PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 October 1921, Page 1

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

HEPLIE.S TO QUESTIONS. Sl’Kl'-lAI, TO (IfAKDIAN. WELLINCITON, Oct. 2f> A big hatch of Ministers answers to questions was issued tn-da-y. HETHKXCI I M ENT. Mi Massey said that ti sliding scale of stamp duty on receipts would not provide enough revenue to compensate for the inconvenience and annoyance caused to the piih'i--. Retrenchment was still proceeding and would not 1 a completed for some time. It was being applied impartially to all branches •f ihe servi-e, where economics cctilt! he elfoeted. OH ADI NO Or 1 ME\T. r |'he Minister foi Agrie-dl mo sta'ed he wtis considering a “itgf.estion th-i meat shoal I he grad' d anil -'hipped on -<rade, instead ol coder names ami mark;- of individual exporters. !he matter had to be looked tit from every point ol view. LAND DEFENCE. Mr Mass .v said the Imperial < >"• I'm uncc did not consider land defence. That would he ti matter foi stales ol lie I-’.mpi-e to deal with. The Conference had consiih ie-.l naval defence and had made reeommondei ion-,. . hut hwished to re]>et it it would he for tlm various Uarliamen s to say lio-.v niueli -'mV woldd coot rilmto to t'-m national defence of the Empire. ■WHEAT CHOU I’HICE. lion Nosworthy stated that (iovern- ; me,it had guarantee.i a minimum price for the season’s w heat crop and it would handle any surplus that was educed. Millers would ha asked to slat,- their requirement- fo, the year and then Government would take over the surplus at the lived price, and i! there was a profit on exporl, the foneriinivnt would get the profit. coal mixers at fault. Mr Holland mped Hove,-nn,cut total;,, „ver the coal mil l ml on similui lid's in order t» 1-tccp the miners in employment. Imi Mr Massey retorted, that Htere was iy, parallel, Covoriiment had lteen forced to imp- it coal us-- lie- local supplies won ,Vcitable. Ml Holland himself was not 4,., I,nin hlame for that position. It j u„ - impossible lor tlm Dovcrl,moot In help i la- miners immediately.

I?.\t INC COMMISSION HEI'OHT. POSSIBILITY OF HE.IF.OTION. WEI.LINCTON, Oct. ’-’ti It appears highly probable now that i lie House will reject the repoi r of the Haring (Vmniission. Mi Massey is red to give members the straighton, vola they have asked for, and in ,hai case Ihe anti-tote members and di-s-itislied racing men can again come together. It is understood that ti definite working .Tnialganmtion Ihe two has been formed, and that when the issues to lost they will la- 11 presenting a united D'oiii ol hostility to tlm reporl. There is also 1 a lit hori l y for believing that they sooni'.- a majority of menihers of tin’ noiisc.