POLITICAL NOTES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 1 July 1926, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES

JOTTINGS FROM THE HOUSE. WHEAT AND FLOUR MINISTER ON SPPPETES. (By Telegraph.—Special to Star). That there are probably a million bushels of wheat still in the hands of New Zealand, farmers was the inteivsting statement of the Hon. 0. J. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, when he was questioned regarding the situation by the Hon. D. Buddo. The latter expressed concern over th© danger to New Zealand flour mills of having to close down if Australian flour continued to come to New Zealand in such large quantities, as it appeared to pay the millers better to import flour than wheat. Many small farmers were, complaining that they could not get bran or sharps, and unless wheat became available, he knew of on e mill which would shortly close down, throwing five men out of employent. It was explained by Mr Hawken. that last year New Zealand grew sufficient wheat to last until the end of next September. A total .of 300,000 bushels of wheat had been imported into Auckland recently, and there had also come 104.000 centals of flour. New Zealand used 11,000 tons of flour monthly, and the excess amount imported was 1500 tons, comparatively a small amount. The Minister said that with the importations it was seen that there was two months’ supply imported, giving sufficient until the end of November. “I know some millers are short of wheat.” lie continued, “or I suppose they are. because they tel] me so. Other mills have bought- wheat for their own .requirements for the year, and there are -still one million bushels in, tlie hands of the farmers, so that I do not think the Government- as called upon to take action at present. It- is the intention of the Government to a'low Lhe ordinary channels of trade to supply New Zealand with wheat or flour, and it is not- the intention’ of the Government to import- either wheat or flour.” Mr Combs: “We ar e three months 1 short- still?” Air Hawken: “Yes. but the harvest comes, in in. Australia in December, and that gives us plenty of time to get sufficient wheat.” The Hon. W. Nosworthy: “There wa-s, a carry-over from last year.”

FRONT BENCH BREVITY. When Air. V. H. Potter (Rbskill) asked the Minister for Public" Works if he would have a committee set up at once to go into the- question of bus regulations, the Hon. K. S. WiHiamis made a laconic reply which provoked laughter. It wa.s. :“I can tell the Honourable Member lie will get his answer in the near future.”

UNEiAEPOLOYED PAY. A CHANCE TO GET FIT. A request from D. G. Sullivan (Avon) that unemployed men who are put on road works should be given a fair chance to get fit for contract work was agreed to by the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. K. S, Williams, in the House to-day. It w-ats represented that under the co-operative system some men would not earn 6s to 10s a day, though they had been started at day rates of 14s Air. Williams said lie was willing to give genuine triers a longer period than 10 to 14 daws on day rate, before .putting them, pit contract, but it must be understood that they could not' continue indefinitely, for if they were unfit for navvying work, they would keep put of employment men more fitted for the job.