PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 21 March 1921, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

MATTERS JJFJNTEREST^J SMIRK PHOSPHATES (By Telegraph.—'Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, This Day Assurance that there would be ample phosphates for New Zealand from Nauru and Ocean Islands and at a reasonable price was given by the Prime Minister in answering a question by Mr Poland. Mr Massey said a vessel was either on its way to New Zealand or was loading at Nauru. There would 1>« about 70,000 tons of phosphates lor the Dominion this year. Jr' they were to supply outside countries there would he a greater demand than could be met. The British Government had sold its share, of the output for a term to a 'Welsh firm, bub it had not sold its share in the Island and would not do *so without consulting other partners in the concern. The phosphates would be' landed in New Zealand tit from £4 to £5 a ton, and crushing would cost about 12/G. Most of the phosphate, at first at any rate, would be simply ground finely,' but later superphosphates would be manufactured. Distribution would be through firms whose usual business was dealing with fertilisers Plants had been established in Auckland and other places to deal with raw phosphite." As yet no plant had been established in Wellington. an,d if private enterprise did not do so the Government' 1 would have to undertake the work, lie had the best site possible secured.

Replying to Mr Hamilton. Mr Massqy said that any firm. Which had a, crushing plant would be allowed to obtain ;/,• supply. There would )^ r no possibility of «■ monopoly, as the Government controlled the whole of the raw supply. DWELLINGS FOR WORKERS ■« —. "What scheme ha,s the Department adopted for the erection of houses?" asked Mr Kellett in the House. The Minister for Labour (Mr Anderson) said the Department was following out the scheme provided for in the Act. Difficulties had been encountered in obtaining material and labour. Contracts were now being pushed on with all speed possible. Tn future preference was to be given to families of five and oyer. It was intended also to encourage workers to build their own homes instead of having a number of dwellings in one place which became known as "workers' homes.' ' From November, 1919, to November, 1920, about 6000 houses were erected in New Zealand.

GOVERNMENT ADVANCES

The Prime Minister presented a re turn showing the assistance given in the form of advances to settlers, workers and local bodies for.the erection of homes from Ist April, 1919, to March, 1920. Particular* were as follows: Advances to settlers, 2224, amounting to £1,103,800. Advances to workers, 2608, amounting to £1,123,930.. Advances to release mortgages on "houso property 544, for £199,525. Advances to local .bodies, 59, for £317.700. ~-. ' :, . <,,-. Tho total grants made were , thus about £2,750,000.

ARMOUR AND CO

A question in regard to the desirability of allowing Armdur arid-Go-to extend operations in New Zealand gave the Prime Minister. an 'opportunity to express liis dissatisfaction with what had been occurring in the couutrv recently and to. artnounce that the Government had determined to put a stop to practices having a bad effect on the prosperity of the country. Mr Massey reminded members that there was at present a tremetadq\& run on insulated space..', There were certain freezing companies, the dwiicrs of which had control of a certain amount of sliipping space coining here to load beef left over from the end of last year and which was purchased for the 'European market. Instead of loading beef at least one freezing company and probably two had been loading this season's ' new mutton. That was not playing the game, not bv a long way. It was very unfair to other freezing companies and it was I very unfair to other shipowners. It 'had therefore become necessary to take action, and the Government had decided to reinstate the regulation which* plated the control of shipping under tr/e Minister of Customs., so that ahv freezing company destfirig _to ship meat must arrange wito the Tonnage Committee aud disclose all details or the sink's cargo destination. The firm,of which he waa speakitfg was Vestey'*; bht.thejr were not goihg to allow them; W anyone else to play with the interests of the eoiiutry.