PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1921, Page 1

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. local hptcks fixaxck. WKLL] XOTOX, Dec. 22. Sonic important nltcnitions wore* n)Milo In tho Local Bodies Kiimnco Bill which was reported Lock to the 1 louse to-dov. Xlie PuMi • Accounts Committee. 7 lie Mil! hs introduced, placed m dotinii.* limit upon the temporary boiTov iiitr powers of hired bodies, utter Mu roll .71 st, IP:?.*2. ' t ivqvired lb" amount obtained on overdraft, lo he strictly in proportion to the revenue tor the preceding; financial yenr. The committee Inis deferred the oiHTMtion of the Mini In lion to March 71st. 11*27. A similar postponement has been made in the ease of the requirement that local Lodies shall ascertain the e.\

nl* their inriehlciincss an:! !C*iorl to tho Mini siei for Interim! Affairs, lo determine what is termed their antecedent liability, and make arrangements for financing their oliligations. New clauses introduced h.v the commit Lee specifically remove the limit litmus and restrictions from occasions where a local body requires money to an exceptional amount, beyond its estimates to repair damage done by earthquake, tire or other accident. BAR Id A Al FN'T \DJOURNS. The Council and the House bad both to wait at intervals while the Bills passed front one Cltninher to the nther Into in the evening. They reached the end oi tlien work soon alter midnight and the House adjourned at 12.35 a.tn. until .lantiar.v lltli. MEAT BOOL. WELLINGTON, December 22. The Prime Minister stated in the House this afternoon that if possible the meat pool scheme would he made apply to the season's output, lie did not think it could apply to arrangements already made dining the next fortnight or three weeks. A i('presentnlive conference of pn liieors would consider the scheme in Wellington about Jail. 10th. The scheme could not be rushed ineo operation as producers had to lie consulted and the services of experienced men, possessed of grenl ability. had to lie obtained. Such men were nut picked up every day. BUTTER "POSITION'. Mr Massey read a cablegram despatched to the Imperial authorities regarding the butter position. The High ('outntissiimer was advised that the British Boat'd of Trade had been instructed to realise t-ho remaining stacks of butter immediately. The lioanl wtts stated to he willing to sell these stocks amounting to 8,(100 tons ot New Zealand and 1 1.0(H) tons of Austrnliian at an exceedingly low price, and if this was done it must have the otlect ol so depreciating the market values for till butter, that New Zealand producers would suffer severely. The cablegram asked that action should lie delayed until the New Zealand Government could go thoroughly into the matter and ('(insider proposals for meeting the position. Mr Massey said he had not yet received a replv to this message. DEPARTMENTAL FIGURES. A number ol balance sheets of State Departments were placed before the House to-day. The figures are of considerable interest though it is evident that the departments .have had much difficulty it) presenting their accounts in tt commercial form. Some of the bigger departments have not yet presented their balance sheets tn final form. , .. . The figures show, for example, that the advances to settlors office on March 31st last bad £6,918,274 on loan to settlers, while at the same timo it had

.£2,139,773 on temporary investment and £565,000 on temporary loan to local authorities and the workers branches cash in band amounted to £112,353. The net profits for the year had been £92,891. Farmers who have found motley hard to borrow will lie interested in these figures. HILLS PASSED. Expiring Laws Continuance Bill was introduced and passed to-day. It extends last year’s net until February 28th next. The effect of this is to allow time for rent restriction and other matters to bo discussed by Parliament after the holidays. Unimportant amendments to the Customs Bill Mtid Death Duties Bill were made by Got oritur General’s message. ' CUSTOMS TARIFF. The Minister for Customs told the House llmt negotiations were proceeding between Now Zealand and Australian Governments regarding tariff matters. A finality had not been reael'od anil lie proposed in the meantime to keep Australia on the general or foreign >si riff. It was not correct that New Zealand was offering Australia the British preference in return for similar treatment. New Zealand's preferential tariff was much lower than the corresponding tariff in Australia, and Government was seeking a fair arrangement between the two countries.