PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8524, 29 August 1907, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 28. QUESTIONS. The House met at 2.30 p.ir., and after formal business questions were considered. Mr Hogg asked the Government whether, having in view the close relationship between the value of building material and the employment and comfort of the people, and, seeing that loans to settlers, rates of insurance, and the price of coal are now being controlled and regulated with manifest advantage to the community, they will take steps to regulate in a similar way the supply and price of timber for building and manufacturing purposes. Reply.— The honourable member must recognise that a solution of the matter he refers to would be very difficult to effect. Inquiries will be made. Mr Arnold asked the Acting-Min • ister for Railways whether, wheni bringing down the amended Railway Classitication Act, he will modify the qualifications of applicants for employment in the service, so as to do away with the pressnt drastic conditions by which a young man, during some of the best years of his life— ' namely, from eighteen to twenty-four —is prevented from getting employment? Reply.—This has already been under consideration, and I shall be glad to look further into it when the regulations are under revision. Mr Field asked the Government whether they will set, up a Select Committee to make inquiries into the accuracy or otherwise of the charges levelled against sawmillers of forming oppressive combinations charging exorbitant prices, and making excessive profits on the sale of timber. | Reply. —The Industries and Commerce Committee will be asked to inquire into the matter. Mr Hogg asked the Acting Minister for Railways "whether in view of the inconvenience caused to the public travelling between Wairarapa and the West Coast, he will favour the running of a through carriage on the trains making connection with the Palmerston-New Plymouth express; if not, can anything be done to mitigate the hardship caused to passengers, especially women and children, whilst changing at Woodville, and endeavouring in the, scramble) to secure seats at Palmerston North. Reply.—The number of passengers travelling between the Wairarapa and West Coast districts is very small, and I regret that I cannot see my way to comply with the request to run a through carriage on trains making a connection with the Pal-merston-New Plymouth express. As is the case at all junctions, passengers travelling past Woodville to stations served by the West Coast Railway have to change trains: at Woodville, and sufficient carriageaccommodation is provided on the trains ' leaving that station for Palmerston to meet all the requirements of the traffic. In the matter of i changing trains, Woodville is by no means singular, as there are many other equally important junctions in the colony where the same practice , has necessarily to be followed. lam ! not aware that any hardship is caused to .passengers by changing at Woodville, or that any difficulty is experienced by them in securing .'seats at' Palmerston North,but special instructions have been given to the railway staff on the subject,. and if any-diffi-culty has existed in the past I have no doubt it will now be obviated. Mr Parata asked the Native Minister whether he is dealing with the application of Raukura Mahupuku and others for the removal of the restrictions upon the Waipapa Block, containing about 400 acres, and situated in the Wairarapa district. Reply.—The matter will receive consideration on the necessary formalities being complied with by the parties. The solicitor acting in the matter is aware of the position. Mr Izard asked the Minister of j Lands whether, in view of the early ; settlement of the tenure upon which ; Crown lands are to be disposed of, the Government will, until the Land Bill has been finally dealt with, re frain from disposing of any of the Crown lands. (Note— Lately a large area of land has been disposed of under tenures not contemplated by the Land Bill now-before the House). Reply. l —Until the Land Bill is placed upon the statute-book, the Governjnent do nol deem it advisable to interfere with public selection on existing tenures. Mr T. Mackenzie asked the Minister of Public Health whether, in tiew of the f*tct that the preservation of child life and,the physical training and development of the young are matters of great national concern, he will set up a Public Health Committee in order that more serious attention and consideration may be given to all potent agencies and factors which will promote the foregoing laudable objects. Reply.—There are certainly a great many factors with reference to physical training which are worthy of careful consideration by any body of men. The preservation of childlife is, to my mind, largely a matter of feeding. Most of the deaths under one year are from such ailments as inflammation of the stomach and bowel, diarrhoea, or wasting. Many of these would be averted, if mothers were better instructed, and above all, if the milk supplied to tho child were of good quality. Ido not think that a Public Health Com- ■ mittee would materially further the objects desired. Discussion on replies to the questions submitted took place and con- . tinued until the dinner adjournment' at 5.30 p.m.

THE TARIFF. After questions had been disposed of, fresh resolutions dealing with the tariff were brought forward in Committee of Ways and Means. There had been a misunderstanding previously as to procedure and the Government decided to begin the whole business 1 de novo. As a previous resolution had been adopted an exactly similar one could not be brought down so in the fresh resolution the Minister inserted a few alterations in the tariff. It was explained that turbine pumps had been placed on the

I free list, cartridge cises had been ! increased from Is to Is 3d per hundred, cocoa butter had been placed on the free list, concentrators for - mining machinery and aniline dyes removed from the preferential list, and farinaceous foods for infants - and medicated goods made free. At the evening sitting discussion in Committee of Ways and Means . on the tariff was long centred around the duty on fruit. Mr W. F. Massey contended that if " grapes were allowed to enter the colony free or even at a penny per pound, those who grew hot-house grapes would be unable to compete • with imported grapes—a contention which the Minister of Customs denied. Mr W. H. P. Barber (Newtown) urged that a reduction should tae made to enable the people to benefit. by cheaper grapes. Mr Barber is interested in the woollen goods, and Mr Massey way of retort asked if for the same reason he would agree to a the duty being removed from these goods. ' This drew forth a retort that he would, providing Mr Massey was agreeable to take off the duty, on wheat and potatoes. Mr Massey was silenced. Mr A. W. Hogg (Masterton) moved an amendment admitting fresh, fruit free. This country grew an abundance of fruit, but on account of the difficulty of transit, much never found its way to the market. Growersin the colony were not going to benefit from what he described as the inhuman duty on fruit. Mr F. W. Lang (Manukau), on theother hand, complained that the? Minister for Customs, in placing only a small duty on fruit, was counterfoiling his colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, in his endeavour to encourage fruit growing. Mr Hogg's motion was lost by 53 to 16. Mr Hone Heke (Northern Maori) moved to place men's boots (Is 6d and 15 per cent, ad valorem) on thes free list. The Minister said that he had never had a single representation from the? labour organisations opposing the proposed duty, which was only introduced to prevent the of the cheap shoddy article. After a great deal of discussion the Premier pointed to the waste of time discussing Uie items, as the members were doing what would bedone again when the Bill itself was in Committee of the House: which was the proper occasion to move an amendment. He mentioned that for some time, past whole sale and retail dealers had imported shoddy of the worst kind, and sold at high prices boots and shoes with only a thin coating of leather over brown paper. Owing to this class of goods the industries of the colony had been kept back. Mr Massey asserted that quite as much shoddy was manufactured in the colony as was imported. Mr Heke withdrew his amendment, and Mr A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) moved that the duty 22k. per cent. The discussion was proceedingwhen the House rose for supper.

Upon the House resuming, Mr Malcolm's amendment was negatived by 46 to 21.

The machinery section is new under discussion.