PARLIAMENT'S WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 153, 1 July 1931, Page 5

PARLIAMENT'S WORK.

UNEMPLOYMENT BILL. INTRODUCTION TO-DAY. FORMAL DEBATE OPENED. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The non-appearance of the Unemployment Amendment Bill enabled the House to begin the Address-in-Reply debate to-night, following a very brief afternoon sitting, when the services of five deceased members had been placed on record and suitable motions of condolence adopted. It was definitely announced that the unemployment measure would be introduced on Wednesday, and that the Government would probably suspend the Address-in-Reply discussion to enable it to proceed as a matter of urgency. As is customary, the mover and seconder of the Address-in-Reply motions, Mr. F. Lye (Waikato) and Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Waitomo) spoke to a friendly and appreciative audience, and largely avoided controversy, though such important topics as the gift coupon system and the deficiencies in quality of New Zealand dairy produce were discussed. Future of Arapuni. A brief reference to Arapuni was made by Mr. Lye. He said he believed Arapuni would be fixed up at an estimated expenditure of £650,000. Mr. E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South): Not on your life. Mr. Lye said that although the headrace and the spillway would be reconditioned he would appreciate a statement from the Public Works Department that proper provision would be made for the powerhouse itself. It was built on a floating foundation, and it was questionable whether New Zealand would ever obtain cheap electricity from that station. Mr. C. Carr (Lab., Timaru): Lucky if you get any. Mr. Lye said it was doubtful whether it would be possible to get all the turbines going at one time, and heavy upkeep would have to be faced. Exchange Dumping Duty. Reasons for the action of the Customs Department in decreeing that all meri chants importing Australian bran and . pollard shall not sell these lines direct to those engaged in pig and poultry raising, but only to other merchants o"r retailers, are sought in a question given notice of by Mr. W. L. Martin (Labour, Raglan). Mr. Martin invites the Minister to explain further why the Department is imposing a dumping duty equal to the amount saved through the favourable rate of exchange operating between Australia and New Zealand, so that pig and poultry raisers cannot benefit by this favourable circumstance. The member declares that the effect of the decree has ■ been to increase the handling charges on stock food and to subject them to duplicate profits. Midland Railway. When will the Railway Board investigate the position of the Midland railway, construction of which was suspended last December? This question was put urgently to the Prime Minister by Mr. G. C. Black (Ind., Motueka). The reply was that the Railway Board had informed Mr. Forbes that it was not yet in a position to a date for the inspection of the line. The northern section of the Gisborne-Napier railway was to receive attention when the board had completed its recommendations regarding the South Island Main Trunk. Shots at Pigeons. The introduction of legislation to prohibit the use of live pigeons in gun club competitions is advocated in a question to the Minister of Justice by Mr. W. L. Martin (Labour, Raglan). "Mr. Martin states that this week the New Zealand Gun Club is holding its annual championships at Ruakura and that according to report over 2000 live pigeons, all practically tame birds, will be slaughtered in the "so-called sport."