PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1919, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Pres9 Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The Charleß Joseph Jury Estate Empowering Bill was read a third time and passed, and the Council adjourned at 2.35 p.m-, until Thursday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Last Night. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House met at 2.30. Replying to Mr. Semple, the Premier said he was not aware that special constables were being enrolled in certain country districts. He had heard nothing of it. Replying to Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki), the Premier said the question of removing the embargo on the export of hides was under consideration. COST OF RAISING LOANS. The following return was ordered to be laid on the table Of the Honse: A return giving details of the sum of £430,917 6s 3d paid as charges and expenses for raising loans during the financial year 1918-19. Such return to show: (1) The sum (if any) paid to the Imperial Government; (b) The names of persons and firms, and joint-stock corporations and banks to whom payments were made, when such payments exceeded £100; and (c) The sums paid to any Government Department on this account. PURCHASE OF UREWERA LAND. Replying to Mr. Pearce, Hon. Herries said the amount of land purchased by the Government in the Uruwera country to July 31st, was 290,002 acres. The quan; tity purchased during the year was 42,693 acres. When these lands could be opened up would depend entirely on the Lands Department, and lie would ask the Surveyor-General to facilitate surveys. PRISONS. Hon. Coate, replying to Mr. EH, said I he'proposed to carry out the policy of (lis predecessors in charge of the Prisons 1 Department in removing prisons from the centre of cities. FISHING INDUSTRY. Mr. Coates laid on the table a report of the Fisheries Commission, which raised a lengthy discussion on the fishing industry, members urging the Minister to encourage the industry so that people might have an abundance of cheap fish. More powerful trawlers than those now jn use were generally advocated. Mr. Poole urged the Premier to apply to the Imperial Government for the gift of some war vessel suitable for deep ;ea trawling. The Premier said he was now in negotiation with the Imperial Government to that end. NEW BILLS. The Payment of Jurors Bill was; introduced by Governor's message, and later was passed in all stages. The Premier said it was the same Bill as the one drawn Tiy Mr. Wilford when Minister of Justice. The Kauri Gum Industry and Land and Ineome-Etnx Bills were also introduced by Governor's messageIn reply to Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Jas. Allen said the latter Bill provided for exactly the same rates of taxation as were imposed last year .There was no alteration whatever. The Bills were read a first time.

A PERSONAL EXPLANATION. Sir Joseph Ward, by way of pergonal explanation, desired to correct the impression, which evidently arose in the mind of the Premier. When speaking on the wheat question last night, he did not, as the Premier seemed to infer, cant asporsions on the land of Canterbury, and Otago as wheat growing land. He was quite of opinion that these lands were unequalled in any part of the world, but there were certain features in connection with wheat growing to which he desired to draw attention. We required every year seven million bushels to satisfy the local need, yet, with a guarantee of 8s 6d per bushel, only tureo million bushels were grown last year, and we were compelled to import four million bushels, and he believed that before the importations ceased the quantity amounted to six million bushels. This year, with a guarantee in existence of 5s Od, and 5s 8d to 5s lOd, as the minimum price, and a free market, less wheat had been sown than last year. With all due respect to the Premier's opinion, he did not think that Canterbury and Otago could grow enough wheat for our requirements, nnd that we shall have in the future to rely to a great extent on supplies from Russia, Canada, and the Argentine, where wheat could be grown cheaper than in New Zealand. The House rose at 5.30.