PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 August 1929, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

ITEMS FROM THE HOUSE.

FUTURE OF COAL, MINISTER, IS OPTIMISTIC. (By Telegraph—Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 14. The valuable work which is being done in the utilisation of carbonised and powdered coal led the Hon. W. A. Veitch, Minister of Mines, to suggest in the House to-day that the coal mining industry of the Dominion might yet come back to its former prosperity. Very valuable work had, he said, been done in regard to carbonisation. Mr. G. J. Howard (Christchurch South): “Why are we not doing our own research work?”

The Minister replied that a failamount of work was being done in New Zealand, but he would admit that they were largely guided by the work of other people. An officer of the Mines Department had been sent to Canada to investigate the use of powdered coal and of the carbonisation process. His advisers were of the opinion that in New Zealand the conditions were such as made it almost a certainty that carbonisation would meet requirements and fill our conditions more perfectly than any other process, but no method would be disregarded, for every possible avenue of progress would be explored “I have every reason to beJieve,” he added, “that before many mouths are over the problem of carbonisation will at least begin to be solved.”

The annual report of the State coal mines had been under discussion, and the Minister, replying to comment, stated that some of the equipment at the mines was in need of renewal and the present plant was very costly in working. It might be found desirable to scrap the existing machinery, for it looked as if considerable economy could be shown bv scrapping and replacement by more efficient plant. In any case the necessity of renewing some of the plant would have to be given careful consideration during the recess.

WHEAT INQUIRY PUBLIC. The Parliamentary committee which has been instructed to investigate the operation of protection to the wheat and flour industry held a meeting today, at which it was unanimously decided to open its proceedings to ,the Press when evidence is being taken. This was reported to the House by the chairman, Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) for confirmation. Mr. W. J. Poison (Stratford) remarked that lie did not know whether this report enabled them to discuss the question. “I claim,” he continued, “that the public should know all that goes on, because this committee’s decisions and its attitude will be very largely criticised by the Press aucl public. This will be particularly iso as a result of the Government’s attitude in regard to representation on the committee.”

Mr. Speaker intervened to point out that it was not in order to discuss general questions on a motion to admit the Press to hearings. Mr. J. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition, suggested that this ruling would limit the scope of members in giving reasons for or against the admission of the Press, hut Mr. Poison did not pursue the matter.

PROPOSED WOOL LEVY. The question of making some levy on New Zealand wool to provide funds for advertising the advantages of woollen materials for clothing purposes is already being gone into by the Sheepowners’ Federaiton, and it is presumed that in due course some proposals will be put forward based on the principle of a voluntary arrangement, stated the Hon. (1. W. Forbes, Minister of Agriculture, in reply to a question by the member for Timaru. The Minister added that a considerable amount of work in connection with wool research is already in progress, funds for the purpose being provided from the revenue of the Massey College, aided by a small grant from the Romney Breeders’ Association and a grant from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. It is probable that this work of wool research will be further extended. In the circumstances it is not considered desirable for the 'Government to now take the initiative in the matter of imposing a compulsory levy.

COUNTRY CONSTABLES’ DUTIES

Satisfactory steps have been taken by the Minister .of Justice to meet the criticism from Mr. T D. Burnett (Temuka) that country policemen are too much immersed in office work to adequately patrol their districts. The Minister has assured the House that steps have already been taken to reduce the office work of the police in cases where extraneous work interferes with police duties at country stations. Other arrangements are also to be made. It As not possible to relieve them altogether of duties connected with the work of other departments without involving considerable and unnecessary expenditure. A DIFFICULT POINT.

“I have referred the matter to the Solicitor-General, in order that lie may report to me as to what, in his opinion, is the host method of meeting the case referred to.” This is the Ministerial answer to Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton), who asked the Minister of Justice whether, if the law is that a 'man may beat, ill-treat and starve his wife, and provided she can run away and does not do so the husband cannot bo convicted of an offence, ho will have flic law altered iso that the plea that she could have run away from her own home will not defeat the ends of justice ?