PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20863, 5 August 1931, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright.

WELLINGTON, August 4. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. . Notice was given of intention to introduce tho following Bills:—South Wairarapa Rivers Board Empowering (Mr T. W. M’Donald), Petone Borough Council Empowering (Mr Walter Nash, Hutt). . Mr A. 11. Samuel (Thames) asked the Prime Minister (Mr Forbes) whether his attention had been drawn to the cablegram stating that Russian butter was being imported into England in boxes identical with those used for Now Zealand butter, and what action he proposed to take. Mr Forbes said he hud communicated with the High Commissioner asking for the full facts and comments. ' Mr G. C. Black (Motueka) referred to tho increased wholesale prices of tobacco and asked whether tho Prime Minister would take steps to see that tho general public and the retailers wore not exploited by reason of the tariff revision. Mr Forbes said tho difference between tho list of wholesale prices quoted and the not increase in duty was accounted for by the allowance of discounts on the increased prices. The net return to the selling companies was within a fraction of a penny of that realised prior to tho increase in duty. Mr Taito To Tomo (Western Maori) was granted two davs’ leave of absence on account of illness. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time:—Auckland Harbour Board and Other Local Bodies’ Empowering (Mr W. E. Parry), Christchurch Estuary and Rivers Conservancy (Mr J. M‘Combs), Christchurch District Drainage Amendment (Mr E. J. Howard), Marriage Amendment (Mill. G. R. Mason), Hating Amendment (Mr 11. G. R. Mason). Explaining the Marriage Amendment Bill, Mr Mason said it merely aimed to give women ministers power to perform tho marriage ceremony. Tho Christchurch Tramways District Amendment Bill was reported from tho Local Bills Committee without amendment. Mr J. M‘Combs (Lyttelton) said he was glad the committee had given a unanimous recommendation concerning the Bill, which provided that tho powers of tho Christchurch Tramways Board with respect to employees should bo subject to tho provisions _of tho Arbitration Court Act, bringing tho board into lino with other _ tramway boards throughout the dominion. A reprint of tho Statutes BUI was reported from the Statutes Revision Committee without amendment.

The Building Construction )3ill was introduced by Governor-Genera Fs Message and road a first time. Mr Forbes explained that tbe measure was designed to give effect to the recoimnendations of an expert committee,, and

was intended to render buildings not so liable to earthquake damage or damage from other natural causes.

Moving the second reading of the Licensing Amendment Bill. Mr H. G. R. Mason (Eden) said it aimed at giving reliei to tho winegrowing industry. There was no reason why the wine consumed in New Zealand should not be made here. Under tho New Zealand law as it stood at present the winegrower had to grow, manufacture, and sell his own wine, allowing cooperation with no other person. The growers also were not allowed to have depots at any other than their own towns. Some alarm had been expressed that tho object of tho Bill was to establish wine shops in every street in the country, but such alarm was entirely unfounded. Ho hoped the Bill would be referred to tho Industries and Commerce Committee.

Mr J. M‘Combs (Lyttelton) referred to the wine shop as an undoubted menace and expressed the opinion that if tho Bill were passed there would bo licensed wine shops all over the country. Mr R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) claimed that if the minimum amount of wine which was permitted to bo sold were reduced from two gallons as at present to one quart, as the Bill proposed, there would bo a big increase in the trade. Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) said there was no reason why a person should have to buy two gallons of wine when all he wanted was one bottle. He contended that there was practically no drunkenness in France, where wine could be bought freely. Mr W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) submitted that there was no reason why the local growers should not have an opportunity of supplying tho New Zealand market in place of imported wines.

Mr A. M Samuel (Thames) said he did not think the Bill would result in more wine being sold. It merely sought to give preference to New Zealand wine as against Australian. Mr W. E. Barnard (Napier) said the House should be able to consider the question without indulging in Prohibition or anti-Prohibition views. The measure should bo considered fairly on its merits.

Mr G. C. Black (Motueka) suggested that when the Bill was in committee the definition of wine should bo made to include liquor produced from apples. There was good reason for advocating the development of the cider industry in New Zealand. Mr H. Holland (Christchurch North) expressed opposition to any increased licensing facilities. Mr H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East) said he would bo favourably disposed to the Bill if it merely sought to give assistance to the winegrowers, hut it would ho damaging in its effects and very far-reaching. Mr A. Hamilton (Wallace) expressed the opinion that the local industry plea could be carried too far. Mr J. A. Young (Hamilton)- said there were possibilities of abuses in the establishment of wine shops, over which there was less control than over licensed hotels. The Bill was rend a second time and referred to fhe Industries and Commerce Committee.