RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 236, 30 June 1920, Page 8

RETURNED SOLDIERS

FUNDS FOE SETTLEMENT. ■ One of the items, provided for in the Imprest Supply Bill is half a million for returned soldiers' settlement. A host of questions were asked in the House on this matter. Members wanted to know whether this amount would,be anything like sufficient, and the assurance was Ptiven them that it was only a temporary provision, until uuch time as the loan Bill'could be put' through, and the as-

6tiranee was given also that in the Loan Bill adequate finance would be provided. Mr. Mitchell was one of the most active pleaders on behalf of the soldiers. His inquiry was as ,to whether this sum of money would provide for resumption of normal activities, or only for a continuance of slow advances such as had been the recent practice since the curtailment had been made' neoessary. _ ; The Minister of Lands , repeated his assurances that there had been no .'stoppage of grants, but only an' enforced slowing up on account of'the moneys riearing exhaustion. The policy 'of the Depart■ment had to be to conserve existing funds for applications already.granted, and for the use of soldiers already settled, for improvements and stock, and other such purposes. He said that the half million would be immediately available on the passage of the Bill, and that this 'sum, with the considerable amount in hand, would be amply sufficient for requirement? until tlio House could have an opportunity of saying in the Loan Bill" how much the country ought to pro-' •vide for future finance for this purpose. * The Minister mentioned that some land .boards had misinterpreted the instruct >tions of the Government as to tapering off the repatriation scheme. They had ceased to recommend grants. This had not been intended by fhe Government, and the boards had been directed to consider each • application _ on' its merits, This arrangement continued, but applications had to be handled in the order in which they were received, and prefer' ence' hail ~to be given to men who had entered into obligations. The ,£500,000' now being voted would enablo the Department to carry on '.until Parliament dealt with the whole question. The scheme would proceed in the future according to what Parliament thought that the country could afford for the settlement of returned soldiers. „

TARIFF ANOMALIES , •AUSTRALIA'S NEW DUTIES. Tariff-anomalies were discussed in the House yesterday during the committee stages of the Imprest Supply Bill. Members asked for the remission of duties on hardwood poles and-,other (roods, and for the correction of inequalities. They mentioned that the new Australian tariff was adversely affecting New Zealand trade at various points. It was damaging the whaling industry in Cook Strait. The Minister of Customs (Hon. W. H. Herries) said that the' remission of duties was a matter for the Minister of Finance to consider. ' Could that Minister, spare any revenue? Bequests for remissions had come from very many quarters; The. who!© tariff question was going to be opened next session, 'when tho/ Government would present a Customs Bill. ' A < complaint came from Mr. L. M. Isifct (Christcliuroli North) that tlm Customs Department was increasing the cost of living bv assessing dutisa on values much higher than the prices actually paid by the importers. The Minister replied that the duties were legally charged on actual values. The n~ew Australian tariff would hit New Zealand very liard in various respects. Australia in some instances was giving a, preference to Britain that was not extended to New Zealand. A list of anomalies had been prepared and had been sent by tho : Prime Minister' to Mr. Hughes, with a. request that they should be remedied before the new tariff was finally approved. Mr. G. Forbes (Hurunui) pointed out that New Zealand • accorded Australia . preferential tariff treatment at all points,as a part of the British Empire, but .Australia did not reciprocate. Hpw was i the Government going to set about the drafting of the new.tariff? •The Minister stated that Departmental commissioners would be sent all over the Dominion during tho recess, to hear evi- ■ dence and gather information. He did not think a Parliamentary commission was necessary. The commissioners would be oxperts. "If w'e put business men on a tariff commission tlicy will all be pushing their own barrows," said Mr. Herries. :

Mr. Forbes thought there must ,be somo disinterested business men in tho country, but the Minister insisted: thai the safe course would be to use' the Departmental experts. v DAYLIGHT SAVING t TO EASE "PEAK LOAD" PERIOD. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Anderson) gave-notice in tho House of Representatives yesterday of four. Government Bills coming from his Department during the session. The New Zealand' Standard Time Bill, tlio Marriage Amendment Sill, the Revocation of Aliens' Naturalisation Amendment Bill, and the Registration of Aliens Amendment Bill. It is understood that the New Zealand Standard Time Bill provides, simply that New Zealand menu time shall bo 12 hours in advance of Greenwich time, instead of 6ome eleven and.a half hours as at present. Tho request for this change has bet* made previously by astronomers in this, country,. The effect of the change will bo a small instalment, of tho demands of thoso favouring daylight saving, and thin is ono of the purposes of the Bill. It will minimiso the peak load difficulty of all municipalities and other suppliers of electric current for power and light. At. present most of the plants aro fully loaded during tho daylight hours, and when the -light fails and they have to carry not only tho power load but th« lighting load and the extra tramway load soon afterwards, they are strained to (lunger point. This' Bill, if passed, will put everything forward half an hour, and there will be a little more daylight, causing the load\for electric, lighting to be a little lfiss at the worst period of the dav. The load will bo a little heavior in the morning, but tho difficulty at this time is never . «o serious.