PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 15 February 1933, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES

(From "The Mail’s” Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON, 14th February. ■ The House of Representatives met at “2.30 p.m. to-day. - The Minister of Marine (tiie Hon, J. G. Cobbe) assured Mr W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) that every • step would be taken to protect the "New Zealand fishing industry against ■ outside competition. Mr J. N. Massey (Government, Franklyn) asked the Prime Minister ..whether in view of the increase in the -petrol tax and in view of the gap between the price in New Zealand and •elsewhere, wotdd lie make an inquiry .into the position. - Mr Forbes replied that the matter was under consideration, and inquiries were at present proceeding. One day’s leave of absence was granted Mr I). McDougall (Government, Mataura) on account of urgent private business. On account of illness in the family, four days’ leave of absence was granted Mr T. Henare (Government, Northern Maori).

QUESTIONS TO RELIEF WORKERS' WIVES

. Mr F. Jones (Labour, Dunedin _South) asked the Minister of Employment whether he would take immediate steps to stop investigators from going round the homes of relief workers whilst the men were at work and asking their wives questions as to how many rooms were furnished: how many boarders, if any; did they let rooms; have they a wireless set or piano; what was their age? It was reported that in Dunedin investigators were asking these questions. ■ : The Minister of Employment (the Hon. A. Hamilton) said that since the -Unemployment Act came into operation it had been the practice to reVuiire applicants for relief work to fill in a form showing whether they were maintaining a home, also the number and ages of the children dependent upon them, and other particulars as to their financial position. This information was necessary to determine the extent to which “the applicants were eligible for employment. Experience had shown that in a considerable number of instances the particulars supplied were not correct, and it was found necessary to' make investigations so that they could'be verified. As a matter’ of' fact, many cases occurred where applicants claimed they had a wife and family, but inquiries showed that they had not made any payments towards til'd r maintenance for considerable periods'. In numerous instances it had been found. that wireless sets and pianos, etc., had been purchased on time-payment system, and in other eases on straight-out payment, while men had been on relief work, and some of those men had produced accounts from butchers, grocers, etc., in support of their contention that they were unable Jo purchase the necessaries of life. It was not considered that it would be in the interests either of tin; relief workers or the taxpayers generally to cease the investigations. ’ ■>