PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 57, 8 March 1932, Page 9

PARLIAMENT

[TO-DAy'S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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

Mr. W. H. Field (Government, Otaki)

gave notice to'ask whether in view of

, alleged undue profiteering in the neces/garies of life district committees will :be set up to watch matters. . .■ ■ Mr.' B. McKeen (Labour, Wellington

South) gave notice to ask the Minister

of Health if the officers of the Health Department had approved of the Spahlinger "treatment of tubercular trouble, and,,if so, efforts would be made to secure the serum for use- in New Zealand.

Mr. E. F. Healy (Government, Wairau). gaye1 notice to ask the Minister

of Public Works whether, in view of

the fact that all Public. Works were now being carried out as relief works, he. would consider the recommence-

ment of the construction of the South Island Main Trunk railway.

On the motion of the Prime Minister, it was 'decided that the House should sit from Mondays to Fridays, inclusive, .between the hours of 2.30 p.m. and midnight. 'I '. ■ :

Mr. W. j. Poison (Government, Stratford) asked whether in cases where farmers have guaranteed mortgagors and the mortgagors have been protected ■under the Mortgagors- Belief Act and the guarantor is not protected, will the Government give relief, by amending the Act so thaib farmers who guarantee: any members of their family in normal times and are now unable to meet the liability under the guarantee will not' be forced off their farms. The Prime Minister said the guarantor of a mortgagor was defined as a mortj^gor under the Mortgagors Belief Act, and, was therefore protected to the same extent as the mortgagor himeeif. .-.■.; ,- ■■-■ ■■■ ." -■:.;, ■~

Mr. B. W.Bawke (Government, Kaiapoi) : asked the Minister of. Agriciilture what steps had been taken to prevent the .spread'".of the white butterfly to, the South Island. In. reply, the Hon. C. E. Macmillan stated "that the Department had already mad© arrangements for; a natural" enemy to be .imported. Mr. W. W. -Masseyrl (Government, Hauraki) asked the Minister of Agriculture, whether: he would consider taking steps to bring about a reduction iiv the price of fertiliser. ,;The Minister of Agriculture said it was his intention to call" a; -conference shortly to consider the whole question of the cost of fertilisers.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

Continuing the Address-in-Eeply debate, Mr. J. Hargest. (Government, Invercargill) said that the first duty of the country was to' assist -the unemployed.' He made a plea for,the manufacturer who was passing through a critical time. The spending power of the community had been reduced, and he was forced to-put off men. There was a: number- of articles, at present imported, which could be made in the Dominion... Efforts, should be made to stimulate local manufactures, and when, goods could <not be made within the Dominion they should, if possible, be bought in .England. Mr. Hargest said that ithere was a. large market for produce in the East.. New Zealand should endeavour to trade .with each country

on a fifty-fifty basis.

•:■„.: Mr« Hargest suggested .that the Prime j i-fi Minister.'.;should, ; co&sid&r:*.opening up • ■ itrade relations -. -with. Soviet-. • -Russia. Last year • New- •; Zealand bought £4,000,000 worth of petrol from America and the Dutch East Indies, and was'unable'to sell anything back in return. The Dominion was to-day unable to sell her-wool at a profitable price, and the-Government'might, consider the purchasing of petrol in bulk from the Soviet Republic and selling ■ ,the Bussians wool in return. ' Mr. Hargest went on to suggest that the expenses attached to the High. Com-, missioner's office in London could be very materially decreased. The expense had gone from £.10,952 in 1915 to over £40,000 this year. . "Mr. W. J. Jordan (Labour, Manukau): "It is the cheapest Commissioner's office in London." : Mrl Hargest: "And we are the smallest Dominion represented in London."

Mr. Hargest also suggested that there might be a review of New Zealand's expenditure in connection with the League of Nations.; He said that

the' New Zealand Parliament had foliow- - ed the example of the BritisTi House of Commons. The British Government ' had been elected one month before'the , New Zealand Government, and had .:'achieved a wonderful amount of work. It had brought dowri a new tariff, and faced' squarely the, unemployment insurance fund. The New Zealand Government had been elected on a blank cheque three mouths ago; but as far as he knew nothing had been done. He suggested that the Prime. Minister had

a mandate to "bring idown legislation required to meet the position, and t should carry out Ms .programme fear- •■■ lessly. -(Applause.)