TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 15, 17 July 1929, Page 11

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives mot at 2.30 p.m. to-day.

Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston) gave notice to ask the Minister of Pensions whether ho proposes to introduce legislation this session increasing the family allowance.

Mr. D. Jones (Mid-Canterbury) gave notice to ask the Minister of Finance for a return slfowing (1) the amount applied for by settlers aud workers respectively at 10th December last; (2) the amount paid out by the Advances Department to meet these applicants, and fhe number of applicants; and (3) the number of applicants and the amount of applications granted, and advances paid, up to 17th July.

Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) gave notice to ask the Minister of Industries and Commerce whether, in view of the potito famine in Australia, he would- endeavour to bring about a better understanding with the Australian authorities with a view to having the embargo against New Zealand potatoes lifted.

Mr. W. H. field (Otaki) gave notice to ask the Minister of Internal Affairs whether art unions for earthquake or other relief purposes would bo legalised. Mr. F. Langstone (Waiinarino) gave notice to ask. whether it was the policy to send unemployed to prison as vagrants. Mr. AY. J. Poison (Stratford) gave notieo to ask whether a tri-woekly night train would be run between Wellington and New Plymouth, and vice versa. Mr. C H. Chapman (Wellington North) gave notice to ask the Minister of Kailwaj's whether ho would close the printing office which is connected with his Department and arrango for the printing to be done at the Government Printing Office. INFLUENZA POSITION. Mr.- J. S. Fletcher (Grey Lynn) asked the Minister if his attention had been drawn to a Press report that severe influenza is raging in Sydney,,and whether he is taking or will take immediate precautions so that it will not be introduced into New Zealand. The-Minister (the Hon.' A. J. Stallworthy) said he had drawn the attention of tho Director-General of Health to the cable message. Tho Government did not rely on tho newspaper cab.le service for information in such regard; it had an intelligence service of its own, and, in co-operation with other countries for many months past, it had fcopt the strictest supervision on tho influenza position. INTERMEDIATE RURAL CREDITS. Mr. W. J. Poison (Stratford) asked the Minister of Finance whether he would givo consideration to tho matter of increasing the grant payable under the intermediate rural credit scheme from £.1000 to £2000; and whether ho would bring about a simplification .of tho details on completion of tho loans. Tho Prime Minister said he had given instructions to increase the amount to j£2ooo. He had also given instructions to put into operation the second part Of the question. SAVINGS BANK DEPOSITS. Mr. AY.-E.Barnard (Napier) asked the Minister of Finance whether tho Government would favourably consider reverting to the former practice of paying' interest on deposits up to £5000 in tho Post Office Savings Bank.

Sir Joseph Ward said that the maxi : inuin.deposifc accepted fi;om any one depositor was increased to £5000 as a war measure. Before the war the maximum was only £1000. When it wont up to £5000 tho Savings Bank was used by small traders practically to obtain interest on their current accounts. Further than that, the holding of largo amounts at call was a source of embarrassment both to Treasury and tho Post Office. For those reasons, he regretted that he was not able to aecedo to tho request to revert to the £5000 maximum.

(Proceeding.)