PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 30, 4 August 1931, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

iTO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. Colonel T. W. M< Donald (United, Wairarapa) gave notice to introduce the South Wa.irani.pa Rivers Board Empowering Bill. Notice of his intention to introduce tlie Petonc Borough Council Empowering Bill wus given by Sir. W. Nash j (Labour, Hutt). Mr. E, 1\ Houloy (United, Wairau) gave notice to ask.the Prime Minister "whether it was his intention, to impose a dumping duty on Australian feed barley. Mr. W. Nash intends to risk the Minister in Charge of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department whether he has seen the "Los Angeles Times" of 12th June, 1031, in which an address by the Rev. Joseph Lynch is reported setting out safeguards which it is proposed to take to minimise the dangers arising from earthquake, and to ask him if he will co-operate in the proposal to sot up an earthquake research institute. Mr. Nash said: "Father Lynch, wjio is the head of the seismograph station at Fordham University, New York, advocated the founding of a national earthquake research institute, with facilities to make possible the solution of the practical problems of seismology. In the report of his address, Father Lynch cites that while it- is not possible to give full warning of earthquakes, tho partial warning given in Japan of last year prevented tho repetition of the disaster of 1323. People were warned to extinguish their fires after tho seismographie instruments had detected the preliminary tremors a few days before tho imin earthquake. He also cited that a revised building code, both in California md Japan, had been worked out, and were based on vibration research made by a shaking table at Sanford University." The Loader of the Labour Party (Mr. 11. E. 'Holland) gave notice to ask the Minister of Public Works (1) whether he was aware that 'the Public Works employees, formerly on the basic wage of Is 9d per hour, had had their wages reduced, to Is 6Jd per hour, a reduction of 10.7 per cent., which was more than the 10. per cent, cut authorised by Parliament; (2) whether he would give instructions that no reduction was to go beyond 10 per cent. RUSSIAN BUTTER. Mi-. A. M. Samuel (Reform, .Vhames) asked the Prime Minister if his attention had been drawn to a cablegram stating that Russian butter was being imported into England in boxes identical with those nsed for New Zealand butter, and what action ho intended to take. Tho Prime Minister said he had communicated with the High Commissioner on the- subject, and was awaiting a reply.- ■ - . PRICE OP TOBACCO. Mr. a. C. Black (Independent, Motuoka) asked the Prime Minister as a matter of urgency if lie was aware that the wholesale price list issued locally on 31st July by a tobacco concern showed that cut. tobaccos were increased in "duty paid price per lb" by Is (id and imported cut tobaccos by Is 7d /'duty paid price per lb." while the Customs resolutions had increased the duty on such tobaccos by Is 4d per lb. '-'Will the Minister, tgkc steps to see thaf-the general public and the retailers are not exploited in this direction by reason of the tariff: revision?" he asked. The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. 6. W. Forbes) replied that the import duty on tobacco referred to had been increased by Is 4d, subject to a surcharge of l-20th or a net total increase of about Is 4Jd. The excise duty was not subject to tho surcharge. The difference between the list prices quoted and the net increase in duty was accounted for by the allowance of discounts on the increased prices. The net return to the .selling companies was within a traction of a penny of that realised prior to the increase in duty. Mr, R. A. Wright (Reform, Wellington Suburbs) asked the Prime Minister whether he was aware that several hundred men had made application for work at the Labour Bureau and were told that there was no work available for them, through lack. of funds, and whether the Prime Minister would make the necessary finance available to meet the situation. Mr. Wright said that many men had not had work for six months, and were in dire distress. In reply, Mr. Forbes stated that the Minister of Labour was absent at present, and he would consult with him 'on his return. ■ Moving for the introduction of..the Marriage Amendment Bill, Mr. H; G. R, Mason (Labour, Auckland Suburbs) said the Bill merely aimed to give •women ministers the power to perform the marriage ceremony. The Bill was read a first time. ;: .The, Rating Amendment Bill (Mr. ■Mason) was also introduced and read a first time. ... . . ~ .. , (Proceeding.)