TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 93, 21 April 1931, Page 11

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. The Prime- Minister (the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes) said he would give an opportunity for discussion ou tho flour and bread question to-morrow. Mr. R. Seuiplo (Labour, Wellington Bast) gavo notice to ask «ho Prime.1 Minister whether, in view of the recent investigation by the fuel research laboratories, which revealed the very high value of Blackball and Millerton coal from a carbonising viewpoint, the Government would consider the advisa-, . bility of establishing a coal-carbonising plant,, with a view to giving practical results- as to tho real. value of New Zealand coal for carbonising purposes ■' and thereby stimulate and encourage tho development-of a very essential and profitable industry. Mr. Semple said .that the result:of tho test referred to compared more than favourably with anything in the world, and it was now a wejl-known fact that coal-carbonising was no longer in its experimental stages, but was an established and profitable industry in many countries in the world. ■ Mr. J. W. Munro (Labour, Dunedin JTorlu) gave notice to ask the Prime Minister if ho proposes to bring down a taxing Bill, this session, and if so; ■whether he will consider increasing the duty on alcoholic liquors. It is the intention of Mr. J. Link-later-(Reform, Manawatu) to ask tho Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of tho financial position of tho farmers,- he will extend tho time for clearing noxious weeds from their properties. ■ : ■ The Earthquake Bill Committee was •given leave to meet during the sitting of the House. '■ Mr. G. C. Black (Independent, Motueka) asked the Prime ' Minister whether he intended to bring down proposals this session altering tho land and income tax,, and amending the existing Customs law. ' "An announcement will be given to the House ,in due course," replied Mr. " Forbes. ' ' ■Mr." J. .'O'Brien '(Labour, Westland) asked the Prime Minister whether if was the intention of the Government to make' representations ' to the British Government with a view to getting a concession in the payment of interest on the funded war debt, on the lines of the concession already granted to Australia. ■■••■. Tho Prime Minister said the Government 'would givo consideration .to the .matter. ■' ........ ... .SUfcPLT OF FERTILISERS.. The Leader of tho Opposition (the Eight Hoe: J. G.: Coates) moved the adjournment of the House in order to discuss an urgent public matter — namely, the necessity, for the prosperity of the Dominion, for farmers to have ■assistance from the- Government toenable them, to apply their usual quantities of fertilisers to their farms. Mr. Coates said that there had been a■ f-all-ing-off in the demand for'fertilisers. One manufacturing firm estimated the fall- at 66 2-3 per cent, as compared with this time last year, and another . ati not less than '40.: per cent. Mr. ■Coates: gave figures .showing:the imports of fertilisers into New-Zealand in recent years, and remarked' on the increases which had taken place. The position of the fanners appeared tOfbe very serious, said Mr. Coates,' serious from the point of view of-the . farmer in the first place, and from tho point of-view.of the country as a whole in the: second-place. It was essential that New Zealand should'keep up its production, and if possible increase it, for it was: along the lines of increased production that-prosperity was-to be found; ■ While increased financial assistance to the fanner was essential, it. was not the whole thing. The farmers must be assisted to increase their fertilising: this. year. Proceeding