PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22368, 15 September 1934, Page 14

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(Peb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 14. The House met at 10.30 a.m. , LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Mr E. T. Tirikatene (Southern Maori) was granted two days’ leave of absence or account of illness in his family. MONETARY COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The Minister of Finance (Mr J. G. Coates) tabled the report of the Monetary Committee, which is available at post offices, CUSTOMS BILL. The committee stage of the Customs Bill was resumed. The question ot wheat duties again aroused considerable Mr W. Nash (Hutt) moved an amendment to clause 9, adding a new subclause giving the Minister power i.o make' such provision as would ensure (a) complete control of the production and importation of wheat and wheat products; (b) control of prices of wheat and flour and other wheat products; (c) an adequate guaranteed price to the wheat grower; (d) the payment of standard rates of pay in the wheat, flour, and bread-making industries. The Chairman of Committees ruled the amendment out of. order as the amendwas not pertinent to that clause, and ahould have been dealt with under the Board of Trade Act, also as it involved an appropriation. Mr Nash said that in that case he would move the amendment later as a new clause. i After further discussion a division was called for on clause D, which was agreed to by 59 votes to six. " The remission of the beer duty also gave rise to discussion, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr M. J. Savage) seeing .no reason why beer drinkers or brewers should be considered while tea and other drinkers were given no benefit. The brewers did not need the £112,000 thev would receive, and he did not think the hop growers would receive any benefit. Mr Coates said if more imported beer came in hop j growers would be able to enter into contracts for the sale of a greater quantity of bops. A tax on home brew was considered, but was found almost impossible to administer. If the reduction were made, contracts would be able to be made for the sale of hops for the next four or five years.

v The lunch adjournment was then taken.