POLITICAL, JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1931, Page 7

POLITICAL, JOTTINGS

EMBARGO ON IMPORTS Proposals for the complete prohibition of certain imports to New Zealand, with a view to stimulating our own secondary industries, do not find favour with the Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Ref., Dunedin West), who declared in the House recently that any change of national policy toward this end would aggravate the Dominion’s difficulties. “I do not agree with the view that the erection of a Chinese wall around New Zealand will settle our promem,” Mr Stewart said. “A complete embargo might create a certain amount of work in some of the affected industries, but it would also create a great deal of unemployment in the industries mat were cut to pieces by the embargo. This has been the case in Australia, where many big firms of importers closed their offices and dismissed their staffs. Any change in national policy now would create just as great a difficulty as it is hoped to overcome.”

MUSEUM EXHIBITS. A little cross-talk between Mr J. S,. Fletcher (Ind., Grey Lynn) and Mr F. Langstone (Lab., Waimarino) raised a laugh from the cross benches the other afternoon. Mr Fletcher was advocating the encourogement of industry as i solution of the unemployment probK*— He said money could be found for the purpose and also for large works. He asked why the Government could not start work upon the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum project in Wellington in order to provide employment.

Mr Langstone: Put the Government in the museum.

Mr Fletcher: No, I don't know whether I would do that. You want interesting exhibits. CHINESE DEPORTEE. A petition for the return of a Chinees deportee, Ah Quoi, was presented to the House the other day by his Samoan wife, Mary Ah Quoi, wfto uesired that he be allowed again to enter the territory and contribute to Uie support of herself and her 12 children. According to the petaton Ah Quoi went to Western Samoa in 1908 under, a three years’ contract to the German Government, and at the expiration of ltife contract was allcdved to’Temaiii“and carry on his trade as a tatlor, paying a landing deposit of 500 marks. In August, 1929, he was arrested, and according to his wife was deported, although he had observed the laws with the exception of a few minor offences of no political importance. No, charge wag ever laid against him, nor had he been giulty of any conduct that would warrant any charge being laid against him. Application for a writ of Habeas Corpus had been made to the High Court, but refused.

THE NATIONAL SPIRIT. Mention of the splendid national spirit which had been displayed uy the people of New Zealand in dealing with the wide-spread acute distress was made by the Hon. W. Downie Stewart in the House recently. “Everyone has shown Or wonderful spirit,” he said, “and the poor have helped the poor in remarkable degree. . , Mr F. Langstone (Lab., IV'amiarino): Isn’t it time the rich helped tftem? Mr Stewart: The rich are helping them. I know many rich pwpfe who are doing much more than the Government is making them do. It should not be suggested that any one group is doing its job and another not, because there is evidense everywhere of splendid work.