PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1917, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The' House met at 2.30.

The Speaker intimated that, accompanied by members, he had waited on the Governor-General that morning and presented the Address-in-Reply, for which liia Excellency thanked the members.

A petition signed by Bishop Sprott and 051'?, others, praying for hotel bars to bp closed at six o'clock, was presented by Dr. Newman. RATLWAYMEN'S ENLISTMENT. Replying to Mr. Sidey, who complained of the Railway Department appealing against the enlistment of certain employees, while the Department was dispensing with the services of others, the Minister of Railways said it was true the Department was shortening hands owing to the shortage of material, about which they had been warned by the Minister of Munitions some time ago. The Department desired to conserve material for repairs, consequently a certain amount of construction work had to be abandoned, flo explained the status of the inen employed on the railways, and stated it was only right when retrenchment was necessary that emergency casuals should be the first to go. The reason the Department was appealing was that they wished to assemble the men in batches, in which way every eligible man would go to the front in due course. He only (wished that the Defence Department would tnke them move rapidly than it was doing, but lately there had been some delay in getting them medically examined. The Registration of Aliens Bill (Hon. Russell) and Lyttelton Harbor Board Amendment Bill (Dr. Thacker) wjre introduced and read a second time.

The remainder of the afternoon sitting was occupied in discussing answers given by Ministers to questions, and to uotices of motion.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying .o criticism of the Board oi Trade, th& Minister said it was unreasonable to suppose there would be no increase in prices of imported goods in war time, and to some extent of goods locally manufactured. He admitted increases Had taken ■place, but in almost eVery case there was some explanation for such increase. The Board was an extremely useful body, and had done a great deal of serviceable work. The House rose at -5.30.

Replying to further questions, Ministers paid that, the question of a poll of electors of the King Country would be considered when it had been decided to bring dov.-n mi amendment of the licensing law ;• that the Government had arranged for the shipment of 1000 tons of printing paper by a vessel leaving Canada shortly; representations had been made to the Ttigh Commissioner on '.lie question of freight, but the Government had not yet, received a reply; that the cost of roofing iron and fencing wire was now being dealt with by the Hoard of Trails; that the Minister of LanfU had been able to make arrangements for the purchase of supplies on behalf of soldier settlers; tli.it an order had recently been placed for fencing wire at a price imieli below tho best quotation available in New Zealand; that the Government was oons'dcring a proposal to prohibit the raising of prices of commodities without a permit from the Board of .Trade; that the case of a farmer or business man leaving to proceed to the front, and who hus to dispose ot his farm or business, 'wn<j receiving full consideration by the Government, though it was not unattended with difficulty: that as an Army Corps commander Oeneral Oodley was not a New Zealand officer, and there was no reason why his staff should confist. of New (there is one New Zealand officer attached to his staff to assist him in the, work he still does for our troops); that investigation is being made to ascertain if army regulations esist authorising tho uvea ring of special "Anzac" badges by men wlio took part in the Gallipoli campaign,

On resuming at 7.2-6, the House resolved itself into a Committee of Ways and Means, when Sir .Toseph Ward, in the presence of a full attendance. of members and crowded galleries, commenced the delivery of the third war budget of the National Cabinet. BUIiGET RESOLUTIONS, Resolutions affecting the Customs and other financial propdsala were put and carried. Messrs Pearce and I.ee asked for an assurance that the alterations proposed in the beer duty would realise the anticipated revenue, as last year's estimate had not been borne out. and tliey asked if there was any guarantee that the brewers would not reduce the gravity of beer still further so as to avoid taxation.

Sir Joseph Ward sai<i that last year £187,053 was paid in beer duty, and he now proposed to increase tlio duty by one-fourth, which would realise £225,000. From the people's point (#f view he did not think it would be a bad thing if the gravity of beer was reduced as low as possible, and if it was found that this reduced taxation, then it was quite arguable that the duty should bo still further increased. The House rose at 0.47, the Premier agreeing that the debate on the Budget should commence on Tuesday night.