HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1921, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SOUTHLAND POWER LOAN. DOMINION’S CREDIT. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. J. R. Hamilton (Awarua). Mr. Massey gave some particulars regarding the raising of the Southland Power Board’s loan, which was recently obtained in London. The Premier said he had agreed to give the loan the benefit of the Dominion’s guafantee and as a result it had been a great success, having been readily taken up on exactly the same terms as the Government loan raised shortly before. This was a great compliment to the Dominion. He desired to say he had consented to give this loan the benefit of the Government’s guarantee, because, he recognised the importance of the work and the Government had already assisted it, but he could, not go on adopting this indefinitely, as in that ease the credit of the Dominion might be affected. The Premier also gave some particulars of a supplementary loan amounting to £386,000 raised by him subsequently to the raising of the £5,000,000 loan. This money had been obtained at £99 ss, which he considered most satisfactory. Though a small transaction it was one of the most successful Dominion loans placed in London for a long time. MEAT IN STORES.

Replying to Mr. D. Jones (Kaiapoi), the Hon. W. Noaworthy said that during war monthly reportfl were issued as to the quantity of meat in the stores in the Dominion, because the meat was then the property of the Imperial Government. Now the position was altered, inasmuch as the meat was the property of private owners, and he was not sure that he could disclose particulars. He would, however, make the necessary inquiries and if the information could be given it would be supplied. THE LICENSING LAW. Replying to Mr. R- McCallum (M airau), Mr. Maasey stated that according to hie promise he would this session set up a committee to consider the question of the revision of the licensing law of the Dominion. He was not prepared to say what the new licensing policy of the Government won: a be, but he felt bound to say that if Dominion no-licen-.e was not carried at the next poll it would be the duty of the Government to make very considerable amendments in the existing law. MATERNITY MORTALITY. Replying to Mr. E. Newman (Manawatu), the Hon. C. J. Parr said the Board of Health’s report on maternity mortality in the Dominion would be completed in the course of a few days, when he would lay it before the House. SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY. Replying to Mr. J. ■Craigie (Timaru), the Hon. G. J. Anderson eaid the Government had no intention of legislating in the direction of making compulsory the Saturday half-holiday. The new Shops and Offices Bill would be before the Labor Bills Committee this session, when the whole question could be reconsidered. , Replying to Mr. 11. E. Holland (Buller), the Hon. G. J. Anderson said the only cure for high rents was to encourage private people to build moi e houses. THE PUBLIC DEBT. Replying to the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill), Mr. Massey said lie had looked into the question of funding the public debt. He was quite willing to continue the present arrangement, but the Imperial Government objected and desired that our debt .should be funded. The only objection was that it would probably cost us a little more, but he did not think we could object, and arrangements were being made to have the debt funded. THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. THE DEBATE CONCLUDED. The debate on the Address-in-Reply occupied the remainder of the afternoon and the whole of the night session. At 11.10 p.m. Mr. E. Dixon (.Patea) replied. He maintained that a reduction of wages was the best solution of the country’s financial difficulties. The Address was then agreed to and [the House rose at 11.23 n.m-