation of the Settlement of Crown Lands report. The Minister, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, dismissed much of the Labour criticism as being ill-informed. The Budget debate occupied the greater part of the sitting. The Methodist Theological College Edson Trust Extension Bill was read a second time. Mr. Lee went in for some active sniping over Reform’s election organisation methods, referring to the offering of inducements and recalling the allegations made at the time of the Eden by-election. The House adjourned at 11.55 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-day. Settlement for Taupo “The Taupo country in my judgment offers the best opportunity for large scale settlement of Crown lands,” said the Minister of Lands, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, to-day, “but a large amount of public works improvement must be effected in the locality first.” Mr. W. E. Parry: Wouldn’t a road do as well as a railway? Mr. McLeod: Considering all things, the decision was that the railway would serve the purpose best. At Scroggy Hill No immediate effort either to reduce the grade or to eliminate the dangerous crossing at Scroggy Hill, New Lynn, is contemplated by the Railway Department, according to an answer given to-day by Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Eden). An automatic warning signal was only recently installed at the crossing. New Zealand’s Flock House Mr. W. S. Glenn’s idea that an institution similar to Flock House could be established for the training in farm work of New Zealand boys has been answered by the Hon, A. D. McLeod with the observation that such an institution. already exists in the Ruakura farm training school. & X Meat-bag Peril Fear lest foot-and-mouth disease should be introduced into the Dominion in disused Argentine meat-bags, said to be used now as containers for basic slag imported into the Dominion, was expressed recently by Mr. J. G. Eliott (Oroua). In reply the Minister of Agriculture said to-day there appeared to be no foundation for these fears. Meat-bags were not used, as far as he knew, for the purpose mentioned. In any case the bags were always boiled for the fat they contained, so bacilli would thus be destroyed. New Mines Chairman Mr. A. M. Samuel, who has been unanimously elected to the chairmanship of the Mines Committee of the House, follows in the footsteps of a worthy campaigner in Mr. T. W. Rhodes, now ending his Parliamentary career with a trip to Canada. Before he left the

liamentary Reporter.) House his services to mining were eulogised by Labour men and Reformers alike. His successor is one of the younger Reformers, a “live wire” in the interests of his constituency (Ohinemuri), and among the cleverest speakers in the House. Time Is Fleeting Emphatic protest against the Parliamentary system, by which discussion of reports takes precedence over comment on questions, was begun by Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei), a bare minute before 5.30 this evening. Mr. Glenn had pust advanced the supposition that he probably would not have time to say much when Mr. Speaker intervened, with his customary inexorable interruption: “I am sorry to interrupt the hon. gentleman, but the time has now arrived for the adjournment.” As soon as he had left the Chair, Mr. Glenn carried his complaint to the sympathetic ear of the Prime Minister. * Problem of the Uplands There have been more commissions of inquiry into the high country of New Zealand than on any six other subjects I know of. Commission after commission has failed to settle the problem of the high country runs.—The Hon. A. D. McLeod, this afternoon Over the Fence For the Crown to select the adjoining runholder to value the Crown land next door to him was not the right thing.—Mr. J. Horn (Wakatipu), referring to a specific case in Otago. * * * Keeping On Side A feature of the Budget debate so far, said Mr. J. A. Lee, last evening, was the tone of no-confidence expressed by Reformers themselves. The only apologist so far was Mr. D. Jones, who doubtless was actuated by hopes of securing a place in the Cabinet. It seemed at present, however, that Mr. Jones would be better advised to look after his seat instead of bothering about Cabinet. With the mid-Canter-bury deadlock not settled Mr. Jones had to keep onside with the Prime Minister, so no wonder he apologised so consistently for the Government. * * 3K Plea for Probation A petition containing 2,120 signatures of North Shore residents was presented to Parliament by Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata), praying that in the case of Edward William Keymer, aged 21, John Robinson, aged 21, and Neville Clifford Moller, aged 22, who were sentenced for breaking and entering and theft, should be granted probation, as had been recommended by the probation officer. Their offences were described as merely the escapades of young men who had been out of work for some time. * & * Soldiers' Pensions Eleven petitions were presented to Parliament praying that the amounts paid by friendly societies should not be deducted in the case of incapacitated soldier members who are in receipt of economic pensions granted for war disabilities.