QUESTION TIME

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10851, 17 March 1921, Page 6

QUESTION TIME

iI.P/S WANT TO KNOW. HANDLING NEW ZEALAND FOODSTUFFS. Mr J. P. Luke (Wellington North) gave notice yesterday to ask the Prime Minister —(1) Whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks reported to have been made by the Hon Sir Thomas Mackenzie on the eve of his leaving England for New Zealand, the statement being as follows: —‘‘lie was dissatisfied with the way in which the Dominion's raw materials and foodstuffs have been handled, and this would cause the Dominion to suffer”? (2) Whether he will make inquiries as to the effect of the statement on the matter concerned? THN-YBAR. DEBENTURESP Mr Luke also desires to ask the Prims Minister whether the Government will promote legislation this session to enable the Wellington Citv Council to issue debentures in connection with the loan proposals recently authorised by the ratepapers to have a currency of ten years, as an alternative to the twenty-year period as set out in .the schedule? WORK FOB IMMIGRANTS? Mr A. Harris (Waitemata) wishes le ask the Minister for Immigration, whether, in view of the large number of immigrants now coming to the Dominion, he will state what steps the Government is taking to provide employment for them on arrival; and whether discrimination is being exercised in ths selection of immigrants for the purpose of preventing an oversurplus of labouj in any particular class of employment? SUPERANNUATION BONUS. Sir G. Hunter (Waipawa) has given notice to ask the Minister for Railways, whether the Government will favourably consider the question of continuing the bonus paid to the superannuated railway men which terminates on March 81st? Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) is to ask tho Prime Minister—<l> Whether he has eeen the statement of the Minister for Industries and Commerce that “Last year flour was JflG 10s per ton, less 2) (per cent, at South Island ports, but it carried a Government subsidy of JK4 7s 6d per ton. The Government subsidy has now been reduced, and consequently the price of bread is increased”? (2) By what amount per ton the Government subsidy on flour haa been reduced? (S) Whether the Government accepts the full responsibility for directly increasing the priee of bread by reducing the subsidy, as indicated by the Minister for Industries and Commerce?