JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1920, Page 3

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

BROKEN HILL SUBSCRIPTIONS. WELLINGTON, September 3. The subscription lists in circulation in aid of the Broken Hill strikers were mentioned in the House by Mr Smith (Waimarino) who asked if the Prime Minister would take steps to have the true position placed before the people of this country. Plausible tales told by the collectors, said Mr Smith, were inducing many people to give money. that they could ill spare. The people were told of the hardships endured by mothers and children owing to tlie lack of food at Broken Hill. The fact Was that the strike had been proceeding for eighteen months and during that time the strikers had been content to remain idle and induce others to beg for them while their wives and children starved. There was nothing to prevent these men taking up other work and supporting their familes as self respecting men ought to do. The people of New Zealand ought not to bo preyed upon in this way. Mr Massey replied that ho was not in a positon to give an opinion on all the points raised. Re knew that the Broken 'Hill strike had been in progress for about sixteen months and he knew of no reason why the men who were out on strike would not find work elsewhere. They could find work in New Zealand. If the strikers could get work he thought they would be following a much more self-respecting course than their present one. BUTTER PRICES.

Complaints were made regarding the shortage of butter were mentioned in the House of Representatives by Mr McOallum (Wairau). Tlie fancy prices that were being paid to the producers for butter by British Government said Mr McCollum, were having the effect of cutting off the supplies from the local market. Would the Prime Minister state what butter* was available for consumption! and what was the price.

The Minister replied that he had received one or two complaints on the subject. The Director General of Agriculture bad reported to him only a few days’' ago, that there appeared to be enough butter in stores to supply the local, market until the end of this month. The local price would not be increased until supplies in the stores were exhausted.

A member —And what about fresh supplies ? Air Afassey—That is another story. A'late SITTING. WELLINGTON. This Day. The House sat until 2.30 this morning on the Estimates. Afembers did not leave the Public Health Estimates until lip.m. and then they turned to lands and survey estimates and agricultural estimates. UNIAIPROVED VALUES.

Air Alassey mentioned that as a result of the recent valuations, the unimproved values of Dominion lands had bfeem increased by over £24,0(15,000 which' would be available' for the purpose of land tax for the current year.

MINES REPORT.

The Mines Report states that the value of production from alluvial claims amounted to 80,273, as compared with 70,895 for 1918, an increase of £2,378. There is a prospect of there being a further inorease in production from alluvial mines in 1920, as one or two claims upon which, considerable capital has been expended in development, are now commencing production. Th’e dredging industry again shows decline in production for the year. The value of bullion won for 1919 was £47,838 as compared with £63,691 for 1918 but an American Company is now building a larger and more powerful dredge near Hokitika than has ever been seen in New' Zealand before, and if this Company is successful it may mean a revival to some degree of dredge mining in other parts of the Dominion.