PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1931, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

THE COUNCIL.

(By Teleyruph—Per Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 16. In the Legislatjve Council yesterday 1 the-Unemployment Amendment Bill was put through the remaining stages and passed without amendment. An amendment moved by Hon. Carrington to provide for using three parts of the Board’s funds for land development, was ruled, out of order. ‘

THE HOUSE

In the House of Representatives the following Bills were introduced and read a first time—Licensing Amendment (Mr Mason), Rent Restriction Extension (Minister of Labour), Amusements Tax Amendment (Mr Barnard, Invalid Pensions (Mr O’Brien). '

Explaining the Licensing Amendment Bill, Mr Mason said it was intended to give some encouragement to the wine growing industry which he stated had two powerful opponents in licensed traders who seemed to regard it ns a rival,' and the prohibitionists who seemed to regard it as’ an ex--tension of tile liquor traffic. Mr Mason added New’ Zealand was well adapted to wine growing and if .its people were to drink wdne at all they might as well drink local wine. The Bill sought to remove the number of restraints. In explaining the Amusements Act Amendment-Bill, Mr Barnard said under the original act entertainments, the proceeds from which were devoted to charitable philonthrophic, patroitio or educational -. purposes were exempted from the tax. The Bill proposed include in this exemption football matches arranged for charitable or similar purposes.

Speaking to the Address In-Renlv debate, Mr Poison arguing that Britain could not continue to consume our products as in the past submitted that New’ Zealand would: have to look for new markets. He drew attention to the increasing purchases of New Zealand wool by Japanese, remarking that this seemed to be sold in the cold regions of northern Manchuria, which were policed by’ Japanese. If t-herfe were a- suitable trade organisation in New Zealand it might be possible for the Dominion to arrange direct trade in wool with China, taking in return stock'foods for which there was a great demand here. It should also be possible to extend trade with Dutch East Indies and South. America. It had recently been reported there were fifty markets besides Great Britain for Australian butter. Why should there not be a similar number of markets for New Zealand butter.

In the Ad'dress-In-Reply debate, Mr O’Brien referred to the Reform Party’s attitude during the emergency session and suggested its members had carefully watched to see there was a sufficient number voting with the Gov-' ernment to pass its wage reduction proposals, while others took it in turns to vote against reductions “Is not true” he asked, “that most members of the Reform party’ will be able to' go on the hustings and state that, at one time or another they voted against the cut, yet they must take their share of the blame.” He asked what would he Reform’s attitude if the Prime Minister brought down proposals to increase the income tax six or seven per cent. Would they oppose these and expect the workers to bear the greater portion of the country’s burden. The debate was continued by a number of speakers and adjourned, , The House rose at 10.12 p.m.