PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1925, Page 9

PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

THE UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM. BUDGET ON FRIDAY NIGHT. BONUS FOR CHILDREN. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Sir John Luke (Wellington North), the Prime Minister said he, as Minister for Railways, would inquire into the wastage in coal carried on the railways. He was aware that there was d certain amount of wastage and he would consider what steps could be taken to reduce it to the minimum. Replying to Mr. R. MeKeen (Wellington South), the Prime Minister said that if the Government subsidised the Wellington City Council to give relief to unemployed the work undertaken should be, as far as possible, of a national character. The Government could not be expected to merely subsidise city rates to do work which obviously should be done by the city. In reply to Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South), he said he had authorised some £2OO or £3OO lor relief woi’k at Christchurch. Auckland had so far not made any appeal, and that city was evidently showing a certain amount oi self-reliance.

In reply to the Leader of the Op-po-sition (Mr. T. M. Wilford), the Prime Minister eaid the Budget w-ould be brought down on Friday night, and the debate would begin on the following Tuesday. On the motion of Mr. Howard, the Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill was introduced and read a first time.

Mr. M. S. 'Savage (Auckland West) moved for leave to introduce the Motherhood Endowment Bill, which he said was intended to endow families in proportion to the number of children, and so abolish the penalty on having large families. The best immigrant the country could have was a child born in its own home, and some of the attention now devoted to breeding racehorses should be devoted to the eare of children. The proposal was that families should receive an endowment of 10s per week for every child over three in cases where the family income is below the minimum wage fixed by the Arbitration Court. He anticipated the cost would be about £2,000,000 per annum. The Bill was introduced and read a first time. The Cook Islands Amendment Bill was, on the motion of the Hon. Sir M. Pcmare, introduced and read a first time. The House went into committee on the Iron and Steel Industries Amendment Bill, which was reported without amendment, read a third time and passed. The Weights and Measures Bill was next taken in committee. Considerable opposition was shown to clause 16, compelling exposure to the buyer of the weights and measures used. Practical difficulties were pointed .out, particularly in connection with the grocery trade, and the Minister promised to have the clause re-cast.

Mr. R. Masters (Stratford) contended the Bill should be made to apply to wholesalers rather than to retailers, because it was jjie wholesaler who packed goods. If the Bill applied to wholesale merchants there would be some sense in it.

The Minister promised to make it apply to wholesale merchants as well as to retailers.

The remainder of the clauses were passed unamended. The House rose at 11.24 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.