PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1930, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

~|(By Telegraph—Press Association). THE COUNCIL. •> . ’’ . WELLINGTON, October 2. ]Jn the Legislative Council the Nurses and Midwives Registration -Amendment Bill was reported from the Statutes Revision Committee with minor amendments. Local Elections and Polls riient Bill were received from the ’House and read a first time. New Zealand Institute Amendment Bill' and Incorporated Societies Amendment Bill were put through the committee and passed without amendment. The Council adjourned at 2.40 p.m. THE HOUSE. lii the House of Representatives the Reserve and Other Lands Disposal Bill (Hon. R. A. Ransom) and Stock Amendment Bill (Mr A. J. Murdoch) were read a second time. A motion to commit the Apprentices Amend‘inent Bill was admitted. The House rose at midnight. MINISTERIAL REPLIES. ‘WELLINGTON, October 1. ; Witten. Ministerial replies to questions were circulated in the 'House of Representatives this afternoon. Mr J. O’Brien (Lab., Westland) drew attention to the prospect of unemployment among the local miners of the West Coast through lack of orders, and asked whether the Government, would take steps to prevent importation- of Australian coal. The Hon. E. A. .Ransom said under the terms of the tariff agreement between New. Zealand and Australia a duty on Australian coal could net be imposed unless by mutual agreement between the Commonwealth and the Dominion, or until after the expiry of six months’ notice to the Commonwealth. The question of the importation of coal was at present receiving the careful consideration of the Government.

The Hon. A. J. Murdoch, replying to Mr H. E. Holland, said the whole question of the coal mining industry was under consideration by the GovernRailway Department had no orders placed for Newcastle coal, and at present was not contemplating placing such orders. TIMBER. PESTS. Mr Ransom, in reply to Mr W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier), said the question of the prevention of the importation of timber harbouring injurious insects or subject to fungal attack bad been receiving attention for some time. The irriporta nee of the matter was fully appreciated, and efforts to find a satisfactory solution of the difficulty were being-continued.

SAVINGS BANK INTEREST. ,In a further reply to Mr Barnard, who drew attention to the growing increase of withdrawals over deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank, Mr Random said, whilst it was not proposed to increase the interest'rates on deposits at present, the Government was fully seized with the importance, of the question. It was to be pointed out, hpweve.r, that the Post Office Savings Bank deposits were at call, and from the point of view of security these deposits were in a different category from deposits lodged with finance companies etc. PERMANENT FORCE. The Hon. j. G. Cobbe, replying to Mr F. Waite (R. Clutha) said it was not the intention of the 'Government to discharge such officers and noncommissioned officers of the New Zealand Permanent Forces as it could reasonably employ. Every encouragement was being given to officers and non-commissioned officers of the Territorial Force to continue their service voluntary and maintain the organisation and espirit de corps of their units. GOLD DEPOSITS. ,Mr Murdoch, replying to Mr O’Brien, said the unworked alluvial gold deposits in Westland were still being prospected by means of keystone drills owned by the Mines Department, which were hired out upon reasonable terms and conditions. In addition to that, the Government had decided to grant subsidies for the purpose of boring approved 'alluvial gold deposits; STANDARDISED CHEESE. In answer to a question submitted by Mr Waite, the Minister for Agriculture said the position resulting from last year’s operations was that while the proportion of standardised cheese exported from New Zealand had been o“ good quality and acceptable to buyers, a good deal had not been up to the quality desired. The experience gained last season, coupled with the very evident desire on the part of the industry to raise the quality of the cheese output, was confidently expected to bring about better results during the coming season. UNEMPLOYMENT. Mr Ransom informed Mr D. G. Sullivan (Lab,, Avon) that the recommendations of the .special Unemployment. Committee were receiving earnest consideration, including the question of coal carbonisation, the importance of which was fully realised. <*■

LICENSING ACT. In the course of a reply to Mr W. J. Broailioot (, ii., Waitomo) Mr Cob bo mentioned it was not proposed tointroduce any amendment to the Licensing Act this session. NOTE ISSUE. Mr E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South) asked the Acting-Prime Minister whether, if the Associated Banks decided to withdraw or curtail the issue of ten-shilling notes, the Government would issue such notes through the Post Office Savings Bank. Mr Ransom replied that the Post Office Savings Bank was not a commercial bank, and to use it for nyte-issuing purposes would be quite incompatible with its principles. He added that the whole question of the note issue was being examined in the course of the review of the banking system now being undertaken.

Mr C. A. Wilkinson( Jnd., Egmont) asked whether, in view of the proposed curtailment of the circulation of tenshilling notes, the Government would consider arranging with the Imperial Mint authorities for the special issue of a silver coin suitable for the Dominion’s requirements. He pointed out that this should be a very profitable transaction, considering that an ounce of silver, worth to-day Is 6d, would, when combined with an alloy to the present coinage standard, produce coins to the face value of ten .shillings. Mr Ransom replied that the Government (lid not propose to take any Him of action that would have the effect of defeating its own taxation measures. However, the point raised in so far as the profits ion silver coinage were concerned would be looked into in connection with the general review of the banking and currency question at present being made.