Mr. Speaker . . .

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 730, 1 August 1929, Page 1

Mr. Speaker . . .

Session Queries and Asides

(THE SUN'S Parliamentary ReyortarJ WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Except for a host of Ministerial answers to questions— 72 in number—• the afternoon in the House of Representatives was very quiet. Members simply rose on their hind legs and expressed their gratification and otherwise at the replies given. • * * Mr. Speaker reported to the House that he had waited on his Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, to present the Address-in-Reply, and he read out his Excellency's thanks for it. * * * Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) asked the Minister of Customs ithe Hon. W. B. Taverner) if he would extend tie scope of the committee set up to consider the wheat duties to include the investigation of all tariff questions affecting New Zealand secondary industries which used New Zealand raw products.

Notice to introduce the Auckland City Sinking Funds and Empowering Bill was given by Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West).

A warning signal at Church Street Crossing, Penrose, according to his promise, was asked of the Minister of Railways (the Hon. W. B. Taverner) by Mr. W. J. Jordan (Manukau).

Eight days’ leave of absence was granted Sir Maui Pomare (Western Maori) because of illness, and similar leave was given Mr. T. D. Burnett (Temuka) for the same reason.

Reform chuckles and assumed mystification and shocked surprise were in evidence when the Minister of Health (the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy) laid on the table several Orders-in-Council affecting his department. Orders-in-Council are a sure drawing-card for Reform mirth and gibes.

Singapore Base Replying to Mr. F. Langsione (Wai* marino), the Prime Minister said that, concerning a newspaper report that Great Britain had contributed £200,000 only to the Singapore Base out of a total expenditure of £1,830,364, he could not say whether the figures were correct. New Zealand so far had contributed £250,000 to the base. The Government attached great importance to the base, and would not be willing to reconsider the contribution payable by New Zealand, as suggested by Mr. Langstone. who had urged that the money be used for the relief of unemployment. ♦ * * Potato Embargo Because of the attitude of the Commonwealth Government with regard to restrictions on the importation of Now Zealand potatoes, the Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. B. Taverner ) does not think that any good purpose would be served by opening up the question of removal of the embargo at present. Mr. W. J. Poison (Stratford) had asked him if the question could be gone into in view of the reported famine in the Commonwealth.

“Golden Casket” Whether the Government could not authorise the running of a “Golden Casket” lottery similar to the Queensland one in aid of the earthquake relief funds or other charitable purposes, was a question asked of the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle) by Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki). Mr. Perrelle replied that it was a lottery on the lines of those run by Tattersall’s in Hobart, and that the Government did not intend to conduct similar sweeps in New Zealand. Air Services The question of an air mail service between Gisborne and Napier, if placed before the department by the promoters of a proposed company for (his purpose, will have consideration by the Postmaster-General (the Hon. J. B. Donald), according to a. reply given by him to Mr. W. E. Barnard (Napier). Late-Running Trains Asked whether he would make an inquiry into the cause of the persistent late running of the express trains between Auckland and Wellington, the Hon. W. B. Taverner, replied in the House that the running of the trains had been under careful review. In accordance with established practice, where cases of late running were discovered steps were taken for their removal and that was the policy being pursued at the present time.