QUESTION TIME

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 257, 13 October 1932, Page 8

QUESTION TIME

REPLIES BY THE MINISTERS IMPORTATIONS OF WHEAT Wellington, Oct. 12. When the House of Representatives met this afternoon, the Rev. C. Carr (Timaru) asked whether the recent importations by the Government of Australian wheat had been subject to the full amount of the duty as provided under the sliding scale. Mr Forbes replied that the recent importation of wheat by the Government for sale and distribution as fowl food had been brought in as Government property, duty free. The wheat had, however, been sold at a price of 5s 3d per bushel sacks ex ships’ slings at North Island ports. The price, while more than the duty-free value, was less than the full-duty paid equivalent. Wheat to which Mr Carr might be referring had also been imported recently by the Wheat Marketing Agency Coy., Christchurch, under special arrangements by which the duty had been paid up to a basis of value determined by the internal price of wheat and flour. It was intended that the balance of duty on that wheat would be covered by a vote on the estimates of the Customs Department. Mr E. T. Tirikatene (Southern Maori) asked whether the Government would take immediate steps to amend the electoral laws with the object of placing the Maori people on the same electoral footing as the pakeha, so as to enable the election of Maori members to Parliament to be conducted on the same basi s of secrecy as all other members.

Mr Forbes replied that- the matter would be investigated when the amendment to the electoral laws was under consideration.

Replying to Mr R. McKeen (Wellington South), Mr Forbes said the question of granting a further extension of protection under the rent restriction legislation was under consideration by the Government.

Replying to Mr G. C. Black (Motueka), the Hon. C. E, Macmillan said that Cabinet had not yet considered the advisability or otherwise of closing any of the schools of mines. He could give an assurance that there was no intention in the immediate future of closing any of thorn,