PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1926, Page 9

PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

THE FINAL QUESTIONS. RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYED. STANDARDS OF BREAD SOLD. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Sept. 11. The Legislative Council met at 10 a.m. to-day and passed the Appropriation Bill, adjourning at 10.10 a.m. until the ringing of the bells. The House met at 11 a.m. Replying to Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) Mr. Coates said that the Government was keeping in close touch with the unemployment question and no effort would be spared to relieve the situation, wherever acute. Amongst others, Ministers gave the following answers to questions put by members: That departmental engineers have considerable data regarding flashlight crossing signals in use on European railways. A number of these electrio flashlight warning signals were ordered by the department some months ago and a further supply was ordered recently for erection at suitable crossings throughout the Dominion. That benefit would accrue from practical instruction at many of the phornium (flax) mills is fully realised and some work in this direction has already been done with good results. Steps are now being taken to strengthen the hemp grading staff so that such instruction may be given to a greater extent than has hitherto been possible. Mr, Veitch (Wanganui) asked the Minister of Health whether he would make careful investigation of the quality of flour and its general bearing on the health of the people, with a view to legislation fixing the standard of quality best suited to promote good health. Hon. J. A. Young (Minister of Health) replied that the quality of the flour sold in New Zealand is under constant watch. The importation of bleached flour, or of so-ealled flour improvers for use in breadmaking has always been strenuously resisted by the department. Standards are already fixed for ordinary white flour, part wholemeal flour and wholemeal flour, with corresponding standards for the bread made therefrom. It could be argued that all these three types of bread are suited to promote gnod health and there would be no wisdom nor justification in legislature seeking to compel the sole use of one standard of flour, even if such were physically possible. PROTEST AGAINST RUSHING. Wellington, Sept. 11. After the telegraph office closed on Saturday morning, on the second reading of the Appropriation Bill, Mr. J. McCombs protested against the Bill being “rushed” through in the early hours of the morning before members had the slightest chance of reading the clauses, much less understanding them. There were important provisions in connection with the banking long-dated loans proposals, whieh they were told were in accordance with the arrangement already made by the House, but who could say whether the clauses actually did what they purported to do. He knew it was no use calling for a division, because the Government’s docile majority woujd vote them down, but he would enter his protest. Sir Joseph Ward said he had read the Bill and, so far as the banking legislation was concerned, it did exactly what the House agreed to do. It also made provision for other banks to establish a system of long-dated loans, which was qne of the things he had urged upon the Government. The Bill was read a second time, put through the remaining stages and passed. The House rose at 2.40 a.m.