POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17316, 30 November 1921, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES

(sfkial to "ih* WELLINGTON, November :0. Tariff and Currency. Sir John Luko suggested m tn# i House of Representatives to-day that j the Government should amend the tariff proposals in the interests of Franco and Italy. Jle .said that tho new tarii] prejudiced Fl'enci; and Italian silk piece goods by imposing penalty duties on account of tho depreciated currencies of the two countries. The effect of this treatment was to givo an advantage to Japanese nnd Swiss goods. S»is* tame chiefly from Zurich, uln-re the trade wn» almost entirely in the hand* of the Germans. The Minister of Customs (.the Hon. W. Dowme Stewart) replied that tho tariff did r.rovi.l P for the imposition of special' duties oil goods sent to New Zealand by countries having depreciated currencies, but the Cti-toins Depart, liient had been making inve-tication t oncoming the currency of France sinco the original resolutions were brought Jo"ii The opinion of tho Customs t\. nerts here wiis that countries like Frniice a::d Belgium probably did not get anv nuvnntiige from their depreciated curieneies since the currencies bad K*ert stabilised at the new level. ft was nnlv when currencies were violent!* tluctuatipg that speculator* pit an vantage. The Department had been siiveu power in th t » amending resolution to suspend the operation of the depre■"iat<"i rnrreiTv clause where no benefu wps beinc tcceivcd bv the exporters cf that country, and this amendment b';i-1 b;>e?i intended particularly to apply to Frpine ami Belgium. If Italy was in. the same position with a depreciated cnrre'icv t'nnt had been stnblised, he would consider that case also. The Minister added that the Customs Department was consulting the British Board of Trade by c-able on the point.

Earners and Railway Ont, The difficulty experienced by eome back country dairy farmers in getting their cream to the market wa» mentioned in the House by Mr W, S. Glenn to-day. The cream was separated on the farms, said tho mombcr, and was carried to the nearest railway station. The reduction of tho railway service had increased the difficulties of the men engaged in this form of production. Tho Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. H Guthriol said that the Railway Department had been considering this matter for some time. The Department recognised the importance of doing everything possible for the men in the back country. The railway officers were doing all that they e©uld to right matters and somp enquiries were now being made. Bills Passed.

In the Legislative Council the Imprest Supply Bill (No. 2) was pwt through ail its stages. The Official Secrets Bill was reported from the Statutes Revision Committee without amendment and put through its final stages.

New Zealand's Gift to Canada. Th© decision to send ft gift from N't* Zealand to the new Parliamentary Buildings in Ottawa wa» made sotno time ego. An enquiry as to what bad. been done in the matter was mado in the House to-day by Mr W. T. Jennings who said that when he visited the .buildings a short time ago, he wa» shown gifts from South Africa tnd Australia, but there was nothing from New Zealand to bo seen. He understood that tho House had decided tM* timber, granite, or greenstono should be sent, and ho asked the Minister of Internal Affairs what had been done. Tho Minister (the Hon. W. Down* Stewart) said that the gift w*nt forward in 1919, and was acknowledged. In 191G the Prime Minister wroto to the Prime Minister of Canada, offering to supply either a Speaker s chair made of New Zealand wood, or onoug* timber to panel a room. The gift wu welcomed by Sir Robert Borden, who asked that timber should be sent, and suggested kauri. Specimens of kauri, both plain and wavy, and of nmu, wers sent, and the Primo Minister finally selected wavy kauri. The neeeiarjr quantity was sent in Marchj 1919, and a letter acknowledging reoeipt was reeeived in May. H© thought that th* timber was therO, and was being held awaiting an opportunity to be placed in a room. ..... . Mr Jennings: The building is not yet completed. _ The Primo Minister: I nw tho wood in preparation. Payment of Pensions. Mr M. J. Savage asked the Minister in charge of pensions (th© Hon. G. JAnderson) toAiay, whether he would make all pensions due in December payable on Deoember 21st, instead of on Deoember 23rd, so that pensioners might have the benefit of thoir pensions during the holiday season. Twj Minister replied that the date, Docember 23rd, was fixed by statute, and that there was little possibility of putting through an amendment making the alteration suggested. Ho did not think that this year any hardship would be inflicted by payment on the nsuitf date. The onljr difficulty he foresaw would probably occur when Christmas day fell on a Monday or a Tuesday. First Headings. In the House to-day the Shops and Offices Act Amendment Bill was introduced by Govcrnor-Gcncral'i message, road a first time pro forma, and referred to tho Labour Bills Committee. The "Official Secrets Dili was received from the Legislative Council and rend n first time.