PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16823, 13 April 1918, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS. [Br TELECIUPH.-»I>WWS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON. Friday. The House of Representatives met at 11.30 ft.m.

Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) asked if tho Prime Minister's attention had been called to the steady increase in the prices of footwear. Was he aware that local boot manufacturers were taking advantage of the practical elimination of outside competition and had raised their prices accordingly? Would tho Government take steps to regulate prices? _ Mr. J. P. Luke (Wellington North), in a question, said £he amount of tailoring being done on private orders by German prisoners on Somes Island was a cause of conplaint of unfair competition in tho tailoring and dressmaking industries. Replying to a question regarding the action of certain dealers in grass and cbvor seed after the recent bush fires in attempting to put up prices, Mr. Massoy said tho Government had taken effective action. The Minister for Lands iaid he received information of one tltempt to raise prices by 25 per cent. Cabinet had immediately decided to limit the price to that which was ruling on March 11, before tho fires occurred.

Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) asked whether thero was any truth in current statements that tho proportion of deaths and sickness among men in camp was greater than among the general public. Sir James Allen: That is not so. Dr. Thacker (Christchurch East) asked whether anything would be done to restrict the importation of crudo immature alcohol from Australia.

Sir Joseph Ward replied that preparations were nearly complete to prevent that undesirable state of things. The debate on tho motion for the second reading of the Finance Bill was resumed at 12.30 p.m. Sir Joseph Ward commenced his reply at 12.45 a.m. Tho second reading of tho Bill was carried on the voices. Tho Houso roso at 1.25 a.m., until 11 a.m.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. . ADDRESS-IN-REPLY CARRIED [BT TELEOBAI-W.-TOESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Friday. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Leave of absence was granted to the. Hon. Gilbert Carson, on account of illness* Tho Hon C. A. C. Hardy moved the Addrcss-in-Reply. He defended the Government on tho question of tho cost of living, saying that ho considered much had been done. The Minister for Defonco deserved the thanks of the country for tho work he had dono.

The Hon. W. Earnshaw said he considered that Samoa should not bo brought under the jurisdiction of New Zealand, becauso of tho distance between the two territories, but that jurisdiction should be established within the islands. Tho time was coming when the Government would have to approach tho question of the conscription of labour, and he ventured to predict that labour would go a long way to assist the Government in doing what was necessary. Tho motion was carried. The Council adjourned at 3.15 p.m. It met again at 8 p.m., and adjourned till 10 a.m. to-morrow.