PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 July 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

DAY BY DAY

BUTTER. PRICES

[Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, This Day. “It will not be a commandeer,” explained the JL'iemier u a quesuomiig eouiuiy member in the House to-tuy. ol tne latest development in turn Liigiisn butter situation, a© added tnat t-iU Englisn Government would evidently have a certain amount oi control over the distubuuon. He understood that tile New Zealand Rutter Committee would meet on Wednesday to- consider the position, and until, he had met them he . preferred to say nothing about the probable price ■ f butter in New Zealand. Dr. Newman asked if it was a fact that butter was going up by 6d or 7d a- pound. It was a most serious tiling for his constituents, Mr. Massey repeated that he would deal with this point in a few days, but he had no fault to find with the question. If any injustice was intended to producers lie was against it. They must encourage production, otherwise the Government could not finance the conn try ’ s adminisstvat ion. Dr. Newman : “I’m not studying the producers.” Mr. Massey: I have to worry about the producers and the townspeople. MASSEURS BILL. The Minister for Health, relieved some anxiety among chiropractors. In a statement which lie made to Sir. Ilanan to-day, he admitted that Section 10 of the Masseurs Bill left the question in some doubt, because it provided that massage and remedial exercises must be given under the direction of a doctor, but this clause would be radically amended in Committee. (Hear ' Hear!) Ho could safely assure these classes of people that there was no need to make special representation to the Health Committee. MORE ABOUT OATS.

Alleged dealings in “paper” oats became amusingly mixed up with the question of expensive buttered crumpets, during the discussion in the House to-day. Air. Hamilton (Awama) informed the Premier that lie could prove that 150,000 sacks of oats had been dealt with purely in a bogus way by Auckland merchants, whose methods were bringing the whole commercial business into disrepute. ■ He thought that such transactions should be made illegal. Air. Young : Pay the money and you will get the oats. Air. Alassey replied that he had not the faintest idea who were the Auckland merchants concerned, but it was common knowledge that many southern merchants had branches in Auckland. He did not. know if the “paper oats” were disposed of, but if so it was an objectionable practice. He would have the matter investigated to see if it was illegal.

Air. Holland advised the Premier to get the Board of Trade to stop gambling in oats. It would he much move useful than sending out a warning to Wellington tradesmen as the Pi ices Tribunal did this week, demanding to know why ninepence was charged for mo buttered crumpet, when crumpets sold at four for a shilling. (Laughter).

Air. Massey: It is evident the lion, gentleman is exceedingly anxious to protect one class of profiteer. (Renewed laugher.) Mr. Sullivan raised the question of speculation in the House, quoting a case where an old Christchurch house sold for £4OO. The renovations cost £250. and then it went on the market rt £I3OO. This was the kind of tiling the Board of Trade ought to deal with.

The Premier replied that an amendment in the law would ho necessary to deal witli the matter, and there would be an opportunity this session. But, objectionable as was the practice quoted by the Christchurch member, one had to be careful not ro interfere with the house-owners’ right to get the highest price possible. IN PLAIN ENGLISH. It was suggested by Air. J. R. Hamilton that legislation should be passed making it compulsory for mixers of manure to supply the farmers with a plain statement of ingredients, instead of a technical analysis, which the L'.miers cannot understand. Mr. Nos worthy replied that there would be a Fertilizer Bill during the session, and be bad no objection fo including a provision that the contents of manure mixture should be stated in plain English. IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. Labour Members gave a further indication in the House to-day of their oppositon to immigration until, as they declared, New Zealand has made proper housing provision for its own people. Mr. P. Fraser called attention fo the film slums of Wellington exhibited in a local picture theatre, and asked the Minister of Immigration if he would show this in England as an indication of what the emigrant might cxoect.

ME Nosworthy emphatically "replied that the Government will take no s.-.-ps in any way detrimental to New Zealand. If ,the questioner wanted to show proper spirit and was trying to help this country he would not bring up such matters. In the afternoon the Immigration Department’s report showing that c,811 immigrants arrived last year, was presented, giving an opportunity for discussion on the whole question. Mr. D. Jones replying to housing criticism said lie knew of houses standing empty in his own district. Emigrants should go into the country. He did not believe that the old pioneering spirit was dead in New Zealand, a spirit which led people to go into backblocks and live in tents until the pioneering work had developed. MEMORIAL TO THE CZAR. As a sequel to Mr. Holland’s failure to secure thev discussion on his Irish motion, Mr. Fraser,’bis colleague, tabled a question calling attention to a motion of 1915 in the House that '‘a memorial be presented to the Czar of Russia claiming justice for his people.” Sir Win. Herries ’laughed heartily when he heard the question and asked M.v. Fraser if he had seen that memorial, “No, ’ was the answer. “Well,” relied. Sir Win. Kerries, T“ssitliotlilliapern tyigshet’zinEslgh,k “It is still here in the cellar.’’ , UNIVERSAL PENSIONS. At tbo request of Mr. Statliam the Premier presented a return to t--e House shqwihg that the estimated cost of providing universal, old age pension :for all persons irrespective of any pro-. petty of money they possess on reaching tlie qualifying ago .would he £2.345 000. er annum. This would cover 50,-, 000 people. - - 1 ,