PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE SUGAR CONTRACT, \ By Tslserapb.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. The Hon. E. P. Lee, President of the Board of Trade, replying to Mr. Parry, said the Government did not propose to make any profit in a business sense on its transactions in connection with the distribution of sugar, though „a small macgin to cover contingencies would be.provided. * THE NAURU AGREEMENT. The Prime Minister, replyiifg to Mr. Field, who called attention to the cables appearing in the morning papers in reference to the Nauru phosphates selling price, and an amendment to the agreement, said he had received a message from Lord Milner (Secretary for the Colonies), to the effect that the agreement was confirmed by the House of Commons, with an amendment which did not affect the agreement in any material respect. NEW BILLS. The Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Amendment Bill (the Hon. W. A. Nosworthy) was read a first time. The Native Trustee Bill (Sir William Herries) was read a second dime pro forma, and referred to the Committee. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE: THE DEBATE CONCLUDED. The debate on the Address-in.* Reply was resumed. " Mr. A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) complained that while provision was being made, to develop hydro-electric works in the North Island, Otago schemes were being neglected. He favored wiping out the present defence system, and replacing it with a system of training in schools and colleges, the latter having special courses for the study of the different branches of military science. The cost of such ft system would be small compared with the present expenditure of £1500,000 annually, with prospects of it increasing. Ho was a strong advocate of a white New Zealand. Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) urged that the great bulk of the people, the consumers, should receive fair play. Regarding immigration, he thought that rather than spend money on securing immigrants from oversea, they should encourage the birth-rate in New Zealand by giving a maternity bonus. t Mr. Atmore (Nelson) said that if ever there was a time when we in New Zealand should drop Party strife that time was now, when we face the great questions of reconstruction. The Labor Party's programme was easily the best before the people, "but the Party would never achieve its ideal until it "widened its view. % Mr. Seddon (Westland), asked the Premier to appoint a Minister of i-Mines to formulate a policy with the object of assisting the mining indutary. v At 10.20 p.m. Mr, Hockly rose to reply, which he did in felicitous terms, and the House agreed that a respectful Address be presented to his Excellency in reply to his Speech to both Houses. The House rose at 10:24 p.m.