PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 30, 4 August 1926, Page 11

PARLIAMENT

■ TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tho House of Bopresentatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day.

Sir George Huuter (Waipawa) gave 'notice to ask tho Minister of Agriculture, whether his attention had been called to the statement by Mr. 1. Ji. Cox, a member of tho Rural Credits' Commission, that Denmark is full of foot-and-mouth disease, aiid whether.instructions would be given to .prevent its introduction to New Zealand. The Minister of Mines (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) .presented the Mines Statement. . Discussing the Statement Mr. W. h. Parry (Auckland Central) asked Whether a State coal mine would be opened in tho North; There Was, he Baid, a good seam of coal available. Notwithstanding that there were soveral mines in tho Auckland Province, people in tho North periodically suffer-' ed from coal shortage Bcferriiig to the importation of coal from Australia, Mr. Parry said he Would like to know what the intentions of the Government wore. He felt the ;time had arrived when New Zealand should marshal its forces with the object of trying to improve local industry. There was ample in New Zealand for the country's need. The Prime Minister: "Can,you guarantee the miners to supply iiP Mr. Parry: "Well, that is a most extraordinary statement for tho Prime Minister to make. Does he think that the miners of New Zealand are not as eapablo as the miners of Australia and other' countries? ""ro should be proud of the men who work below the ground. They can. supply us all right." Mr. Coates: "Can they supply us six months in advance of requirements?" Mr. Pari-y: "With proper organisation they can supply us twelve months in advance."

Mr. Coates: "It would mean altering our machinery, but I think we ought to do all re can to improve tho local supply.'' Mr. Tarry: "I am glad to hear that statement." He regretted that some members of the House did not have faith in the New Zealand miner! Less time was lost in New Zealand oil account of strikes than anywhere else in the world. .

(Proceeding.)