PARLIAMENT SITTING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 243, 11 October 1916, Page 6

PARLIAMENT SITTING.

A QUIET OPENING. PREPARING FOR COMMERCE WAS. ALLIES POOL WHEAT SUPPLIES (Australian and K.Z. Cable Association.) (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, October 10. The House of Commons autumn session opened quietly. Mr. Walter Runciman (President of the Board of Trade) announced' the establishment of a new and enlarged Commercial Department, combining the commercial, intelligence and exhibition branches of the Board of Trade with committees of investigation into the after-war position. Important industries had considerably progressed, and he hoped soon to introduce a bill providing for a national organisation, dealing with new trade and commercial conditions.

The Right Hon. W. Hayes Fisher (Unionist member for Fulham) stated that the Government contemplated assisting disabled soldiers and sailors desiring to emigrate, but it was a question for the Local Pensions Committees.

Mr. Runciman said that since the war the Government bad taken more comprehensive measures to maintain - the wheat stocks in the Kingdom, and had suggested to the French and Italian Governments at the end of 1915 that cooperation would be better than competition. A committee formed of representatives of the three countries met daily in London, purchasing the combined requirements of wheat and maize. The grain trade was not inclined to hold more than minimum stocks, in view of the possibility of war developments releasing crops in certain countries. It was no longer safe to leave the question to private enterprise. Cabinet had decided it must develop State importation. A Royal Commission was appointed to secure adequate, and regular supplies of wheat and flour, and was co-operating with the Allies' committee.