Mr. Speaker ...

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 771, 18 September 1929, Page 1

Mr. Speaker ...

; Session Queries and Asides

(THE SUX'S Parliamentary .Reporter I WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The introduction of the Government's taxation proposals enlivened what otherwise would have been a dull day on the Estimates today. Things brightened up appreciably for about half an hour, and there was an interesting duel between the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, and the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, on the subject.

As was anticipated, there were modifications in the Government s proposals, and mortgage exemption rates and a hardship clause make the Bill a little more acceptable to the Opposition, though there is no chance ot the Reformers giving even faint praise to it.

Another tit-bit of the afternoon was the statement of the Prime Minister on the subject of the London loans. He delved into past history in summarising the greatest iinancial transaction of the New Zealand Government since its beginning.

Two days’ leave of absence was granted Mr. D. McDougall (Mataura' because of Illness; four days to Mr. A. Harris (tVaitemata!, and one day to Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) because of urgent public business.

Other estimates to be considered will be dealt with in the following order: Public Buildings and Domains; Police; Health Department, and Mental Hospitals. * * • According to the Minister of Railways, the Hon. W. B. Taverner, in answer to a question by Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) the Railway classification list Is now in the hands of the printer and should be available soon. V V * Tobacco Industry . The Lady Nicotine and her enrouiagement in the Dominion were mentioned by Mr. H. M. Rusliworth (Bar of Islands) in a question to the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, whom he asked if he would make a statement to the House on the tobacco industry in the Dominion, and if the Government were going to assist it. * m * Pensions for Miners Pensions conferred under the Miners’ Phthisis Act were enumerated in a return presented to the House today at the request of Mr. R. Semple (Wellington East). The pensioners at the end of 1922 totalled 261, at the end of 1925, 310, and at the end of 1928, 379. There were 297 deaths of miners’ phthisis pensioners between 1922 and 1928. “Loan Mystery” The “London Loan Mystery” cropped up again when Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Auckland Suburbs) gave notice to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of his statements concerning the conditions under which the London loan of January last was raised, and the assertion that the action of his predecessor precluded him from going on the London market again for IS months, and the apparently inconsistent assertion that his predecessor had failed to make any decision, would the Prime Minister make a statement resolving that apparent inconsistency and enable the House to understand whether it was action on the part of the Prime Minister’s predecessor which precluded him from borrowing in London within 18 months. * « • | Trouble with Fiji ' That the Minister of Industries and I Commerce, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, should take a trip to the Fiji Islands and negotiate with the Government there for trade arrangements with New Zealand, was a suggestion made j this afternoon by the Hon. W. Downie | Stewart (Dunedin West)-. He said i that there had been communication < between the Reform Administration ! and Fiji in a very friendly manner, [ and New Zealand could gain an ad- : vantage by trading with Fiji, which | at present did a good deal of trade i with Australia. • • * Overseas Trade The sum of £IOO on the Estimates of the Industries and Commerce Department for expenditure on overseas trade representation is too small altogether, in the opinion of Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South). He j said that the overseas representatives did a good deal of work for New Zeaj land, and mentioned in particular a Mr. Millbrook. of Durban. The Minj ister, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, said he ; realised the importance of the ques- , tion, and New Zealand was expend- ! ing a good deal on trade representa- ; tion in Canada. The amounts for other centres would be increased a 3 i the volume of trade necessitated.