TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 154, 30 June 1926, Page 11

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

The House of Representatives met at 2,30 p.m. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) gave notice to ask the Minister of Agriculture whether he would endeavour to enter into an equitable agreement with the wheat-growers of the Dominion with a view to increasing the production of home-grown wheat.

Mr. P. Frascr (Wellington Central) gave notice to ask the Minister of Education: (1) Whether the Education Department had in tho last few years considered it necessary to take exceptional action in regard to the financial administration and management of the Wellington Education Board, of which the Minister was formerly a member? (2) Whether ho would lay on tho table ©f the House the complete file of correspondence between the Department and the board relating to tho board's financial administration? (5) Whether in tho last two years the Education Department had insisted on a special audit of tho Wellington Education Board's accounts, and if so, would he inform the House of the result of tho auditor's examination? (4) If he would lay a copy of the auditor's report on the table? Sir George Hunter (Waipav/a) is asking the Minister of Agriculture whether »tcps will bo taken to see that in any readjustment in connection with the Naru Phosphates Commission's work, New Zealand would receive not less than IS per cent, of the phosphates produced. Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) said that -in eonneetion with the Imperial Conference ho would ask the Prime Minister whether he would indicate to the House what attitude ho proposed to adopt on tho question of dual nationality, and whether he proposed to support a proposal that British women might retain their nationality if they married aliens.

Mr. J. A. Loo (Auckland East) intends to ask the Minister of Eaihvays whether the Kailway Department proposes to continue to erect unsightly hoardings alongside beautiful city re■erves, thus nullifying attempts at town-planning. Mr. Lee also gave notice to ask the Minister of Marine whether he intended to introduce legislation preventing the pollution of New Zealand's coast and harbours with oil refuse.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) gave notice to ask the Postmaster-General whether ho had »een in the "New Zealand Dairy Produce Exporter" of 26th January a statement to the effect that the Press Association had. suppressed an important statement made by the chairman of the board in exposure of an attempt by methods.of falsehood to injure the New Zealand dairy industry, and whether the Minister would take steps to «cc that the Press Association did not have the advantages of cheap rates, if it took up one side in preference to the other in regard to public questions? Mr. Holland quoted from a message which lad been forwarded by the editor of the "New Zealand Times" . dealing with the methods of the Dairy Control Board. All that had been sent out by the Press Association was the statement that Mr. Grounds said that Press criticism of the board was at times bordering on unfair tactics. Mr. D. Jones (Ellesmere) moved for a statement showing whether the flour millers who alleged they were closing their mills on account of a shortage of wheat were doing so for that reason, or whether'they had considerable quantities of flour on hand, and intended to remain closed until these were disposed of. .

The Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) asked tho Minister of Agriculture what stops it was proposed to take, either by tariff or regulation, to prevent the closing down of flour mills in the Dominion owing to it being more profitable to import wheat. In reply, the Minister stated that last year New Zealand apparently grew sufficient wheat to last until the end of September next. Since then, however, there had been imported into Auckland 300,000 bushels of wheat and 104,000 bags of flour. New Zealand consumed 11,000 tons of flour per month. The excess amount of flour imported this year as against last year was about 1500 tons, not a very large amount. The present position was that New Zealand had a, sufficient supply to last until the end of November. He know that some millers were short of wheat. The Government had no intention to interfere with the ordinary channols of trade in the supply of wheat or flour to New Zealand. The Government did not intend to import either wheat or flour.

The Minister of Public "Works (the Hon. K. S. Williams) replied that he would be glad to issue instructions to his officers to see that the men mentioned by Mr. Sullivan were given every chance to stay on tho works at day rates. It would be unfair, however, to give preference to men' who were not suited to tho work.

(Proceeding.)