PARLIAMENT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 92, 23 August 1923, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Press Association. Wellington, August 22. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), the Hon. J. G. Coates, as Minister for Railways, said his personal opinion was that asl long as a casual employee in the railway service was able to do his work and give service for the money he received there was no reason why he should be compulsorily retired at the age of 65. He would bring the matter again (before Cabinet. ! In reply to Mr Wilford, Mr Massey said ho intended to look into the question of German goods coming into New Zealand via Britain. If such goods were coming in we ought to know it. Ho believed they were com ; ing in, but there might be some reasonable explanation from the British point of view On the motion of Mr J. McCombs (Lyttelton) the Statutory Minimum Wages Bill was introduced. The Bill fixed the basic wage for unskilled labor at £5 IDs a week. MERCANTILE SHIPPING SOARB. The Premier stated that he had. received the following resolution from the agricultural and pastoral industries smd stock committee:— “That the/ committee, having had submitted to it a scheme proposed by the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, and the New Zealand Producers’ Committee for the establishment of a mercantile shipping board, are of opinion that the heavy charges for freight made by the shipping companies are acting prejudicially to the industries of the Dominion and recomment that the scheme be referred to the Government for consideration. The committee recommends that the Prime Minister, on his visit to England, should investigate, the proposals relating to the Empire development fund and the possibility of obtaining part of same to assist the industries of the Dominion in the matter of shipping.” The Premier Stated he would do his very best to comply with the request.