PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1920, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

TOriCS OF THE DAY. DAY BY DAY. SHEEP RETURNS. [Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, This Day. In tabling the interim return 01 the sheep in New Zealand the Minister for Agriculture informed the House that although ■ they showed a decrease of 1,871,354 this was only an interim re port and he was hopeful when the returns were made up that this deficiency would be reduced considerably. The report shows that the aeciea=u in the North Island was 998,302, ana m the South Island 873,052. IMMIGRANTS COMPLAINTS. Mr. Nosworthy (M nister in Charge of the Immigration Department), suggested in the course of his reply to Mr. Eraser (Wellington Central), that, certain people are trying to do all they possibly can to raise objections to immigration and to d.scourage immigrants "but" he said, "we shall adhere to the policy that the Government has laid down, in spite cf the criticisms always levelled at my department." This reply was based on a question ' which d.reeled the Minister to complaints by Mahana immigrants published in'Hunedin, but Mr. Nosworthy raid that he had not read this report. Another complaint was made by Labour members* to d.scover if any member of the Government is aware that already some Mahana immigrants have applied to the Wellington Charitable Aid Board for assistance, but the Miir'sterial reply was that the question must be tabled. RATE,OF INTEREST. The Member for Palmerston North revived his former question yesterday regarding the limitation of the rate ol interest payable by local bodies o.i their loans, point'ng out that it had been found impossible to get money »t 5t r er cent. Mr. Massey replied that the Government was anxious to keep down the rate of interest, but the high rates prevailing in otVv countries wer3 bavins an effect upon New Zealand. Local bodies who were unable to renew loans at per cent had been permit - led to pay bk per cent, wherever there was a hardship. If local bodies applied to the Government to pay a higher rate thev would ?et permission bub .•■ddeel the Premier "I must say plainly that we are going to have an increase in the price of money though I hope it will not be very much." NEW.ZEALAND MEAT. "Is there any foundation for the rumour that the Government is discouraging farmers from developing an excellent market for lamb in America?" asked Mr. Field of the Premier*yesterday. The member suggested that It was' highly desirable to encourage tlvs business as prices could be obtained, double those prevail ng in England. Mr. Massey replied that the American market was free so far as the Government was concerned, but the Imperial Government had a right to all the lamb produced up till June 30th. Two years ago the House unanimously passed leg'slation intended to protect our producers from the practices of the American meat monopoly, but it was subject to the conditions tf the Statute. The Government took up the position that the better the market and the higher the price, the better it was ]j leased. PETROL SHORTAGE. The shortage of petrol has prompted many questions in the House recently, and there were three to-day. Mr. PowdrellJPatea) inquired of the M nister in Charge of the Board of Trade why Hawera farmers who had imported 3000 cases of benzine were not allowed to secure more than 20JO cases, seeing that the Government had declared that it wished to encourage the importation of petrol. The Board of Trade had decided that IC'OO cases mast be distributed in Wellington.

Mr. Lee replied that as no notice had been given of the question he hal no in formation to give in reply. Dr. Newman tackled the same Minister regarding the Australian contract with the Anglo-Persiaii Oil Co.' which had resulted in giving the Cjinmouwealth ample supples of oil. Why could not this country make a simlar contract, he asked. Mr. Lee undertook to have the matter looked into. He suggested there was a world's shortage of petrol owing to -the enormous increase in consumption. It was the Government's policy to endeavour to preserve oil for essential

purposes. .Mr. Sullivan asked the Prime Minister to get an expert to report on.th" attempts to bare for oil at Chertsey. A good deal of work had been done anil it would be valuable to give local people some information as to the prospecls> Mr. Massey, assured the questioner Ihat he would be glad to favourably cons der the lequest.