PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 173, 24 July 1930, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

BUDGET THIS EVENING.

UNEMPLOYMENT DEBATE UNFINISHED.

HON. W. D. STEWART'S SUGGESTION

(By Telegraph".—Parliamentary Reporter.)' WELLINGTON, Wednesday,

Another unsuccessful effort was made by the House of Representatives to-day to complete its second reading discussion of the Unemployment Bill. As a matter of urgency the Prime Minister secured the suspension of the Standing Orders, enabling the sitting to continue till midnight, but that did uot exhaust the speakers, though there was singularly little cC* fresh interest in the debate. Labour members consistently held that the measure must be substantially modified, and Reform speakers expressed considerable doubt about the subsistence payments, though the Hon. W. Downie Stewart thought that if the Government made it clear that these were to be paid only at the discretion of the Employment Board, not as a right, they would be preferable to charitable aid. The main item for Thursday's sitting is the Financial Statement, which is awaited with great interest, in view oi the feeling that the Government's full taxation programme has not been disclosed by the amendments to the Customs tariff already introduced. Waikaremoana Power. Development of the Waikaremoana hydro-electric power scheme was the subject of another question in the House to-day. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Napier) gave notice to ask the Minister of Public Works whether there is any reason why the third unit in the present power-house at Tuai should not be proceeded with; and, if the volume of water is not sufficient for this purpose, whether No. scheme cannot be proceeded with. "It is suggested that No. 3 scheme could be undertaken by using subsequently the same water which now serves units one and two of No. 2 scheme," he added. Borer in Timber. Government action to prohibit any further importation of borer-infested or borer-affected timber was asked for bv Mr. W.'iL Barnard (Napier) in an urgent question to the Prime Minister to-day. Mr. Barnard said it was reported that an appreciable quantity of Pacific Coast timber landed at Napier by the Waihemo was very badly affected by borer. The Hon. G. W. Forbes said he had received from the member a sample of wood affected by borei- and this be had forwarded to the Forestry Department for a report. As soon as the report was received he would be able to decide what action to take. No doubt it would be necessary to take some steps if it were found that borer was present in the wood.