POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18127, 17 July 1924, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

(STBCIAL TO "THI PRBSS. ) WELLINGTON, July 16. Clie Unemployed Question. Replying to a question by Mr H. T. \rmstrong, the Hon. J. G. Goatcs said: rho Public Works Department has m t, employ at present CSOO men, and arge contracts aro starting, which should absorb a farther number of workmen. The Post and Telegraph Department has 1327 men employed m iine construction wrk, 224 of tMs "Umber being employed m the Christclmrch ilistrict. During recent months the Post and Telegraph Department has SSged 90 per cent, of Canterbury unemployed in connexion with the sion of the telephone work in that district. From time to time more men will be engaged during the winter and spring, as there is yet a con sidernble amount of work to bo "One in the Canterbury district. Further the Christchurch Drainage Board also lias large drainage works ' 1 informed, involving an expendituro of £7OO 000, and oould absorb all tho un rmployed in Christehurch if the men ceportod to that local body. Hei Hei Settlers. Mr G. Witty asked the Minister of Lands whether he intends to give relief to tho Hei Hei settlers at Hornby, ind make it possible for them to live 3n their holdings, Tho Hon. A. D. ' McLeod roplied: The Hei Hei soldier settlers have nowbeen granted remission of interest on their advances, and also remission of rent for three years. The total concession amounts to £lOl4 10s lid, which must be regarded as very generous treatment on the part of the Lands Department. According to reports, these settlers are located on country very suitable for men suffering from sliest trouble. They did not apply for revaluation under the provisions of tho Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, 1923. The Right to Work. Replying to a question whether tho Government will this session introduce an "Unemployment Bill, recognising the right to work, Mr Massey says the matter will bo considered later in tho session.

state Advances. Replying to n question by Mr G, W. Forbes, Mr Massey stated: It cannot be admitted that the State Advances Department has failed to meet pressing requirements; on the contrary, tho State Advances Department lent during the last eight months of the financial year the large sum p£ £6,205,630, apd relieved eight thousand borrowers to that extent, and sinee that date the amount lent has been largely added to. _ Tho Government is not standing in tho way of the establishment of agricultural banks, but it cannot accept the financial responsibility attempted to be placed upon it by the Bill of last evasion. War PSLce of Gold. In regard to the question 9? affording relief to New Zealand gold jniners who suffered loss owing to the embargo on the export of gold, which was not lifted till 191p, Mr Massey made further representations when in England, but without result, as the Imperial Government would not depart from their previous attitude lit the matte?. Debentures Tax. Mr Masters asked the Government whether, seeing that the present system of giving a preferential rate of in-come-tajf to investors in local body benturefl is making it difficult for farmers in securing favourable finance, the Prime Minister will,, when introducing the Tan Bill, make provision whereby the income derived ftpm investments on farming lands by mortgage, provided the amount is advance*} lor not less thqn ■ five years and., at not more than 6 per cent., the income-tW will not be greater than that which will provide for a net return of 5 per cent, to th<J mortgagee. Mr Masaey replied: This question of taxing will have the careful* consiflora? tion 'of tTie Government when the annual taxing legislation is being dealt with, jt must be, remembered, Sowever, that the present law impose* a tax of 4s 6d in the & pa incomes derived from looal body debentures i|JBU§4 after August 29 th, |p33„and if a fur' ther reductiqg in the maximum mte of income-tax is made, the preferential rate alluded tQ will tend to disappear, Subsides. In view of the annually increasing charge for subsidies, it is net intended to abolish or extend the present! limit of £2500 which may be paid as a subsidy on tho rates collected by County Councils.

Provision is being made on this year's Estimates to reinstate the £3OOO subsidy to public libraries in country districts, which was withdrawn as one of tho economies during the war.

Australian Potatoes. The Hon. W. Nosworthy has informed Mr Witty that the Commonwealth Government hj»» already agreed to remove the present embargo on the importation of New Zealand potatoes into the Commonwealth, under certain conditions, but negotiations are proceeding with a view to ascertaining if these cannot be modified in certain directions. The suggestion that New Zealand should impose tho same conditions and regulations with regard to 4he importation of potatoes' from tho Commonwealth up they impose against New Zealand hag been noted, and will receive due consideration. Mr Witty aaid he considered the answer to be very unsatisfactory. Potatoes in Canterbury were going down in price every day through importations from Australia. He did not mind free trade in potatoes from Amtralia, eo Jong as Australia gave the eame right to New Zealand. Gas Standard. The Government proposes to desl with the framing of a calorific stand* ard for gas by regulation. These regu lations have been prepared, and will be submitted to Cabinet shortly.

