YESTERDAY’S PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20585, 10 September 1930, Page 2

YESTERDAY’S PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [Psr United, I’rkss Association,J The Leader of ihc Labour Party (Air H. E. Holland) asked tho Acting Prime Minister (Air Ransom) whether tho Government would suitably recognise tho action of R. Taylor, the sole survivor of tho recent blasting accident on the West Coast in going to the assistance of his comrades in spite ot his injuries. Mr Ransom replied that when the reports came to hand ho would bo glad to take the matter into serious consideration. Air Holland asked tho Minister of Internal Affairs (Air do hi Perrolle) whether he would recommend to the Royal , Humane Society that Taylor’s action should receive suitable recognition. Air do la Perrolle said that it would give him great pleasure to communicate with the Royal Humane Society, and he was sure that the society would favourably consider the request. UNEMPLOYMENT. The interim report of the special Unemployment Committee was submitted by Air J. T. Hogan (Rangitikei), who said tho committee had found its task a difficult one, more particularly in regard to affording immediate relief. Much confidential information on tho financial and administrative side of tho matter referred to j the committee had been placed before it by the Government. In addition, tho committee had obtained valuable and useful reports on (a) tho number of men employed on public works (including local bodies) since April 1, 1930, and the possibilities of the further absorption of unemployed by tho Public Works Department; (b) the munher ot unemployed men registered and graded according to their capacities; (c) the amount and conditions of subsidies for relief of unemployment J approved from April 1 to August 23, 1930; (d) the employment of labour by the State Forest Service; (e) the possibilities of employment of labour on sand dune reclamation; (f) tho activities of tho Lands and Survey Department with reference to unemployment; (g) tho possibilities of the immediate development of certain industries. Mr Hogan said that a number of private individuals had submitted ideas for helping to absorb the unemployed, and where technical opinion was required these ideas had boon referred to .exports for a report. Included in this list was a proposal for tho conversion of scrap or waste copper into sheet copper. At present it appeared that this copper went out of New Zealand for conversion at a value of about 2Ss per hundredweight, and on coming hack was retailed at about £ll per hundredweight, Tho committee had also asked for the' valuation of land, namely, some 3,0G3 acres planted by the State Forest Service a't tho mouth of tho Rangitikci River with a view to determining tho commercial possibilities of reclaiming the sand dunes for grazing purposes. At its next meeting the committee would bo supplied with’information on tho question of tho development of tho shale til industry, and the Department of industries and Commerce had been asked to furnish a report on tho secondary industries considered’ suitable for assistance or development. Some consideration had been devoted to the question of coal carbonisation, and the committee had been iurnislid with .much information by tho Under-Secretary of Alines, wffo had attended personally and had given tho committee very interesting details concerning suitable localities and the value ot the industry to New Zealand and the practically ceitam displacement of imported coals. As a result ot the information gained tho committee had passed a resolution to tlio effect that the Government bo urged to take whatever action was necessary to encourage the establishment ot additional coal carbonisation plants in . ’ -.w Zealand. Air Hogan continued; “The committee being of tho opinion that local unemployment committees, more particularly in populous centres, would Help tho work ol tins jiumitteo ana I later of tho Unemployment Hoard, the Minister of Labour (Air Smith; is communicating with local authorities re- j garding tlio employment of those unemployed who apply lor sustenance, so | that there will Go no delay after t!m i Unemployment Bill is passed. Since j the committee was appointed 500 -1110111ployci men have been placed by the Government on public works, and a fur- \ tiicr 200 will bo sent out in a few day.-..” The Leader of tho Opposition asked tho committee whether it would be prepared to indicate whether the Gove. .1mont’s policy in paying standard rates of wages on relief works had had the effect of making tho position more acute or not. Ho also suggested that tho committee should inquire into the question of tlio employment of boys in tho initial stages on farms, even to the extent of assisting farmers to pay the \. ;ges of hoys, and into the question of developing tho Jlax industry,; which had occupied a high position in tho past. Mr Al. J. Savage (Auckland West) said ho hoped tho committee would 11; ' waste any time in recommending a reduction 111 wages. Tho committee was to bo congratulated on the recommendations it had made, and it was essential, in view of the present desperate conditions, that tho Government should move at once. Air J. S Fletcher (Grey Lynn) urged that gas companies should bo recommended to use New Zealand in prei’erciKo to Australian coal. The importations of coal from Australia had been increasing. New Zealand had wonderful resources that wore not being exploited. Ho could not see why it was not possible to produce’ benzine by the hydrogenation of cdal in this country. Air W. J. Poison (Stratford) stressed tho necessity for economic readjustment. Ho said that lls per day on relief works for single men was not a fair thing at tho present time. If it was not too much it must necessarily follow that tho same amount was insufficient for married men with dependents. Air A. Harris (Wailcimvta) asked tho committee to consider the effect of the restrictive laboiuy laws on unemployment. Ho complained that such laws in many instances .hampered tho attempts to earn a living. Air D. G. Sullivan (Avon) emphasised tho importance of tho investigation of tho unemployment problem being conducted thoroughly and immediately. Ho ifrged that tho Unemployment Board, when constituted, should meet all day and every day until the position improved. Air R. iSomplo (Wellington East) ro--1 „d tho Kim-‘ T ostion that tho labourlaws were a deterrent to employment. Ho pointed out that boys could not got work after they had been admitted and trained in various trades. After a number of other members had spoken, Air Hogan replied, stating that among tho various other questions which Would ho considered by tho committee wore the possible improvement of farms and whether assistance could usefully ho given to farmers by way ot a loan or a subsidy. Tho report was tabled. Tlio rest of tho sitting was.absorbed by tho Unemployment Bill, which in the early hours was put through all stages.