TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 84, 10 April 1931, Page 11

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE COJJNCIL

The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. '

Replying to the Hon. C. J. Carrington, the Leader of the Council (the Hon. Sir Thomas Sidey) said: "The attention of the hon. gentleman is drawn to a statement made by the Primo Minister issued to the Press on the 4th.instant, in which it was announced that the Government had decided to make available to the Rural Intermediate Credits Board a substantial sum for tho purpose of granting financial assistance to the farming community to enable it to complete the purchase of fertilisers for the current season. In the Prime Minister's statement it was pointed out that the funds would be made available immediately aa required to tho board, and that all inquiries as to the procedure to be adopted should be made by farmers, dairy company executives, and others to tho nearest branch of the Public Trust Office, where an officer of the Rural Intermediate Credit Board would bo available to afford all the necessary information. It was also made clear by the Prime Minister that the funds would bo advanced by the board strictly in accordance with its usual principles of lending. At the same time, it was announced that the Government had approached Ihe manufacturers of fertilisers'' in tho Dominion with the. object of ascertaining whether in view of. the additional credit facilities, .now Hoing provided through the Rural Intermediate Credit. Board they would ho prepared to make a reduction in tho cost of fertilisers to the purchasers. Tho Government 'fully apreciates tho great importance both to the farmers and the country of the question raised Tiy the hon. member." The Council went into Committee on tho Finance Bill. The lion. G. J. Garland asked if the Government would accept an amendment aimed at giving the Court power 1 p vary or revoke provisions in respect of preference to unionsis. Sir Thomas Sidey said he' regretted he could not accept the amendment. Mr. Garland: ''Very well, I will not press it.' 3 . The Hon. Mark Fagan moved for the addition of a provision that the Court should take into consideration the standard of living of the workers and should not reduce wages to such an extent that it would, be impossible for the worker to maintain a fair standard of living. He did'not see how his amendment could reasonably bo opposed. Sir- Thomas Sidey regretted his inability to accept the amondment.