Mr. Speaker ... Session Queries and Asides

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 777, 25 September 1929, Page 1

Mr. Speaker ... Session Queries and Asides

(TBE SUX'S Parliamentary PeportcrJ PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Today. The House of Representatives sat until 2.50 this morning, the time being principally occupied with the discussion of Estimates. At 10.20 last evening Sir Joseph Ward told the House that progress was too slow, and moved suspension of the Standing Orders. The motlov was carried. Members, however, showed no further inclination to speed up, and the discussion dragged on until nearly 3 o’clock. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, has seen fit to alter his prophecy regarding the end ot the session, for now the date is given as the end of October, and not the middle. Judging, however, from the progress being made still, it jnay be later than that before members pack their bags and leave for home. Two New Bills The most important business of the day was the introduction of the Transport Amendment Bill and the Destitute Persons Bill, by GovernorGeneral’s Message. There was a large number of questions- about each w hen the measures were In the preliminary committee stage, and debate on them bids to be very long. The Transport Bill has undergone an overhaul since first mention was made of its likely provisions in The Sun. and evidently those responsible for drafting it have had their fingers on the pulse of public opinion. Menaced “Innocent*" In moving his motion that Government business should have priority over other business after tomorrow , the Prime Minister aroused complaint from private members who had important Bills to be considered. They considored that the opportunity should be given for the House to give au expression of its opinion on their legislation. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avoni referred to his Workers’ Annual Leave Bill. Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Auckland Suburbs), who was fortunate enough to get his Marriage Amendment Bill through, maintained that the newstanding Orders had handicapped private members. Gaming Bill In the absence of Sir George Hunter (Waipawa), the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates asked the Prime Minister if consideration could be given to the Gaming Amendment Bill, as had been done in previous sessions. The Prime Minister replied that everything depended on the course of Government business. He hoped that an opportunity would be given for Sir George Hunter to test the feeling of the House on his Gaming Bill. • • • j Premium on Prosecutions The new Transport Bill provides for the abolition of the practice of certain local bodies in fixing the payment of traffic inspectors In proportion to the amount of fines they recover. It is considered that this system encouiages the laying of Informations for ■ merely technical breaches of law i which could otherwise be ignored. ! Arapuni Erosion ! The position at Arapuni is still ; giving members concern, and the latest Ito ask a question on the erosion ! difficulty at the works is Mr. C. H. ; Clinkard (Rotorua). He gave notice i to ask the Minister of Public Works i (the Hon. E. A. Ransom) if in view of the seriousness of the position he would take immediate action by the appointment of three of the best engineers in New Zealand outside of the Public Works Department to ad--1 vise as to the best means of safeS guarding the position. .’ * * Tax on Onions That the Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. B. Taverner) should protest against the action of the Federal Goyernment of Australia in regard to the proposed increase of £6 a ton duty on New Zealand onions exported to Australia was desired by Mr. D. Jones (Mid-Canterbury). Palm Oil Palm oil (the geniune article) was the subject of a by Mr. H. M. Rush worth (Bay of «r*Vils). He gave notice to ask the Minister of Agriculture to make a statement on the possibilities of the development of the industry in the North of Auckland. Morningside Tunnel The statement that no decision had been reached regarding the Morningi side tunnel scheme was made by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. W. B. Taverner, when approached by Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Grey Lynn).