PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1917, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

‘ ' Wellington, July 27 The House met at 2.30 p.lll. ! Replying to Dr H.T. J. Thacker, the Premier said that the maximum retail price of butter still stood: at*, is 8d per lb. He was hot Aware that 6\Vners of butter iiq i feezing stores had faisfed the price to retailers by a penny per pound, but he would refer the matter to the 1 Board of Trade. Replying to Mr C: 11. Poole, Mr q Massey said that the butter Tat levy , had not been abolished but it was ; going to be .he hoped*on August . 31st. Cabinet and the Departmental experts were endeavouring to arrange the whole question on a more satisfactory basis. Replying to Mr A. Walker, the Premier said that the interests of the consumers of butter would be considered when the butter-fat levy was abolished. He wished to cotrect the impression that the butter fat levy was a permanent impost. It was never regarded as anything but a temporary arrangement. Mr Massey, in reply to Mr C. E. Statham, said that there was no immediate intention on thcfpaitof the Government to stop building operations iii the Dominion till the end of the war. Reylying to Mr J. C. Thomson, Sir James Allen said that the arrangement was that men at the frout should be periodically relieved. He could not say how fai this had been done, but if we kept up our reinforcements this relief “should always be possible. The Premier laid on the table v the annual report of the Emigration Department. This raised a discussion on the admission of Indians to the Dominion,'but the Premier expressed the hope that members would not discuss that phase of the question as it was surrounded with difficulties at the present moment. The Premier laid on the table a report of the proceedings of the Imperial War Conference. On the motion of the Premier, tliemames of Messrs Dickie, Reed, Witty and Field .(Nelson) were * added to the Meat Trust Committee. The House rose at 5.30 p.lll. The House resumed at 7.30 p.lll. On the motion of the House to go into Committee of Supply preparatory to introducing the Imprest Supply Bill, a number of members spoke, ventilating various complaints. At 12.15 a.m., the Bill was read a second time. At the Committee stage the Premier stated that the Government intended to assist the freezing 1 companies to increase the cool > storage capacity of the Dominion j to cope with the new season’s produce. , s The Bill then passed through its remaining stages and the House • rose/at 12.47 am -