Mr. Speaker. . .

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1009, 27 June 1930, Page 10

Mr. Speaker. . .

Session O“erics and Asides

I TUT Sr.YS Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Thursday When the brief moments of pomp ar * < iroumstances attending the opening o' Parliamont and the Speech from th Throne had been dealt with this afternoon. the House of Representative* settled down to its normal session stride, but tackled its task this tiA : tly with more enthusiasm than last. Questions came thick and fas* and most members were anxious to b heard. There were a few changes in i\ House this session. First of all. thfr were two new faces—those o: Mr. w Nash. who won the Tlutt by-elect! oafter Sir Thomas AY ilfor d became Rig Commissioner. and Mr. W. P. Endear who won the Parnell by-election when Mr. 11. R. Jenkins resigned. Both men were sworn in this afternoon. Messrs D. G. Sullivan and E. J. Howard Labour WTilps. sponsoring Mr. Xash and Mr. J. Kitchener, senior Opposi ’ tion Whip, and Mr. A. Harris I temata) supporting Mr. Endean. Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Grey Lynn), who was a ’•leftwinger” in the United Party last session, now has a seat among the Independents, being a bench -mate cMr. J. T. Plognn (Rangitikei) today Apparently he has asserted his independence. His former place next to Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Waitomo), another o' the assertive members of the United Party, is now occupied by Mr. G. c Black t Motueka), late Junior Government Whip. Behind the Prime Minister the Hon. G. W. Forbes, and the Hon K. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands, sit the two new whips. Messrs. G* c Munns (RoskilD. the senior, and Mr. E F. Healy (Wairau). Mr. \Y. A. Bodkin (Central Otago) occupies the seat formerly belonging to the Hon. S. G Smith, Minister of Labour In front of Mr. Speaker there sa* for the first time today another Clerk of the House instead of Mr. R w Kane, C.M.G. He was Mr. T. D. je Hall, LL.B.. the new clerk. Messages of appreciation of the manner in which members had treated him were sen* by Mr. Kane. Mr. Hall wea s the foil barrister’s dress of gown and v ig. hv virtue of his degree. A question bearing upon Arapunl was asked by Air. R. McKeen i Wellington Fouth), who gavo notice to ask the Ministei' of Public Works, the Horn E. A. Ransom, if an investigation would be undertaken into the possibility of establishing a. steam genc-j - ating plant at Huntly, and also into the possibilities of a coal carbonisation plant whereby much of the products of the mines lying idle might be utilised. Mr. W. Lee Martin (Raglan) also asked a question bearing on ti e same subject, and requested the Min ster to call a conference of representatives of all power boards in the Auckland Province with a view to arriving at a. scheme to supply current. The Government was asked to consider the question of a subsidy of £ for £ ©f £70,000 for the construction of a steam generating plant at Huntly. * <! * The Morningside railway tunnel and deviation projects were once more brought up. this time by a question from Air. W. K. Parry (Auckland Central), who asked if it were the intention of the Minister of Railways, the Hon. IV. A. Veitch, to abandon the project. He asked for an investigation into the social and economic possibilities of the scheme, one of the committee of investigation to be an engineer approved by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the local bodies. -Mr. J. SL l-'ictcher (Grey Lynn; was early in with a question bearing upon an amendment to the Act governing the police force. He asked if provision could be made for a policeman to obtain a fair trial and to have the right of appeal. Mr. A. Harris (Wai temata) was anxious that Devonport Borough should be relie\ ed of the burden imposed if by the fact that one-eieventh ot its area was occupied by the Detence Department lor naval and military purposes, and therefore was not rateable. He desired the Minister of Detence to do something about it. * * * There was a fair number of questions bearing upon pensions this afternoon. -vir. W. J. Jordan wanted legislation for people suffering iruni and other incurable diseases. Mr. . E. Parry wanted the old-age pension raised to £1 5s a week, the restrictions against people who could not prove their date of birth removed: and an increase in the pensi . for the blind. Mr. W. J. Jordan wished the Dominion representative at the Imperial Conference to bring up the question of reciprocity of pensions within the Empire. Mr. Parry wanted superannuation extended to wives whose husbands died before them. In reply to a question from Mr. li. M. Campbell (Hawke’s Bay), the Prim Minister said that the dumping of Oregon pine in the Dominion was done according to the law of the land, bu; that an inquiry would be made shortlv into the whole position of the timber industry. ha measures would be taken by the Government in relieving distress caused by unemployment until the unemployment legislation was put through was the subject of a question by Mr. Parry to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister replied that relief was m the hands of the hospital boards, which were subsidised £ for £ by the Government. If there were any failure in giving relief the Government would be pleased to inquire into the circumstances. Notice Introduction of the following Bills was given:—Rating Amendment (Mr. H. G. R. Mason, Auckland Suburbs); Coroners Amendment. Mr. H. Nr. Campbell: Xew Zealand Institute of Architects. Mr. R. A. A> right. Wellington Suburbs; Local Elections and Polls Amendment, Mr. Mason: Magistrate’s Court AmendMr. Mason; City of Christchurch linking Funds Commissioners Empowering, 1930, Air. D. G. Sullivan. Avon. Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Centrali asked if the provision of the Her.* Restriction .vet would be continued, and Mr. 'I. W. McDonald if the Arms Act Amendment Rill, passed by the Lower House la?t session, would be reintroduced. Inquiry into whether mental hospital patients had to be accommodated with shake-downs instead of beds was sought by Mr. Fraser of the Minister in Charge of Mental Hospitals (the Hon. A. J. Stall worthy). Replying to Mr. G. C. Black otue kai, the Prime Minister said that a meeting of the Central Earthquake Committee would be convened very soon. Then the question of paying annuities to those affected would be considered. In the meantime, temporary payments were being made.