PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 March 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

.YESTERDAY’S SITTING. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. . Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. and adjourned immediately till tomorrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House of Representatives met at 10.30 a.m. Replying to Mr. J. P. Luke (Wellington North), Mr. Massey said the Government would do all in, its power to assist local bodies to make hydro-elec-tric power available in all districts when the big schemes were completed. He was not quite sure whether the Government would raise a loan in London. The market had somewhat improved and if a loan was raised some of it might be used to assist local-’bodies in the above direction. Replying to the Hqn. J. A. Hanan. (Invercargill), Mr. Massey said he believed New Zealand could raise a loan in London on better terms than New South Wales, because our finance was so satisfactory. In reply to Mr. J. Horn (Wakatipu), Mr. Massey said it might be dangerous to introduce wekas into Samoa for the purpose of destroying the rhinocerous beetle. These birds might develop into pests. They must be careful. It had been suggested to him that the beetle hated and detested the flame tree, and planting these trees in Samoa was said to be a remedy. Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South), said a wasp known in Java was the natural enemy of the rhinocerous beetle. He suggested its introduction into Samoa. Replying to Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central), Mr. Massey said provision was being made against unemployment during; the coming winter. Replying to Mr. "E. Newman (Taranaki), the Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes said he hoped soon to be able to announce whether the Government could award medals to home service men. Replying to Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East), the Hon. W. Nosworthy said that, in view of the assured supply of wheat in the Dominion for the coming year he thought it unnecessary to place the people on whole meal bread.