The Dairy Industry. The Hon. "W. Noaworthy states that the question of the establishment of a research laboratory in connexion with the dairy industry is under consideration, and a matter of special enquiry at the moment is the determination of what particular scientific problems bearing upon the prosperity of the industry require research work to be carried out in order to elucidate them. One such institution, properly equipped and staffed, could well serve the requirements of the whole Pominion, and should therefore be located in a central position. It is a question for consideration whether instruction facilities for dairy factory employees should be provided in: direct association with a research laboratory.

The South bland Sty Replying to a Rollcston in regard to gnil&fflM freo railage for to tho summer drougbt stock during the wintfc, jfcgfl Nosworthy replied: The Agriculture could only ner suggested by takiaf Estimates for the cost of tho railage of has only been done in U*l!ira conditions of a very existed. Enquiries as to hmhl bury were made a but tho matter will now taififra Taxing Racing Clubs. '■ || To-day Mr Massey George Hunter that the qaMgji lieving racing clubs of present being seriously tho Government. Sir George Hunter mid W appointed that n more d«Utt|S tho question had Country clubs were present burden. soma figures in proof of tfcfclla elated that it would b« ignSlEj certain country elubs to t£|SS less relief were granted ?sl| J.P.'s and Politics. yti Beplving to Me about police collecting inftgjjgS garding the political sons whose names are nhtttlltll* pointment to the Peace, the Hon. C. J. police havo no authority whaSS the Minister or Departsieat tei or supply information rttojfeil political opinions of any Mjjjfl nated for the Commission of <W| Tho practice is that the H before recommending e» directs tho local careful enquiry respecting tfc*2i and suitability of any novtftml Commission of the Pelee, ister ia almost invariably report of tho Magistrate, enquiries. Mr Sullivan said he kaev-ellil where the political opinion* eftS* been reported upon. Be hopcd'fc tions would be givan ttat tuft not bo done in future. Producing Coal. , jj& Encouragement of mtefeggdj Dominion, says the is granted by tha Govers»tgs|jj view of locally providing all m required in New Zealand, m however, as there are break* (m| strikes) in the continuity tion, thus preventing tbe-<«W owners from making forwatdeSj for the deliveiy of large ipiaajg coal, consumers must be fortify themselves shortages by arranging for uspM from abroad. . 3® Patriot SavAltuUimw. jag Mr Macpherson asked fhfjjugl Lands whether the Govenrti|j|j§ an early date, make bers of the House copies of ffjH and recommendations of Revaluation Committees to tho Revaluation Board with soldier settlement. jwS Tho Hon, A. D, Theso reports contain iufonw||| Srjvate and confidential-vtwam lg soldier settlers' with tho Department, me?Cjj|B and private .>m| nation, in the interest* oruju must be treated as confldeagßßjl is therefore not inteft4*ftJ||fl reports of the various PBj^| N.Z. Packing Company. l stli Replying to Mr Ho)l«ii§w| ther it is a fact that theßnH Zealand, as a result of lwom the New Zealand now the largest buyer flf Ji!S| Dominion, and whctlug Mr Jessep, of the MeattilWH is also a director of the Packing Company* and sfiMM of the Bank of New W. Nosworthy replied! * The old company ■WMfeitHß tion. The Bank carried ■♦wpHg else was in sight to tdtim over, and if the works ated, and were eloeea dwixgH have meant disaster to era. For instance, tids mIM tho company has kept upttftlij pigs, which wog)d much lower, To be #hJ# make it a socles#, have a man on the knowledge of til# bo#iM<%?H#j>| Bank selected Mr X know, Mr Jessep itteenjVfffM fees of an ordinary locomotive JWitiXLaß*. Answering a quest ion flgk*H to-day, th« Sop, i, Q* am not aware of the port referred to in the |m| can I find that owing to tWI oversight many (or motives havo been Mntflllflljm necessitating extensive atMHB repairs. In gines that were imtwrtißaSjH Britain f however, e*r(«w|HH came apparent on. wwttjjßßl after they had be«a fWfsmm These defects were pnsQ|3S tional, and were in no imgHj Departmental, error. fljiElH right in tho railway |BiMB the cost of eo contractors. ' At Wembley. .>-^n Replying to a restaurant in the Ney at Wembley, the Stewart said: The recommendations, viewed by tho be given effect to, received from missioner stated by ish Empire Exhibit!mi experienced considerable arranging for generally, and Lyons, was the only firm in out requirements. TaM;^Sß| conditional upon rights that it over all restaurant* tion, and to thii the reluctantly agreed. contract was Commissioner atipalsM'%saßß New Zealand proda< WnoH| in tho Dominion'* F4MMH| butter, cheese, served meats, in season. (J9H