PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1921, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

(By our special reporter). ARMY DESERTERS. WELLINGTON, March 19. Replying to a question asked in the House bv Mr T. E. Y. Seddon (Westland), the Minister of Defence (Sir Heaton Rhodes) said that an endeavour was being made to trace New Zealand deserters in England. These men had recently been granted an amnesty, a*d steps were being takqn to repatiiate them. Their dependants had received their pay up to the time if desertion, it was a case of the dependants suffering for the sin of the deserter. SATURDAY’S BUSINESS. The business of the session was not concluded to-day.

NOXIOUS WEEDS. The House met in the morning and devoted considerable time to a discussiin of the Noxious Weeds Amendment Hill, which authorises local bodies to declare hawthorn to he a noxious weed, and prohibits further planting of hawthorn. The debate showed that while members from fruit districts regard fire-blight as a deadly menace, members from dairy districtcs ate by no means willing to give up their hawthorn hedges, and the Hill really represents a comp:omise between the conflicting interests. It was passed without amendment. MEAT LICENSES. .Mr Massey announced that regulations requiring the issue of a license lecture meat was exported had been re-im--1 posed in consequence of the discovery that Vestey Hros were shipping new season’s lamb and mutton in snips allocated to them for the carriage ot beef felt over from last year. He said the firm was not playing the game. Their action was unfair to other I reeling companies and to the shipping companies, and would not be permitted to continue. NAURU PIIOSPHA'IES. A Urd for information regarding Nauru Island phosphate, Mr Ma sey said t" e first shipment was now on the. way. The supplies would lie abundant lor the domini ,n’s needs. The landed cost ot crude phosphate would be about £4 bs per ton, and the cost of grinding would be about 12s per lon. He believed much of it would be used direct.y after being ground fine. FINANCE HILL. Tire second reading of the Finance Hill was to have been moved in the afternoon, but owing to a slight indisposition of the Prime Minister, the House adjourned until Monday morning. THE FINANCES. Mr Massey will then submit a preliminary financial statement, showing that the revenue collected for the eleven months ended February 28th last was £“2(>,88t),887 and expenditure lor the same period was £21,210.711 The public works expemliiure loi the financial year is estimated ot £.5,2 50,381. The estimated balance in the Public Works Fund on March 31st next is £270.12(5. It will he necessary to confine the expenditure during the coming year under this heading to urgent and pressing works only. CUSTOMS REVENUE. The big increase in the customs revenue, which totalled £7,8(51,000 for the eleven months, is a feature of the returns. Mr Massey mentions that this was due to unusually heavy imports, which will he greatly reduced during the coming financial year. It is necessary that the strictest economy should ho observed in all branches oi the public services. • EXPECTED SURPLUS. The Prime Minister anticipates that there will he a surplus on March 01st. but the excess of customs’ revenue will, to a large extent, account for this. ft is certain that the customs revenue will show a large decrease next year, and he proposes therefore to carry torward as much of the surplus as is possible. Heads of departments have been instructed that they must economise. Large savings have been made already. The temporary stall has been reduced from 10(59 to 088 during the last eleven months. A Hoard has been established to standardise the system of purchase and issue of stores in departments. Mr Massey adds that the financial situation requires economy, hard work and co-operation, hut the financial position of the Dominion is sound, and there is no need for discouragement.