POLITICAL JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1926, Page 4

POLITICAL JOTTINGS

TIMBER INDUSTRY. WELLINGTON, August 3. The timber workers of New Zealand who desire a. higher tariff on imported limber have discovered a new method of laying their wishes before Parliament. A petition, which has been largely signed' in many parts of the Dominion, was presented to the House of Representatives to-day, not as a whole, but piecemeal. For live minutes or more the House was treated to the spectacle of some twenty Ministers and members, including t!!>e Prime Minister himself, rising in succession and presenting petitions, all to the same effect, from their respective constituents. AA’lien all came to he totalled up. it was found that there were IT petitions, with 3172 signatures. Tho petitioners say that the sawniilling industry of New Zealand is in a. sorely depressed state, owing to heavy importations of softwoods and other timbers, which come principally from foreign countries, and are produced by alien labour, mostly receiving low wages. The recent increase in rail freights on timber in New Zealand is a contributing cause of. the troubles from which the sawmilliug industry is now suffering. The timber industry normally provides employment for about 10,000 adult workers, but owing to the prevailing depression many of these are cm half-time, and others have been discharged. Timber import figures show that the position is becoming speedily worse, and it is feared that more mills will close down, causing further unemployment. The petitioners ask that prompt relief be granted in the way of more reasonable and adequate Customs duties oil all timbers, wliicli principally compete with tlie products of New Zealand mills.

ADVANCES TO SETTLERS,

The advances to settlers authorised by the Board for the year, amounted tV> £5,300,090. The amounts were distributed provineiaily as follows.: Auckland. £2,51!),040 ; Taranaki, £461,355; Hawke’s Bay, £205,375; AVellington, £300,585; Marlborough; £60,755; Nelson, £91,895; AVestland, £20,165; Canterbury, £503,940; Otago, £210,600; Southland, £425,780. The current advances now amount to' £14,708,820. The amounts on rural land are £9,360,162, and on urban and suburban land £5.348,684.

CONTROL EVERYTHING. Mr H. M. Campbell (Hawke’s Bay) a Reform Party man, threw a bomb into his own camp to-night, when speaking in opposition to dairy control. He suggested that the members of the Reform Party should stand by the pledges they had made instead of assisting ideas that wore Socialistic or Conninistic. (Laughter.) They should turn down such ideas and keep by their pledges given during the last election for non-Socialism and nouCnmmuiii.stn. The party had been very strong on freedom for all. “ Sir,” lie added. “ 1 ask for freedom for the dairy men who don’t want to come under control. What is the logical conclusion if this goes on. 6 They have tinkered with meat, honey, and fruit, and now they are going to do so with dairy produce. Tile woolgrower will come next, and the legitimate result will he the nationalisation of everything. The- Minister for Health will control the doctors. (Hear, hear.) Nothing will he more disastrous to this country than the manner in which we are threatening to go on now.