PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 November 1940, Page 9

PARLIAMENT

PRICE OF ' VEGETABLES [per press association.] WELLINGTON, November 29. The rising cost of New Zealand vegetables was the subject of the notice of a question given by Mr. Lee to the Minister of Labour, when the House met at 10.30 o’clock this morning. Mr. Lee asked if the Minister’s attention had been drawn to this rising cost and if he would take steps to have production stimulated. Mr. Clyde Carr, in an urgent question, asked the Minister of Health whether his attention had been drawn to the statement made recently by the Chief Justice (Sir M. Myers), regarding the “most-serious problem” of abortion, and whether the Government proposed to take immediate action in the matter. Replying, Mr. Armstrong said that the matter had been the subject of investigation by a special committee, and had also received the attention of women’s organisations throughout the Dominion. The Government’s policy of improving the maternity services and increasing family allowances, etc., had helped to remove the economic causes of abortion, and actually the present position was much better than in the past. This was evidenced by the fact that last year, the number of births registered in New Zealand was the highest since 1922, and birth-rate per thousand of population was the highest since 1930. The possibility of other improvements, which would further check this evil, were constantly kept in mind by the officers of the Health Department.

LABOUR LEADERSHIP. WELLINGTON, November 29. . Parliamentary members of the Labour Party held a brief meeting this morning, for the purpose of formally selecting a leader for the ensuing three years. The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) was unanimously confirmed in that position. The official statement says: Mr. Fraser was elected unanimously and with acclamation. The constitution of the Cabinet is to be reviewed before the end of the present year.