YESTERDAY’S PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20312, 22 October 1929, Page 2

YESTERDAY’S PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [Abridged from Press Association.] The House of Representatives met at 7.30 p.ra. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr de la Perrellc) gave notice of his intention to introduce the Cinematograph Amendment Bill. The Minister of Health (Mr Stallworthy), replying to Mr Fraser, stated that he had seen the statement in a newspaper that a patient had been cured of cancer by an injection of kerosene. It was not correct to state that an officer of the Health Department had pronounced the cure effective. An officer of the department had, hmvever, interviewed the patient, and was in possession of the whole history of the case. A thorough investigation was being made into the claim that a cure had been effected. The report of the Department of Agriculture was discussed. Mr W. Lee Martin (Raglan) urged that the methods of combating diseases in cattle should be brought up to date. Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) said that complaints regarding New Zealand wool had emanated from Bradford. Ho considered it was not New Zealand wool, but Bradford machinery that was at fault, and he remarked that no complaints had come from the Continent. Mr W. H, Field (Otaki) expressed the hope that an improvement would bo effected in the methods of marketing Now Zealand wool. He also hoped that something would be done to arrest the retrogression of the flax industry. Mr Field advocated that the strictest precautions should be taken to protect the purity of seeds of all types sold in this country.

Mr H. E. Holland (Buffer) said an important aspect of the progress of the farming industry was top-dressing. Intensive farming was necessary, and he asked whether there could be improvement in the methods of the distribution of phosphates. The Government did not need to hesitate if it found itself faced with some loss when a satisfactory method of supplying phosphates to ’the farmers was at stake, bocaue any loss would be more than compensated by the increased- production that would follow. Air H, G. R, Mason (Auckland Suburbs) asked what was the reason for the failure to develop the tobacco industry, and whether the Government was going to guarantee a shipment to Or rut Britain as an experiment. Mr Forbes stated that there was a shipment of tobacco going to Great Britain, and the Government had provided a small guarantee. It was prepar.,' i to guarantee further exports, but it was a question whether the producers would be satisfied with the amount of the guarantee. He mentioned that therc°was some risk in building up an industry that had a limited market. In view of the extent of the competition in tlie tobacco industry it was possoblc that the produce would become practically valueless. Replying to Dir Coates, Mr Forties stated that the Land and Income Tax Amendment Biff would be considered in committee to-day. The House rose at 10.30 p.m.