PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19219, 9 July 1924, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

NOTES FROM PRESS GALLERY. (Fhom Ou.h Owx Cor.TU'Si'ONPFNT.i WELLINGTON, July 8. At STEAL!AN BANKS IN NEW ZEALAND. Notice has been, given in tho House of Representatives by the member for Hamilton (Mr J, A. Young) io ask the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance whether lie will cause an inquiry to be made into tho allegations that certain Australian banks and other financial institutions doing business in New Zealand and making considerable profits within the dominion are sending large sums of money out of New Zealand tor investment abroad. If such is found to be correct, will tho Minister, with a view to assuring that a reasonable share of such money is retained in New Zealand, take steps to restrict what might be considered to lie more tnan a fair proportion of money to be annually .sent out of tho country? MONEY FOR HIGHWAYS. Mr J. C. Thomson (Wallace) asked tho Minister of Finance if the Government intended this session to introduce legislation enabling county councils to raise money tor works under the Main Highways Act. Tho .Southland County Council, he added, was anxious to earn- out such works. Mr Massey replied that the matter was under consideration at, present. In all probability a Bill would be introduced during me present session. OREPUKI SHALE. A very largely-signed petition has come io Parliament from Southland. It is signed by people who are anxious to see tho Orepuki shale works again in operation. Tho petitioners give a brief history of tho company, which has been out of action for many years, and then go on to stale that with some slight alterations the existing retorts’ capacity can be increased from, 69 to 240 tons per day. They also state that the difficulties experienced in the past in regard to tho treatment of the shale owing to its crudeness have now been overcome. It. is also stated that the plant has been maintained in good order by iho company, in view of the bencilt. to New Zealand from the carrying on of the works the petitioners suggest that, the Government should give a bonus of 3d per gallon on crude oil produced by tho company during eight, years, conditional upon the production of oil being resumed within I? months. They also suggest that other facilities, including reduced freights, be granted.