Mr. Speaker

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 712, 11 July 1929, Page 1

Mr. Speaker

Session Queries and Asides (THE SUIT’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Possibly because horses were galloping certain distances on a more or less circular course at Trentham this afternoon, and some Parliamentarians were absent on “urgent public business” there, a minor stonewall developed in the House of Representatives when the Government held up the Address-in-Reply debate by bringing down a fair number of papers on which discussions were started. Mr. G. C. Black (Motueka), junior Government Whip, set the ball rolling with a general dissertation on the shortcomings of the Valuation Department. Then there was a discussion on the League of Nations and. New Zealand representation, and then more reports and papers. Of the Opposition members there were only 12 in the House. The rest evidently were calling losing horses names by no means as sweet as the noblest friend of man. Of course, that was quite usual in the days when Reform held sway on the Treasury benches, but today . . . As the discussion on valuations meandered on, Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) inquired earnestly of the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lands, “Will the hon. gentleman tell us what the stonewall is for ?” There was no reply, and the reports went monotonously across to the clerk’s table. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton) asked the Minister of Education (the Hon. H. Atmore) if the establishment of junior high schools would interfere with the present high schools and the number of free places in these schools. Also, would the salaries of headmasters of secondary and primary schools be affected? Mr. H. M. Rushworth (Bay of Islands) gave notice to introduce the Swamp Drainage Amendment Bill. Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central* asked leave to introduce the Miners’ Phthisis Bill. The following Bills w T ere read a first time: Workers* Compensation Amendment, second reading, August 7: Compulsory Military Service Repeal, second reading, July 31. Government by Regulation In the brief stonewall in the House this afternoon, the Minister of Lands (the Hon. G. W. Forbes) laid on the table certain papers announcing administrative changes by Order-in - Council. “What? More government by Order-in-Council?” queried the Opposition in chorus. Later Mr. Forbes notified his intention of doing certain things by regulation. The Male Voice Chorus: More government by regulation!” (Laughter.) * * * The Government held a caucus today, in which business of the session was discussed. It was stated that the Address-in-Reply debate would be continued to the end of the week, despite Labour’s plea evening. Ruling His Department “I have seen it suggested that some of the Ministers are ruled by departmental heads, but I am pleased to report that the heads of my department have never presumed to rule me,” said the Postmaster-General, the Hon. J. B. Donald, in the House of Representatives last evening. ! Mr. Donald said that he could assure • the House, as a businessman, that the | heads of his department knew their ; business. Group of Telephone Systems Incorporation of nearby district telephone services with the main system was foreshadowed by the Post-master-General (Hon. J. B. Donald* i in the House of Representatives this evening as a reform of the not distant future. * ; “I believe it would be a good thing for Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch. ! and Dunedin to have the outlying districts brought in,” he said. “If possible ! that will be done. In addition, where it is possible to group country districts into one system, and thus give telephone users a larger field. I think it j should be done.” Making Post Office Pay There was no reason why the Post and Telegraph Department should be run at a loss, said Mr. J. B. Donald this evening. He considered that he should not only look for a sufficient profit to cover working expenses, but also interest and depreciation. “If there is anything left over then,” ; the Minister paused . . . Members: Go on. The Minister: I was going to say. that if there were any surplus it . should be given to the men, but T believe fair wages should be given to the men. Mr. J. A. Young (Hamilton): What 1 about service to the public? i Thr* Minister: Yes, the public . should get the service, and I firmly believe it does ... If there is a surt plus I think it should be given back to the people in. cheaper rates and bet- . I ter service.