PARLIAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22367, 14 September 1934, Page 10

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 13. The House met at 2.30 p.m. RUAWARO MURDER CASE. Mr A. J. Stalhvorthy asked the Minister o£ Justice (Mr J. G. Cobbe) whether he had yet given effect to the representations made by Auckland citizens that some tangible acknowledgment should be made to those members of the police force whose special services in connection with the Ruawaro murder case were deserving of recognition. Mr Cobbe replied that no representations kid been made, but the department had not overlooked the matter, and it was receiving attention. TIMARU MILK BILL. The Tiraaru Milk Bill (Mr Clyde Carr) was introduced and read a first time. CUSTOMS RESOLUTIONS. At. the conclusion of the Budget debate the House' proceeded to discuss a further amendment to the Customs resolutions. Mr Coates explained that it was proposed to fix a rate of duty on foreign radio sets not mounted in cabinets at 33 per cent, and mounted at 45 per cent. The Minister said that oinder the previous resolution it would not be possible for the ; New Zealand manufacture of sets, which had now assumed big proportions,' to carry on efficiently. The British tariff was unaltered. It was also proposed to exempt from duty United Kingdom chin a ware of the following classes: —Breakfast, dinner and tea sets, and cups, saucers, plates, dishes, and similar articles for table use. Mr Coates said it was that a list of goods which would be admitted as unassembled or completely knocked down motor vehicles should be published for general information. It was considered in the initial stages that it would not be advisable as a condition of the admission of goods at a lower rate to insist upon ' the maximum amount of assembly work that could possibly be performed here. It was, therefore, necessary that authority should be conferred on the Minister to determine from time to time the goods which might be entered as unassembled or completely knocked down motor vehicles. A number of other machinery amendments were' made and the resolutions were agreed to. EVENING SESSION Tlie House resumed at 7.30 p.m., -when tlie committee stage of the Customs Acts Amendment Bill was commenced. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr M. J. Savage) referred to the wheat duties. He said he thought the constitution of . the Wheat Board should be altered, and .' the grower given greater representation. He would like to see the Minister take control of the administration, or he should see that the consumers’ interests were watched. Mr H. 8. 8. Kyle (Riccarton) said had it not been for the Wheat Board the industry would have been in a chaotic condition. It had enabled growers to secure ‘a. price they would not have obtained i otherwise. „ , ' Mr. E, M'Keen (Wellington South) said that flourmills -were over-capitalised. , The price of bread was kept too high. 1 Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) attacked the sliding scale of wheat and flour duties, and said there were too many flour mills. The unnecessary ones should be closed. Mr H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East) supported the sliding scale of wheat duties. , ~ Mr W. J. Poison (Stratford) urged the exemption of the duty on steel pipes. l He said there was only one firm in New Zealand making pipes. The duty of 20 per cent, on British pipes should be abolished and British firms given a chance of tendering for local body contracts." He considered that the protection should also be reduced on British confectionery. - Mr W. Nash (Hutt) said that the sliding scale was wrong in its incidence, and some steps should be taken to see that bread was sold at a minimum price, but they must see that the grower resoeived k reasonable price for his work. Mr H. G. Dickie (Patea) contended that there was too large a difference between the price the grower received for wheat and the price of bread. -. Mr W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) supported the abolition of the sliding scale. ' He said his constituents were paying more for bread than the bread was worth. ■ Mr J- A. Macpherson (Oaraaru) defended the sliding scale. He said that bran and pollard were more important than the whole of the flour industry. the . dairy and pig industries were dependent on bran and pollard and that showed the importance of the wheat industry to' ■New Zealand. ... ", D. G. Sullivan (Avon) said he was not particular in what way the grower (was protected so long as the industry was safeguarded. ..... ~ A. Mr A. Stuart (Rangitikei) said there ■ was no more important industry than wheatgrowing. He thought that the (wheat duty was quite a reasonable one. Mr Clyde Carr (Timaru) said that every country protected its wheat inidustry. A flat rate of duty would not give stability and protect the farmer. Mr P. C. Webb f Duller) regretted that a duty had not been placed on crude . oil and on oil burning machinery, and : that nothing had been done to assist the coal-mining industry. He considered, , too, that a tax should be placed on imported coal. . , Mr J. Connolly (Mid-Canterbury) defended the sliding scale of wheat duties and said it was quite unnecessary to import Australian or Canadian wheat and flour if New Zealand wheat were pro- ! pcrly matured. Mr R. Semple (Wellington East) said he hoped the duty would be taken off white lead. This would benefit the community, and not the combine that at. present controlled the paint industry. ■ Much work- would be put in hand if the price of paint was reduced. ; Mr E. P. Healy (Wairau) urged that a reduction be made in the, duty on steel pipes. . , , Mr W. E. Barnard (Napier) sought an assurance from the Minister that New Zealand's wine industry would not be adversely affected by the alterations iu the duties. i Mr R. W. Hawke (Kaiapoi) supported the sliding scale of wheat and flour duties and contended that bakers were making good profits at the present prices unless they had heavy bad debts to offset their profits. Mr J. A. Hargest (Invercargill) referred to the motor car industry. He said it had no competitor iu New Zealand. An increasing number of foreign cars were entering New Zealand and something should be done to assist British car manufacturers.

The short title wan passed and pro gress reported.' . The House rose at 11.30 pan.