PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 66, 19 March 1931, Page 15

PARLIAMENT

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

."The House of: Representatives met at 2.30' p.m. to-day. , \ . '' .';.' :'. Mi\ :J. S.. Fletch'er • '.('lndependent,

Grey Lynn) gave notice to ask whether! J the".Public,. "Works' Minister -will .supply! , this: "session /.copies of ■:■ Professor •' Hor-1 nells: report- on: \Yaikaremoaria.: ;and' ; . Waitaki hydro-electric schemes.'.- .." iCr.W. E. Barnard (Lahpur, Kapler)' ' '■'■■• asked the Prime. Minister ; whether; he.; * would again confer with representatives ' of ' the Tire Underwriters\Assdpiatioiv ■with'a view'to obtaining the assistance of,' the. private'insnrahce^companies: in -; the work'■ of investigating--and aeter- .'•'■'.. mining losses in the Hawkes'Bay-eartb.----1 ■ quake area.. It. -was considered; .said ■' Mr. Barnard; that :tlie. companies could, render valuable help,, and. that thor taslc' ,' of ..rehabilitation, would ..be; greatly facilitated: through !the companies' 'cooperation. Further, a conference "might lead to a reconciliation of any: differences between the Government 'and- the companies .regarding:.'the. collection of the .proposed surtax of Is6d per cent. ,Tho Prime Minister.-(the Eight, Hon. G. W.. Forbes) -replied? that .'arrange-, . ments had-already-been ■made'.witll the . chairman of the Fire Under writers' As- ; sociatjon- to; collect' information ..in regard to losses. .'■ ■■'■■:'■'. •.."•■:'•/■ ■■■"'■ . •'. ,-.Mr..T. D. ■Burnett (Keform, Temulca) .'gave notico to ask. the Minister-of- ■ Lands whether he-intended to do.any r thingvfor the. small.gracing.run-holders. :i .of Canterbury and Otago who'had had ''their rents doubled: two-years ago.,/• .; ". :: ; '.r.'-';PRICE :OF;'BEEAD.'/:-:.:..1 : V/' ''•''Mr.'-'J.. a! Na'sh-(Beform, Palinerston .jSrorth)-.askcd theilinister of,'lndustries ■ and' Commerce; (the Hon. P.!\A; 'do i Ja ' -.-.Perrelle) . whether his ..Department . w6uld make,.a'-statement in;' regard .to. '■' the'eosts, 6f .the production-of 'bread.'. \ :-■■ 'The Minister'replied: that,.it..'w.as:npt. '.'possible :to.,state. Bpeeially..'the-,: actual r 'cost of fprpduction .of ."bread, ■.for r.the •reason', that costs varied", considerably. as between different districts, and'even 1 between, different bakers 'in-.the.; .'same, district., Ttiei production :6f, special '. ghapeishort-weight loaves and "fancy., bread had a material influence^rin the costs per-'tinit of production.,: Distribu- ; -tion costs' also ..varied throughout 'the. industry. Bakehouse production costs in the.main centres, .per .nominal 41b. ' loaf,-varied from,approximately, 7Jd to Bid,;,and .the...distributism /.costs,. '.per.. normal' 41b loaf; varied from, .apprpxiloately lid to' 2d. The average was ' based on mixed: delivery to shops and ; households, •■ General expenses-had to: be '•: added to,"the figures, given. ,v; These Varied from approximately id to lfd ■'• per,>loaf. A comprehensive report was being prepared; following"upon '■■ the investigation conducted.by the Department,...and this'would .bo....presen|ed. to. . Parliament." ' •.'.■"'•.■.■•.•■■'■■■../.•'"'" '■.'*■''.-*...•'■.,'.', '> '-• V V- 'THE'FINANCE;BILI,.y;":';j"J : The second reading debate, on '.the' Finance. Bill was resumed by : Mr, G. Caxr .(Labour, Timaru), . ,whp . .quoted D'Ab'ernon and other, authorities in;sup r ■ port of his contention that' to reduce wages was .to place.obstacles in the w^y of the' free: circulation of .money, : . He. went on to cite-instances, mr which, he. c'onsidored hardships would-bo inflicted on Public servants by'the imposition of ' the '10 per cent..cut.: The. railwaymen had not had." their wages increased .m, ■ proportion to the~risein the cost of living since JBl4, and now.it was.proposed to 'still-iurther .red'uee.itheirliviiig.staur ■ dsid^Jnaking: their;, position ,eVen; ; worse, than it was before the ,war.; When previous cuts had been made promises had' been given that immediately .prosperity Teturnea, wages, would be.^.restored,. but th« promises had nevef been kept. :• ' '•; . (Proceeding.)'. :\ : \'' '■■■ :■'