PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 247, 8 July 1915, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

PROGRESS OF BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time: Betterment Bill (McCallum), State Advances Amendment (Wilfcrd). The Minister of Defence gave notice of his intention to introduce the Expeditionary Forces Bill. The Bill as reported without amendment. The Regulation of Trade and Commerce Am,enidm.en«( \ Bjll was taken in committee. On Clause 3 "Penalty for attempting unlawfully to expert or import goods," a lengthy discussion

took place, in which the policy of the v Government in regard to the admin is-j tration of the principal Act was criticised i

Mr Massey contended that the Government bad done its best to promote production and keep prices down, with the result that the average of food prices in New Zealand were lower than any other part of the Empire. . The Bill was reported without amendment.

The Statutes Compilation Bill was also reported without amendment. The Statutes Compilation Amendment and Enemy Contracts Bills were considered in committee and passed without amendment

On the third reading of the Regulation cf Trade and Commerce Amendment Bill. Sir Joseph Ward said that the average wage of the people was under £220 a year, and 50s per week, while side by side with this state of affairs abnormal prices were prevailing. He could not see how the average man Could iesd, clothe, and educate a family under thes e circumstances. He thought it was the duty of the House to do something to relieve the pressure on the resources of the people. Personally he agreed to a great extent with what Mr Andrew Fair.burn had said with regard to the need for protecting the people dgainst exploitation He favoured the appointment of a Board of Trade, similar to the British Board, so that prices could be systematically raised from time to time. Mr Wilford asked if there was plenty of butter in the Dominion, as Mr Massey had stated, for if so, why was butter being brought back from London?

Mr Hindmarsh said that had the Government been wisely advised, steps could have been taken to prevent the pople being exploited without unduly pressing hardly on the farmer. Mr Hornsby defended the farmers from any charge of want of patriotism. He appealed to the House to pass a measure giving protection to the people from exploitation in the matter of food prices. Mr Downie Stewart, considered that the Food Commission was a representative one, and had reported there was no evidence of exploitation.

PRIME MINISTER AND MR FAIRBURN The Primp, Minister was given a good opportunity in the House early this morning of replying to Mr Andrew Fairburns allegations regarding exploitation of the community by wholesale merchants. Mr Geo. Witty conscientiously read out the whole of Mr Fairburn's open letter to Mr Ma-ssey : published in the newspapers. When it came to the Prime Minister's turn, Mr Massey replied: "He is a very astute person, is Mr Fairburn. He seems to be a prominent figure in the South, and he has got a jolly good advertisement which has cost him very little." PAYMENT TO DEPENDENTS. In reply to a question from Mr Witty to-day the Hon. Mr Allen stated that th e Defence Department had taken every precaution to pay soldier's dependents the amounts allotted to them. Sometimes, however, people changed their address without notifying the Department. He reminded members that in addition to the amount allotted to dependents of soldiers the Government had also agreed to pay th e wives of married men one shilling pe>r day as separation allowance. If members knew of any cases in which this had not been paid he would be glad to be acquainted with them, in which cas o he would see; that the money was paid. OF ONE OPINION, AND SOLID.

"Does tjhe igentljeman. wish to say that his party are of only one opinion," questioned Mr Wilford to-night of the Prime Minister, who was at the time playing lead in a chorus of ministerial laughter directed against the member for Hutt. "The niost solid party that has ever been seen in New Zealand," retorted Mr Massey, amid Government applause and some merriment. Mr Wilford: "As Disraeli once said when you find a party of one opinion you may be sure that that opinion is a low one." (Opposition laughter.) STILL COMING. In answer to a question from Mr Myers whether the Government had yet arrived at any definite decision respecting the Auckland Univrsity site, the Hon. Mr Allen this afternoon staged that nothing <seln|te cad been reached. Ho was very sorry it was so, bat k«. wotild like to say that a decision would be come to at t&e very earli.est. moment. . AUCKLAND'S VANISHING HILLS. Mr Parr has given notice to osfc-tfce Prima Minxater whether; in view of $w srin*o&t fisaß&tle& of ffce volcanic hills and cones on iM isthnnis of

Auckland for the purposes of metal, the Government will this session introduce legislation having for its object the prevention of the further destniction of these hills? 0 IMPERFECT GRAIN CENSUS. Mr J. Anstey (Mataura) asked the Minister of Agriculture this afternoon if he would take steps to correct the forms bring sent cm to farmers and others regarding stacks of grain. He <A explained that h e had received one of the forms himself and declared that: it would be impossible to fill it up as desired without the facts being mispleading. No account was taken of oats in chaff, there Wils nothing- to show clearly the amount of wheat held by v fanners and in other stores, while j there was no column respecting potaices_ In addition there were numbers of farmers who had not received any forms at all to fill up. The Prim e Minister replied that he would consult l.he Registrar-General lon the subject. He had not personally j seen the form, but would consider what ■ ought to be done under the circum- { stances.