PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 1 August 1929, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

BUSINESS YESTERDAY HRUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Gil RATION DAY (liy Telegraph) (From “The Mail’s” Parliamentary Reporter). WELLINGTON, 31st July. The Hons,, of Representatives met at, 2.3'J p.m. lii-day. Mr A. Harris (Waileinata) gave notice lo ask the Minister of Customs whether the scope ol the commit tec which is to inquire into wheat matters will lie extended to allow of an inquiry into lan It’ matters, particularly the secondary industries and those' using New Zealand raw products. Mr \V. E. Barnard • (Napier) gave notice tu ask the Minister of Mines whether he has noticed a statement published in a Wellington paper in regard to the State Coal Mines alleging (a; that "the State can sell 18 hundredweight and call it a ton," and ‘‘cannot lip prosecuted for short measure”; (It) that "it is suspected also tin* State pays no wharfage on coal”; and l (e) hinting at the prospect of the State Coal Alines being handed over to private enterprise; and whether the Alinister will make a pronouncement of the actual position in respect to (a) and (b), and the intentions of the Government in respect- to (c). Air 11. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton) gave notice to ask the Prime. Minister whether any communication has been received from the MacDonald Government intimating its intention to discontinue Empire preference STATE ADVANCES INTEREST Mr W. L. Marlin (Raglan) asked the .Minister of Finance; (1) Whether it lias come under his notice that when a State Advances Office, mortgagor who has an existing loan bearing interest at Vj per cent, applies for a further advance the, State. Advances Superintendent, in some cases at least, cancels the old rate of interest on tlm old loan and charges the present 6 per cent, rate on the. amount of the old loan as well as on the amount of the new advance? (2) Whether the Minister will give instructions that in such eases the mortgagor is to have the benefit of the old rale oil the existing amount, of the old loan? (3) Whether the, Minister will make this rule apply to all future payments in respect of all applicants who have had their rates raised? The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward replied : "in all cases where the original mortgagor makes an application for an additional loan the rate of interest charged on tiie previous loan is not disturbed, and the borrower is charged the current rate of interest on the further advance only.'’ , ECONUAI !<' CONFERENCE Captain H. Al. Rushwmlh (Bay of Islands) asked tne Prime Minister whether Ins attention has been drawn to the reported utterance of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the British House of Commons suggesting, the holding of an Imperial Economic Conference, and what attitude the Government intends to adopt towards such a suggestion ?

The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward replied : “'I he Government have recently received the terms of a statement on the subject made on the 10th July by the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs as follows; 'As indicated in recent speeches of the Lord Privy Seal and of ilie Chancellor of the Exchequer, 11 is Majesty's Government in thf> Unitc,| Kingdom have under their active consideration tho question of the development of inter-imperial trade, and limy naturally welcome the indication in statements bv members of His .Majesty’s Governments in Canada and elsewhere, of which reports have reached them, that this question is also under examination in other parts of the Empire. How such trade-development can best lie brought about- is clearly a matter which each Government- must to a large, extent examine for itself. If. however, there were any 'general desire for an Imperial Economic Conference to take place before the next Imperial Contemice, which according to the present understanding is du ( > to meet in London next year, llis Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom would, as liii' Chancellor of the Exchequer made clear, gladly participate. His .Majesty's Government in New Zealand concur with these views, and if any general desire, is expressed for an Imperial Economic Conference prior to the Imperial Ci.’i:l'ercnee next year the Government will be happy to take pari.” JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS Mr 1). Jones (Mid-Canterbury) asked the Minister of Education, when he intended to make his promised decision in connection with junior high schools. The Hon. H. Atmore. replied: ‘‘As already indicated a Select Committee upon education will he set up and evidence taken from the farming, technical, industrial, and professional groups with a view to ascertaining, the best method of giving effect to the proposed policy.” SINGAPORE BASE Mr F. Laitgsloiic (Waimarino) asked the Prime Minister (1) whether be has seen the report contained in Hie “Evening Post” of 17th July, 1929, concerning the Singapore Base, which intimates that out of an expenditure of 0858.872, plus £971,492—a total of £1,830,364 —Britain lias contributed only £200,0(M; (2) will he reconsider the payment of New 'Zealand’,s quota rtf £125,000 per annum for eight years, and transler this money for the relief ul unemployment, within our own Dominion. Sir Joseph Ward replied: (1) I have seen the report referred to, hut 1 am unable to sav whether Lite figures are correct. New Zealand has so. far contributed the sum of £250,000 for this purpose. (2j The Government attach’ th(> greatest importance to the Naval Base at Singapore, and would not he willing to reconsider the contribution pa,'able by New Zealand. PENSION'S RECIPROCITY Mr Sullivan (Avon) asked the Minister in Charge of the Pensions Department whether lie will initiate iicgotia : lions with Great Britain and the other sell'-governing Stales of the. .Empire for the purpose ol arranging reciprocity within, the Empire in regard to the payment of old-age pensions to the nationals of the various States. Air A’eiteh replied : ‘'Negotiations are still in progress between Great Britain and New Zealand regarding pensions reciprocity, and a communication on the matter was addressed to the British Government as recently as May last. The reopening of negotiations with AitsItalia is at present under consideration. WEIGHT OF BREAD Mr 11. Semple. (Wellington East) asked the Minister of Labour what steps lie proposes to take to ensure that bread is sold at the correct weight. Mr Veitch replied: Regular inspections are made by the Labour Bepait-

incut's Inspectors of Wei,ylils urn I Measures on behalf <J' Uin lieallli Department under the Salt; of Foot! ami Drugs Art to ensure as far as possible that ibteail when sohl is of correct weight. There are, however, exceptions from the standard-weight requirements in the case of .certain types o'f leave..-; (e.g., (lit! : “l):u'racoula”), for which, on account of evaporation., an allowance of up to ;;<>/, jn (he 81b loaf has been permitted bv the. Health Department. As already staled by the Minister of Health, tins question' is now being reviewed. IHSHASKD I'OTATOKS In replv to Air It A. Wilkinson (Egllioiit). the Hun. W. I>. Taverner (Minister of ("ustoins) said that the position is that tin' Common weall li Gov.eriiinenl imposed restrictions on Ihe im porl.il ion of potatoes lor the purpose of preventing the possibility of diseased potatoes being introduced from other countries. The New Zealand Goviroincnc has from time to time made iapresentations to the Commonwealth authorities with a view to the relaxation of the restrictions, but without success. While the restrictions referred to exist, it. is not considered that any useful purpose would be served bv a discussion of the question us to- the duties on potatoes. SHODDY CLOTHING Mr \Y. 11. .Field (Otaki) asked the Minister of Customs whether lie is aware that shoddv clothing, allegedly produced bv cheap labour, is being imported into New Zealand and retailed at cpiite four times its landed cost, including trousers landed at 3s, plus a small duty, which are retailed at 10s to 15s per pair; and whether something cannot lie done to- prevent such exploitation and to protect our local clothing industry against this class of competition. Air Taverner replied: Inquiries have been made with respeet to this matter, hut no instances can be. found in which clothing made front material containing “shoddy” lias been retailed at prices approximating four times the landed cost of the goods. The rates of duty at present in force on apparel and readymade clothing (including such goods made from material containing shoddy) are fixed hv the Customs Amendment Act. 1927, and cannot he altered without an amendment of the law.