MATTERS IN PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1919, Page 2

MATTERS IN PARLIAMENT.

ARTERIAL ROADS, NAURU PHOSPHATES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Arterial roads were discussed again by the House to-day. Several members urged that the main roads Were actually deteriorating, and that a national policy of construction and maintenance was urgently required. Mr Pearce (Patea) assured the House that Taranaki's experience of tarred macadam was satisfactory, but asked for increased Government subsidies in respect of the through traffic. Mr _ Poole (Auckland West) stated that in California motor buses running on concrete roads with a surface dressing were able to compete with electric trams at five cent fares. Dr. Thacker (Christchurch) demanded .a new Minister for Public Works as a first ste ptowards reform.

Sir Wm. Fraser, in reply, said he recognised that some local bodies required assistance in the maintenance of main roads. He had made grants in previous years, and he was proposing to use an increased sum this year in view of possible damage to the roads during the railway cut. Costly concrete roads were not practicable on a large scale in a partially developed country with a small population. He needed several thousand additional workers for public works, but he could not get them. If he could he would consider the provision of foackbloeks roads, which were taore pressing than the improvement of those existing for the benefit of motorists. The Minister added that most of the money required for the improvement of roads would have to be raised by taxation on the land in the future. Nauru Island was mentioned in; the House this afternoon.

Sir Joseph Ward suggested that the agreement was not as good as it might be from New Zealand's point of view. The Dominion required the phosphates and must not lose the opportunity to secure the supply, but he was not satisfied with the details of the agreement. The Nauru Islands were controlled by a very powerful company in London, and there was nothing definite as to the price that New Zealand would have to pay. It appeared that Australia was going to have the control for some years.

Mr Massey replied that the experts appointed by the British Government would deal with the rights of the company. New Zealand wauld have a voice in the control, and, although the price wa not fixed, the agreement provided that any profit should be divided amongst the three countries—Britain, Australia ar.d New Zealand. The company had been able to put the phosphate aboard at £2 per ton and make a verp large profit On the transaction.