HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 109, 10 May 1932, Page 9

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at 2,30; p.m. torday. ;

Mr. R.A. Wright (Government, Wei: lington Suburbs) asked the Primp Minister, without previous notice, if ho wouldvniakc a statement to the House giving details of the action the Government proposed to take in reference to the subsidised American steam-, ships which are competing seriously in the intercolonial trade.

The Prime Minister (the Right Hon.6. W.. Forbes) referred the questioner to a statement made by him on 3rd November last'7 year, and added that ifwas hoped there; would be an opportunity to discuss the question at the Ottawa Conference.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) asked the Minister of Employmentwhether Tie was aware that 150 further notices of dismissal had been served on minors at Millcrton, making 240 men who had been put off from the' mine, and whether the Minister would co-operate with the Minister of Mines 'for the purpose of seeing whether these.men could be re-engaged "by the Westport Coal Company, or whether failing their re-engagement he would take steps to provide work for the men dismissed.

The; Eight HOn. J. (}. Coates replied that he would gladly'co-operate with the Minister of Mines and sep what could be done. The position was a most difficult one, because the Millerton problem'was, a special one/ He would Tie glad to~ make inquiries for the purpose of .'seeing what could be done to relieve the present position.

NATIONAL ADJUSTMENT Bill..

A Message was received from the Governor-General returning to the House the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill together with amend? ments. .

The Prime Minister explained, that the amendments wero to meet some anomalies which hadNbcen drawn, attention to. One clause protected pensioners to ensure that, no' pension would be - reduced by more than 10' per cent. According to the original 'clause the income reduction would apply at the same time,,but that was not intended. Local bodies had pointed out that the Bill would inflict hardship on them in respect to. ground rents, and to meet that an amendment was now. made protecting.ground rents from reduction be-low-5 per cent, per annum below the unimproved value of the land. There wero other machinery amendments. , The. Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H, E. Holland), asked. whether there was anything' relating to people receiving two pensions. - Mr. Forbes: "No."

Mr. Holland pointed out that when the earthquake <;qmmittees were fixing ■widows' pensions they: took into consideration the fact that some of the widows ..were entitled to receive the old' age pension, and if they were not now able to receive two pensions the position would be serious: |

In reply, the Prime Minister replied that he cpuld not recall the method of operation, .of earthquake -widows' pengionSjL tut he would have the matter investigated; r .. ■-! (Proceeding.) • \