HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 9, 28 August 1914, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 7.30 p.m. In reply to Mr Wilkinson, the Premier said he knew of no request from members of the House for the postponement of the elections. INCREASED SHIPPING FREIGHTS Sir Walter Buchanan wanted to know if the Premier would take any steps to deal with the increase in shipping freights. In reply, the Prime Minister said the matter was under consideration. There was no increase in freights upon transports. He had heard of the increase with surprise, and ho thought it very ill-timed and against the interests of tbe country. In a further reply to Mr Anderson, he said the Government would do all it could to reduce freights and insurance rates. Hon. Jas. Allen said that there would be no space available for shipments of butter upon the transports. Sir Joseph Ward said ho thought the freight and insurance rate difficulty would be overcome if the Government took out an ordinary war risk over the steamers’ hulls. The Premier said the Government had under consideration a proposal to take over the whole of the war risks in the country.

ENROLMENT OF ELECTORS. The Opposition Leader also pointed out that the system adopted of placing people upon the rolls had proved inefficient in the country districts, Hon. F. M. B. Fisher justified the steps taken to bring the rolls up to date. He admitted that there was difficulty in getting names on the rolls in isolated districts. The new method was not designed to interfere with the work of any organisation. IMPREST SUPPLY. An Imprest Supply Bill, providing for the payment of £979,000 towards salaries, etc., was introduced by Governor’s Message. REGULATION OF FOOD PRICES. Sir Joseph Ward pointed out that ! o had received a telegram from Mataura, stating that Hour had been raised to £ls. and oatmeal £l3 per ton. It was necessary to guard against the extraction from tbo pockets of the people of more than a fair profit. He hoped that no time would be lost in setting up the Commission. Mr Buxton quoted figures to show that there would be no shortage of wheat in the country at the end of the year. There was no justification foi increasing prices.

Mr Wilkinson said that steps should l)o taken to prevent any undue in-n-case in retail prices. He had heard that the Government had been able to purchase large . quantities of flour abroad. If this was so, it should keep down any increase in the price of bread.

Mr Hanan suggested that local bodies in whoso districts no public works are going on should be subsidised to provide work.

Hon. W. Fraser said the Government was full alive to the necessity to prevent unemployment. He agreed that there was a great deal of unnecessary “funk,” and confidence would be restored. He was engaged in the preparation of the Estimates, and would ask for a larger sum than last year. Of course, it remained to be seen if the Government could got the money.

The Prime Minister agreed that there should be fair trade and fair prices, and he thought the Regutation of Trade and Commerce Act would secure this and prevent exploitation. If they had a surplus supply of wheat there would not be any need for an increase in the price of bread, but if they had to import, the price would go up. The Government had bought wheat in Australia, but not flour. Any case of hardship amongst Crown tenants would be considered, but he saw no reason at present why tenants could not make their ordinary rent payments. He did not think exports wquM fall off. Up even thought

I ’ ,t gum and flax would soon get '.back to normal. ) Six Jcooph Ward returned to the question of providing the Expeditionary Forces with an opportunity to cast their votes. He thought it 1 could be arranged by allowing the I men to vote for party without mention of the candidates. There was no reason why these men could not, before leaving, vote for their party and also on the licensing issue. The Premier said he had the matter under consideration, and he intended to make a statement on Tuesday. Hon. Jas. Allen claimed that the Premier had already given his assurance that a vote would be given to the men, and he regretted that the leader of the Opposition had not accepted that assurance. In proof o! the Government’s sincerity he could tell the House that a Bill had already been drafted and was under consideration by Cabinet. The Bill might not overcome all the difficulties, but if was an honest attempt to do so. Speaking of finance, he deprecated pessimism, and anticipated little interference with the operations of the lending departments if the public confidence is maintained. The Government was prepared to meet all its commitments, but as a precautionary measure the local bodies bad been asked to delay their public works if it could be done without causing unemployment. Ho did not consider that in the circumstances that they should go on lending up to £2OOO to one settler, and he proposed to reduce the amount to £SOO. The Public Works Department had funds to carry it on after October, and in view of the possible difficulty of raising money in London the right policy was to conserve the finances of tho country to keep the public works going. mme&siSr utMBWiJW