PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1931, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

WELLINGTON, July 17

Ministerial relies to questions were discussed in the House or Representatives this forenoon. v

I‘ii© Prime Minister replying to Mr V lUcmon (Independent, Egmont) said if the proposed rates of duty we to passed by Parliament the minimum prices at which wheat and flour could lie imported into New Zealand would after the duties became effective, be approximately 4s 6d per bushel and £i4 8s per ton respectively. It was proposed to ask Parliament to provide lor increase or reduction of duty to the extent that the protection intended to be granted was reduced or increased by any abnormal exchange position that might exist between the country of exportation and New Zealand. Replying to Mr Kyle (Reform, Riccarton) the Prime Minister said the matter of importations,of primary products from foreign countries into Britain was one entirely within the jurisdiction of the Government of the United Kingdom. The question was discussed at the last Imperial Conference ami the views of the dominion Governments wore well known to the British Government. AMERICAN SHIPS. The Prime Minister, in reply to Mr Poison (Independent, Stratford) said tae Government, was fully cognisant of the advantages enjoyed by the Matson line of American . steamships in contrast with the disabilities suffered by New Zealand ships trading with the United States and through outlying American possessions.' The situation was being investigated with a view to ascertaining what action, if any, was legally practicable and desirable. The Prime Minister, replying to Mr Barnard (Labour, Napier) said that steps were taken immediately after the Haivkes Bay earthquake to Keep the High Commissioner supplied with authentic information for the London Press, so as to correct exaggerated reports appearing in some quarters. Answering a question .submitted by Mr Semple (Labour, Wellington. East) the Prime Minister said' the Government had been advised by the Crown Law Office that, under the Industrial Conciliation and. Aroitration Act the Judge of the Arbitration Court was given the sariie rights as a Judge of the Supreme Court, accordingly his salary was not subfeet to reduction under , the IC3I Finance Act. Travelling allow* nnces, however, had been reduced 10

per cent. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, replying to Mr Field (Reform, Otaki) said that revaluation of the rural lands of the Dominion was proceeding as rapidly . possible. TRADE WITH CANADA. The Prime Sullivan (Labour, Avon) said he understood that newsprint could be imported into. New Zealand from England at a landed cost not greater than newsprint from Canada. It was hoped that at an early date negotiations would take place between epresentatives of the Canadian and New Zealand Governments with a view to the conclusion ol' a trade agreement satisfactory to s both countries. Newsprint paper and certain other goods had been retained on the British preferential tariff, so that an even balance of trade between Canada and New Zealand might be preserved. It therefore was not proposed at present to impose a duty on Canadian newsprint paper. The Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, replying to Mr Martin (Labour, Raglan) said that the representations favouring the introduction of legislation making it illegal for gun clubs to use live pigeons in their competitions would be fully considered. WESTPORT HARBOUR DREDGES Mr Holland (Labour, Buller) asked whether in view of the fact that there had been no stoppage of work on the part of the miners in the Buller area, and that consequently abundant supplies of coal were available to the Marine Department for use on dredges in Westport harbour the Minister of Marine’ would reconsider the Department’s decision to discharge the dredge employees and lay up the dredges. ■ The Huh. J. B. Donald replied that the source of supply of coal for the harboUr dredges was the Cascade mine with which U contract existed. He had been informed by the Railway Department that there was no labour offering for handling that coal. Replying to Mr Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) the Hon. A. J. Murdoch said it was intended to refer to the Unemployment Board the question of considering the present conditions of gold mining and the possibilities of its revival in the future.