HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 89, 12 October 1932, Page 9

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. -Mr; E. T. Tirikatene (Independent, Southern Maori) gave notice to ask for a return, showing the total number'of unemployed Maoris in the Dominion, and the average rate of wages paid to them. : - ■ Mr. W. A. Veiteh (Government, Wa^ nganui) gave notice to ask whether legislation would be introduced this ■ session giving relief to those who had suffered hardship, or who we're liable to suffer hardship as the result of personal covenants in mortgages. Mr. A. Harris (Government, Waite-; mate) asked the Acting-Minister of Employment whether it was the policy of the Unemployment Board to compel married men in towns to enter country relief camps notwithstanding the fact that local bodies were willing to provide work. , The Hon. A. Hamilton said that local todies were findingl it increasingly difficult to find work, and with the sumJner- months coming on it was thought reasonable to ask men to undertake •work of 3, developmental nature in the country. • '...-• The Bey. Clyde Carr (Labour, Timaru) asked the Minister of Industries and Commerce whether the recent importations by the Government of Australian wheat had been:subject to the. ' fnll amount of duty.as provided under the sliding scale; and, if not, to what extent and by whose authority had the 'statutory impost been modified? • . Replying, the Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. G. .W. Forbes) said that the recent importation of wheat by the Government for sale and distribution as fowl food, had been -brought in as Government property duty free. .The wheat had," however, been sold at a price of 5s 3d per bushel, sacks in, ex ships' slings, at North Island ports. This price, -while more than a duty-free value, was less than a full-duty'paid equivalent. Wheat to,, which the honourable member may be referring was recently also imported by the Wheat Marketing Agency Co., Ltd., Christehureh, under special arrangements by .■which", duty had been paid up to a basis of value determined by internal prices of -wheat'and flour. It was intended, that the balance pf the duty on that wheat ■would be- covered by a vote on the estimates of the Customs Department. " Mr; Tirikatene asked the Prime Minister' whether he ■ Svould ' take" mi-; icediate steps to amend the electoral .laws, mth the object of placing the Maori people on the same electoral footing as the- pakeha, "so Vas to enable the election of Maori.members to Parliament to be conducted on. the same - basis •of secrecy as all other members. "The present system of election is Tingust to" the Native race .in that, the present system offers no secrecy and renders the present methods of Maori elections' extremely farcical," said Mr. ' Tirikatene;. ■ ■ ' ; Replying/ the' Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. G. W. Forties) said that ■the matter would be gone into when the amendment to the electoral' laws ■was under consideration. ' KENT RESTRICTION. Mr. E. MeKeen (Labour, Wellington" South) asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the expiration of the rent restriction for the protection of tenants on 31st October, 1932 (this month), he would take immediate steps to further extend the protection to tenants under, the provisions of section '3 of the Rent Restriction Extension Act, .1931, and part I of the War Legislation Amendment Act, 1916. , MThis is a matter of extreme urgent importance to large numbers who are benefiting under the provisions of this Act," said Mr. MeKeen. "During the pa,st two years 338 tenants have had their rents adjusted under this Act, and if it is now allowed to lapse without a further extension; a great amount of ■ hardship will be, inflicted upon people who now find it difficult to meet the present ■ rents. which they are called upon "to pay." Mr. Forbes said that the matter was tinder the consideration of the Government. ■ _ The House proceeded to set up a number of Select Committees. When the motion in respect of the Industries, and Commerce Committee was •"before the House, Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Labour, Auckland' Suburbs) suggested, that the committees might be in a position to do more serious work if their. numbers were cut down, and a letter arrangement made for the transaction of business. "Mr. Mason said it often happened that members of a committee were unable to remain during the hearing of a petition or the consideration of other matters owing to the fact that they ■were on several other committees sitting the same day. The > committees ; -were based on the party 'strength of the House and the decisions reached were often on a party basis. , : In replying, the Prime Minister said that in setting up the Committees cogBisance -was taken of the strength of the parties in the House, but he did Jiot think it could be said that the decisions of the Committees were of a party nature. He said that during one session he had had a return made of the ■cost that would lie involved if effect were given to all the petitions on which J cfavourable recommendation had been iinade. It was found that it cost . #1,500,000. That showed how necessary it was for the Government to consider each petition. >:.,-. (Proceeding.)