Mr. Speaker ... Session Queries and Asides

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 813, 6 November 1929, Page 1

Mr. Speaker ... Session Queries and Asides

THE SDN’S Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Today. Yesterday was remnant day in »ha closing portions of the Parliamentary bargain sale, and members were fur- ’ nished with returns and things and a couple of annual reports which gave , them little to take away and use. Like most remnant days it was not very profitable and even the most avid political bargain trailer could not have gained a thrill out of the proceedings. The Railway Authorisation Bill was the main item on the order paper and this opened up vistas of a long talk on the South Island Main Trunk Railway and railways in general, a talk which lasted until 3 o’clock this morning. The Legislative Council met at 10.30 this morning, when tho Railways Authorisation Bill was received from the House and read the first time. A Wasted Day With the whole of Monday used up in discussion on the no-confidence motion moved by Mr. H. E. Holland, another day was just w’asted away. This means that the House probably will not rise for the end of the session now’ until Friday or Saturday, instead of Thursday as was hoped. One day is precious to a Government which |is accelerating its legislative programme to put an end to four months’ stay in Wellington. Workers’ Houses According to a return, tabled In the House at the request of Mr. J. K. Fletcher (Grey Lynn), the number of workers’ houses built at Frankton by the Railways Department was 143. Of this number three are at present empty but all have been let and will be occupied shortly. • * • Satisfied With Road "if the promise is carried out to give a first-class road between Rotorua ' and Taupo I am quite satisfied with the stoppage of the railway,” said Mr. C. H. Clinkard (Rotorua) in the House. “I am saying that on behalf of the great majority of people in the Rotorua electorate.” Extra Dental Nurse In response to representations Mr. A. J. Murdoch (Marsden) has been advised by the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, that an extra dental nurse will be allotted the Whangarei clinic early in the new year. Amendment to Films Act Briefly explaining the Cinematograph Films Amendment Bill, the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister of Internal Affairs, stated that with other matters it provided for details of the method of publication of the censor’s certificate for sound and talking pictures, to be prescribed by regulations which would be made after discussion with the technical experts in the trade. The Minister said the Bill also provided for an extension of the booking period for film contracts and would place single picture contracts on the same footing as contracts comprising a large number of films. • • • Transport Bill The House met again at eleven o’clock this morning, when the Transport report made its belated appearance. The Hon. W. A. Veitch said that those clauses Vhich had met with opposition would be dropped this session. The Bill does little more than establish the Ministry of Transport. * « • Couldn’t Vote Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Grey Lynn) stated during the Railways Authorisation Bill debate, he could not vote for the amendment, but he would not vote at all, as he did not consider an accurate estimate of the cost of the South Island railway had been placed before the House. Mr. Coates Protests A little of the personalities of politics w-as introduced by the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, this evening, in the course of his Speech in the second reading of the debate on the Railways Authorisation Bill. He took exception to remarks by the Hon. E. A. Ransom, on the subject of an alleged promise made by him at election time concerning the starting of the South Island Main Trunk line. Mr. Coates said that the statement was in line with others made by Ministers. They were incorrect. This was not the only one, as several had been made. A Voice: Can you produce them? Mr. Coates: I can show four copies of speeches. There was the Vaiie letter. the “balloon loop.” and now the South Island Main Trunk railway. Ministers, he said, heard one man make a statement and repeated it like parrots. He denied sending a telegram to Mr. W. J. Girling. No one had ever seen the telegram. The member for Wairau. Mr. K. Hoaly, said that he saw the telegram. Mr. Coates challenged the Government to produce it. He concluded by warning members of the Government party against joining that happy band i of gentlemen who misrepresented aud ! were hard up for argument.