PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22324, 26 July 1934, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

NOTES FROM PRESS GALLERY (Fbom Oob Pabliamentaby Repobteb.) WELLINGTON, July 25. PROCEEDINGS AGAINST RELIEF WORKER. The actions of Mr R. T. Bailey, officer in charge of the Labour Department, Christehurch, in relation to the case of a relief worker named Alexander Rennie who appeared before the court last week were referred to in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr H. T. Armstrong. . Mr Armstrong gave notice of his intention to ask the Minister of Employment (Mr A. Hamilton) whether it was correct, as stated in the newspapers, that Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., after considering the circumstances of Rennie's case, refused to make an order against him ior the amount claimed by the Unemployment Board, and that Mr Bailey, notwithstanding the decision, had refused to allow Rennie relief work until he agreed to pay. "If the above report is correct," Mr Armstrong said, "will the Minister state whether Mr Bailey has been appointed dictator of Christehurch with power to set aside the law and the decisions of the magistrates? " » The Minister elected to reply to the question immediately. He said he had been approached by Mr Howard, and had communicated last evening with the officer referred to. The matter had been put right. USE OF PRISON VANS. The use of the regnlar prison vans for the carriage of persons from railway stations to prisons was criticised by Mr C. L. Carr in the House to-day. Mr Carr said he would ask the Minister of Justice (Mr J. G Cobbe) whether he would consider the humanity of such a custom, and whether he would substitute a less conspicuous and, in the case of persons in bad health, a less uncomfortable vehicle. He said that a woman prisoner in delicate health had recently been taken from Timaru to Christehurch. and that she and the police matron had to travel from the Christehurch railway station in the conspicuous " rattle bones known as the "Black Maria." This woman was, incidentally, subsequently discharged on a no bill. THE RABBIT PEST. The menace of the rabbit pest to the sheep industry was mentioned in a question addressed to the Minister of Agriculture (Mr C. E. Macmillan) by Mr T. D. Burnett in the House to-day. The Minister < was asked whether .he would consider—(l) A better equalisation of the price for rabbit skins spread over the whole year; and (2) getting experts in the Agricultural Department and those of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department to investigate the question ot new poisoning methods, and to confer with the Australian authorities on the same subject. LOCAL BODY SINKING FUNDS.

"This means that local body sinking funds are to be paid where they are domiciled," said the Minister of I inance (Mr Coates), in explaining a clause in the Finance Bill which was introduced in the House to-night. "It merely provides for the repeal of section 25 of the Finance Act (No. 2), 1932, and is such an lnnocentlookine clause that it might be overlooked if I did not draw attention to it. An examination of the Bill shows that there is a proviso stating that the repeal of the section shall not affect the validity of anything lawfully done thereunder.

SALE OF CAPITAL ASSETS. " This is designed to restrict local bodies which sell their capital assets," said the Minister of Finance (Mr Coates), m explaining a clause in the Finance Bill, which was introduced to-night. One local body applied the money as revenue. Ihis clause provides that it shall be used for paying off capital charges/' An examination of the Bill shows that the restriction applies to all moneys received by the local authority after the passing of the Bill from the sale of assets representing loan money or other capital moneys representing loan money. NEW SUSTENANCE RATES

The announcement by the Minister of Employment (Mr A. Hamilton) this afternoon that the Unemployment Board had decided to increase the sustenance rates for a limited period was listened to with rapt attention by members on both sides of the House, and the Labour Party appeared to welcome the Ministers stateMr Hamilton referred to the difficulties experienced by some local bodies in organising suitable work for B class unemployed men, and his admission that public opinion at the moment generally appeared to favour an increase in the sustenance allowances gave some colour to the opinion that the Unemployment Hoard had been influenced to some extent by recent debates in the House and expressions of opinion in some of the larger centres. He emphasised the point that the Government must also face the very general demand for a reduction in unemployment taxation, and that the expenditure must always be regarded in the light of possible concessions to the taxpayers. MEAT EXPORT CONTROL. The Meat Export Control Amendment Bill which was introduced by Mr Polson'and smiled on by the Government, was debated this evening. The Bill seeks to enable meat producers to secure sufficient space in the freezing works for their own goods, and to export such goods on their own account. Mr Poison made an attack on overseas meat combines alleged unfair competition with the New Zealand farmers' concerns, and pleaded the case of the individual farmer who wishes to compete on the world market.