PARLIAMENTARY

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1932, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY

DEBATE IN HOUSE

ON INDUSTRIAL BILL. (By Tele/jraph—Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 7. In the Legislative Council yesterday, the debate on the second reading of the Industrial Conciliation aiidyArbTtration Amendment Bill was continued, and was interrupted when the Council adjourned till to-day. ; * in the House of Representative:;, the debate on the second reading of the Unemployment Amendment Bill' was continued. The Leader of the Opposition dealt at length with the displacement of workers .from industry as a result of the introduction of machinery, and complained that the Bill made no attempt to cope with this aspect of the problem. Whatever problems confronted the country with regard to the prices of primary produce, 'there was no shortage of food. Whatever difficulty the country might encounter in repaying its debt obligations, there was no difficulty in regard to food supplies. Why then, ‘he asked, was it that so many people were homeless and in need of food. The Government was making a frank confession of its inability to meet the problem and was reducing tlio purchasing power of the people ut a time when it wins most necessary that their purchasing power should be maintained.

Mr Fraser moved that the Bill be referred back to the Government with a recommendation that an internal credit be raised' for the purpose of planned industrial development, as an alternative to increasing the tax which was inequitable in its incidence, and likely to bring unnecessary hard-hip to thousands of citizens.

The debate was interrupted when the House rose at' 11.30 p.m.

INVESTIGATION TO BE TAKEN

INTENTION OF PREMIER

WELLINGTON, April 7

The Prime Alinister declares that he intends making an investigation with a view of finding where the leakage of confidential information regarding yesterday's caucus occurred. The information related to three main economy proposals: (1) a second cut in the wages to public servants on a graduated basis, raising from 5 per cent, to 2H per cent.; (2) universal reduction in interest rates and rents; (3) reduction in certain classes of pensions. It is not denied in official quarters that tbo forecast is substantially correct. However, tlie Prime Alinister considered it important that no leakage of information should occur before the Alinister of Finance, Air Downie Stewart, made a complete statement on the Government’s financial policy to the House this evening. *