PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, COAB FOR THE RAILWAYS By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Hon. G. M. Thomson moved that in the opinion of the Council the Government should instruct the Railway Department to make a definite experiment in the use of pulverised coal on the railways by setting apart a small and isolated line of railway for a tear. He quoted the success of experiments elsewhere, and said there was no reason why a similar success should not be achieved here, and thereby very necessary economy achieved. There were many small lines on which the change could be made with a minimum of inconvenience to the public and a maximum of saving to the Government. The Hon. W. Stewart seconded pro forma. Sir William Fraser said Mr. Thomson must not run away with the idea that the Government was not impressed with the importance of the scheme, hut the present was not the time for expenditure which could possibly be avoided. Mr. Thomson said he had anticipated t'ne reply of the Leader of the Council, but if the cost of the scheme could be saved in one year he did not think it would -be bad economy. He would not press the matter further at this stage, and the motioh was withdrawn The Council..rose at,. 3.6 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Thei. House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. On the motion of Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton), the Proportional Representation and Effective Voting Bill No. 2 was removed from the order paper, for which he substituted the Proportional Representation and County Quota Bill. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart gave notice of his intention to introduce the .Land Drainage Amendment Bill. Tn reply to Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston North), the Hon. G. J. Anderson said the Government was now only building houses for men with large families. Replying to Mr. J. Craigie (Timaru). the Hon. E. P. Lee said that if the millers reduced the price of flour the Board of Trade would see that the price of bread was brought down proportionately. Replying to Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South), Mr. Massey said New Zealand would be represented at the British Imperial Exhibition in London, but not having the management’s proposals before them no decision had yet been arrived at as to the amount of money that would be spent. Replying to Mr. Nash, the Hon. W. D. Stewart said he would endeavour to obtain information regarding the Russian famine with a view to determining whether it was still necessary to subscribe to that fund. Replying io Mr. V. H. Potter (Roskill), Mr. Massey said some of the methods of the Alliance of Labor were worth looking into, and he would ask the Minister of Labor to do so. INTERESTING REPORTS. LICENSING, TAXES, TARIFF. In reply to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), Mr. Massey said members would be given an opportunity to consider the proposals contained in the reciprocal tariff agreement before the House was asked to discuss it. There probably would be an interesting discussion on the Licensing Committee’s report, but there would be no licensing legislation this year. The report would be laid on the table and discussion might be taken some days later. The Taxation Committee’s report was irj the hands of the printers, but he fcould not say when it would come to hand for presentation to the House. There would be taxation legislation this session, and perhaps the report could be discussed in connection with that legislation. Sir John Salmond’s report on the Washington Conference was also in the printers’ hands and would be submitted when ready. NEW BfLLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time: Insurance Companies Deposits Amendment Bill (Hon. E. P. Lee); Local Bodies Loans Amendment Bill (Hon. W. D. Stewart); Administration of Justice Bill (Hon. E. Pi Lee) ; Daylight Baking Bill (Mr. J. McCombs). The following Bills were introduced by Governor’s message and read a first time: Swamp Drainage Amendment; Surveyors Institute and Board of Examiners Amendment; Compensation to Workers Consolidation and Amendment. The House rose at 9.35 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.