PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 17, 19 July 1929, Page 11

PARLIAMENT

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Eepresentatives met at 2.30 p.m.

Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) gave notice to. ask the Minister of Industries and Commerce whether he was aware that shoddy clothing, produced by cheap labour, was being retailed in New Zealand at four times its cost, and whether protection would bo given to the local clothing industry. Mr. J. O'Brien (Westlaud) gavo notice to ask the Prime Minister, whether, seeing it was through the action of the previous Government that the sawmillers of New Zealand lost the whole of the Australian timber trade, he would take steps to assist the sawmillers to regain that trade. Beplying to a question asked by Mr. B. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) the Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) stated that he could not grant the increase in the maximum amount of intermediate rural credit grants from £1000 to £2000. in accordance with his announcement on 17th July, without legislation, and he proposed to introduce an amendment of the Act to enable this to be done.

Colonel T. W. M'Donald (Wairarapa) raised a point of order. He referred to references made to himself by Mr. A. M. Samuel (Thames) last night, and denied that he had been turned out by tho Keforni Party and tho Labour Party. He desired to give a most emphatic denial to Mr.' Samuel's statements as they were contrary to fac*. He intended to place the wh'olo matter before the House at the first opportunity.

Mr. P. Eraser (Wellington Central): "It may be necessary for several of us to do "that." (Laughter.)

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE.

Mr. G. C. Black (Motueka), resuming the Address-in-Keply debate, referred to- the interest which had been shown by Their Excellencies- the Gov-ernor-General and Lady Alice Fergusson in the areas affected by the recent earthquake, and he extended the thanks of the people of the West Coast to the Government and the people of New Zealand for the sympathy which had been shown to the sufferers. Mr. Black also thanked the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Labour Party for their co-operation. The visit of the Minister of Education to the afflicted areas had also done a great deal to restore the confidence- of the people, who came of the right stock. Mr. Black referred to the devastation which had taken place in the beauty spots of the district. The people in the areas were suffering hardship, but the claims of the settlers for assistance had been well met, and ho was sure the Government would see to it that they' were given an opportunity to rehabilitate themse-lves. The earthquake, in his opinion, had pointed to certain weaknesses' in their national life, and one of :thoso weaknesses was the difficulty of establishing communication with the isolated portions of the DoIt had been shown quite- clearly that they would have to have landing places for aeroplanes in most districts, and lie thought a. base should be established at Golden Bay in the Takaka country.. Tho means of radio communication would also have to be improved, although 2YA station at Wellington had rendered excellent service during tho disaster. Mr. Black mentioned that the Kadio Company was the only means of yetting into communication with Kaiam«a. He thought that the sooner the regulations regarding amateur- wireless operating were brought under review the-'bette'r itr. would-be'for" New Zealand...

Sltv'.E.. .T. Howard (Christchureh South): "That is the point."

(Left Bitting.)