YESTERDAY’S' PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20254, 15 August 1929, Page 16

YESTERDAY’S' PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [l’se UjfiTJsa Frees Association.l The House' sat at 2.30 p.m. The Minister of Lands (the Hon. C. \V. Forbes) presented the animal jeport on the settlement'of Crown lands. Kepi vim; to .Mr J. CL Coates. The Minister stated Hint certain concessions had been made under the Act in the-direction .ol the revaluation of deteriorated lands, and those no doubt had been ol groat assistance. He was aware that many of these men were still having a hard battle, and as the Act had exp red he hoped to make some provision in tiie new legislation to deal with tho situation. Some of them undoubtedly would require further assistance, and he considered anything done in that direction would ultimately be of benefit to the country as a whole. STATE COAL MINES. The report on the year’s working of the State coui mines was presented. Air E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) said it seemed to, him that the Government might adopt a bolder policy in connection with the State mines. Them seemed to bo an understanding that the State mines should not be worked in such a way as to enable coal to bo supplied more cheaply than by private mine owners. Mr Howard referred to the success in Bulgaria of the operation of mines by the workers themselves, and he advocated a similar policy in New Zealand. Ho congratulated all connected with tho State mines in New Zealand on the success of the year’s operations. ; Mr H. 'E. Holland (Buller) stated that money had been lost at the State mines through want of trade, and this was largely due to the lack of railway trucks and the want ojf organisation of shipping services. Holcrencc had been made in the report to the loss of time owing to disputes, but this was -small compared with the loss due to the causes he had - stated. Sir Joseph Ward said that investigations would be made into the point raised by Mr Holland. The _ Government had authorised the making of a number of railway trucks, in addition to those usually provided annually, ami anything reasonable would be done to ■prevent’ delay at the mines owing to lack of trucks. It was impossible, however,- for any Government to have a sufficient supply of trucks lying idle a large part of the year so that it would be in a position to meet exorbitant calls on its resources at short notice. Mr J. O’Brien (Westland) said he considered tho substantial profit mark by the State mines was a oomph tc an swer to those who, in the first place, had opposed the proposal for State ownership of Hie coni mines.

The Minister of Mines (the Hon. \V A Vciteh) said he would consider th suggestion by Mr O’Brien that an endeavour should be made to store coal in the slack season when there was littl demand for it. Ho did not think- New Zealand had yet arrived at the stage when the management of the minecould he given to the workers, hut h would he prepared to consider a return to the co-opcrativo system. Aiiotlm 1 matter that would he considered wathe provision of now plant, and tlr problem 1 of carbonisation was bcinr given attention. QUESTIONS. The Minister of Railways (the Hoc W 15. Taverner), replying to Mi ( : 0. Munns (Roskill), stated that it w not proposed at the present time 1 provide second class sleeping earring: for the .Main Trunk line, as all ti available finance was required for who he believed to be the more imnmdini demands in tiio matter of rolling sloe' He would give the matter further eon sidoration when the circumstances wen more favourable. Mr R. Semple (Wellington East) asked whether steps would be trken to enable the dominion to provide its own supply of newsprint. the Commissioner of State Forests iMr Taverner) replied that .the maun factnrc of newsprint from .wood pulp is a highly technical process involving heavy capital expenditure. The StatForest Service has for some time pas been gathering data and practical experience in the manufacturing processes, devoting .particular attention to determining the suitahilitv of New Zealand grown woods. The-..paper made from New Zealand-grown woods that wa* used by several newspapers recently was manufactured in the United State of America for demonstration!!] purposes from lawn and insignis pine by the State Forest Service in conjunction with lending authorities there. Gainmonieations received from severa' sources indicate that private enter,arise is already interested in the possibilities of the industry in the dominion. The Budget debate was resumed, the House rising at 10.2/3 p.m.