PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1921, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. DUTY ON WHISKY. WELLINGTON, Dec 16. Au alleged injustice to Greymouth traders was mentioned in the House again to-day by Mr Seddon (Westland). A certain ship had reached New Zealand waters before the new tariff came into operation, and part of the cargo had been cleared at the old rates of M duty, but goods for Greymouth were A not cleared 1 , and one trader lost about £IOOO owing to the increase in duty. The Minister for Customs said tha'. the question referred to a consignment of whisky. He was informed that all the whisky now being sold to the public was quoted plus the new duty of 36s per gallon, although much of' it had paid only 18s per gallon. If Government made a refund of duty it would be a bonus to the imporer, since the consumers would still pay at the higher rate. He would make some further inquiries. HOKITIKA POST OFFICE. The Postmaster-General when asked by Mr Seddon regarding the change in status of Hokitika Post Office, said that the change would not affect the residents of the town in any way. The Department would be employing fewer senior officers, but the services rendered would be exactly the same as at present. There would be no curtailment of Savings Bank business or anything else at Hokitika Post Office. IN THE COUNCIL.

WELLINGTON, Dec. 17 Sir J. Mitehclson’s Gaming Amendment Bill which proposes to legalise betting telegrams to racecourses and reinstate the double totalisator was introduced in the Council to-day. ‘Hon M. Cohen gave notice of an amendment limiting the number of races per day in the winter months to seven. Hon Triggs gave notice of another amendment, permitting rti|e newspaiiers to publish totalisator dividends. This bill is not likely to get far during the present session, but tlie councillors evidently are interested in it. The Council passed the Education Bill to-day after further amending the locality clause to provide that all persons employed in schools, and not merely teachers, shall take the oath of allegiance. MARKETING OF PRODUCE.

“1 wish to make a statement concerning a matter of great importance to New Zealand and one in which we are all eoncernecT,” said the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives to-day. “I refer to the difficulty that has arisen with regard to the export of our meat and its proper marketing in the centres of population in Britain. Government are fully cognisant of the very serious position in v.hich we find ourselves placed. They have given the matter serious consideration and they have fixed upon a scheme which, in their opinion, if given effect 10, will meet the condition that has arisen. I do not propose to go into details to-day because I do not think that the time is opportune. I just want to inform the House that I propose to make a statement on the subject early next week, probably on Monday or Tuesday, to explain to the House what Government lias decided upon and to ask the House to take the scheme into consideration and express an opinion thereon. We want it criticised and we want the opinion of every : member upon it. legislation will he required though very little of it. MEAT POOL. The Prime Minister’s statement is understood to have reference to very important proposals in connection with the marketing of New Zealand meat. These proposals have been discussed In- the Prodcuers’ Committee and have , been considered hv the Government, jlt appears that they have been approved by the Ministry. The basis of the scheme that is being put forward is the formation of a meat pool. An organisation similar to the Imperial Supplies Department would Ik- required to operate such pool. The freezing companies would kill and freeze meat at schedule rates, and the pool would then handle it between factories and the market overseas. The pool would make advances to farmers on the basis of current market prices. It is stated that tlie finances of such scheme 1 can be arranged without any great difficulty. The Government has already authority under the legislation of last year to guarantee advances made by hanks on the security of produce. The Director of the Imperial Supplies Department has recently been selected by Government to proceed to Britain as a special trade representative and he would lie in a position to give valuable assisf ( nnee at the marketing end