BOSCOS OF PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1930, Page 9

BOSCOS OF PARLIAMENT

GAMING AMENDMENT BILL PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT HOUSE DISCUSSES CAUSES By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. When the House of Representatives met this afternoon notice was given of intention to introduce the following Bills: Gaining Amendment Bill (Mr. K. S. Williams), Wellington City Empowering Bill, 1930 (Mr. R. A. Wright), Dunedin City Corporation Empowering Amendment Bill (the Hon. W. B. Taverner) and the Dunedin City Drainage and Sewage Amendment Bill (Mr. Taverner). Replying to Mr. Coates, the Prime Minister stated that the same exemptions from petrol tax as formerly would be granted in cases of certain marine engines, farm tractors, and others, Mr. Broadfoot, reporting on behalf of the Statutes Revision Committee, recommended that the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Bill (Mr. 11. G. R. Mason) be allowed to proceed with amendments. The debate on the Unemployment Bill was resumed by Mr. E. J. Howard. He said the Government Statistician’s figures showed that employment in the various industries had not increased during the last few years, while at the same time many immigrants from Britain had been brought into the country without work being available for them in the industries to which they had been accustomed. Mr. C; A. Wilkinson said the present was the first occasion on which the workers had been asked to bear direct taxation, and it gave them an example of what others had had to pay. for many years. He contended that Arbitration" Court awards were responsible for unemployment in some instances. While some men enjoyed the benefits of awards others were prevented from getting work at all because the employers could not economically carry out all the conditions. Mr. Wilkinson declared the root causes of Unemployment should be investigated. Mr. Smith: The board will do that. ‘•WE’RE BOARD STIFF.” Mr. Wilkinson: The Minister apparently has unlimited faith in boards. I have not. This country is overridden by boards. There are boards to the right of us; boards to the left of us; boards everywhere. ‘ Mr. H. T. Armstrong: We’re board stiff! Mr. A. Harris denied that the Reform Party’s immigration policy had been responsible for unemployment, and said it was interesting to recall that since the immigration policy bad ceased the unemployment situation had become worsel Mr. H. E. Holland: Does that mean that the position might have been better had the immigration policy been continued Mr. Harris said he believed the position might not have been so bad. The building trade at least had suffered from the cessation of the policy. , Mr. J. O’Brien declared his faith in New Zealand industries to absorb all the unemployed. The Bill would be unnecessary if there were a proper development policy applied to all the industries.' He referred particularly to the timber industry which, he believed, could employ a very large number more men. Land settlement also could be expanded greatly under suitable legislation. In Westland alone over 500 more men could be put on the land under advantageous conditions. Mr. H. G. Dickie said land settlement was, in his opinion, the only permanent solution of unemployment. The’greatest difficulty in the way of keeping people on the land was the standard of life which was forced upon the’ farmer. He believed every man should be placed oh his own allotment, even if he had to be subsidised, and he should be allowed to work out his own salvation. PAY FOR UNEMPLOYED. Mr. F. Lye said that while he had always held that it was not the duty of the State to provide standard rates of pay for unemployed mrii it was the duty of the community to provide them with sustenance. He agreed that harsh awards were a contributory factor towards unemployment. He believed that awards should be framed after due consideration of the ability of the individual to earn and the ability .of the industry to pay. He thought that before calling on the man with a very small wage to pay 30s. a year towards the unemployment fund the Government should look to other sorces. He suggested amusements and the totalisator could be taxed more than at present; also foreign films, and possibly income tax could be called on to contribute to the fund. He hoped the Budget would contain some such proposals. People who were prepared to pay £5 to see a football match and 30s. for a boxing match should not bo unwilling to help the unemployed. Mr. C. 11. Chapman said unemployment existed in both low-wage and high-wage countries. It was not due to Arbitration Court awards, but to other factors altogether.. The main cause was that those who could give employment would not do so under the present circumstances because they feared they might not get as much profit as they desired. The debate was adjourned. The Prime Minister at 7.30 p.m. presented his first Financial Statement. There was tho usual large attendance in the galleries. The reading of the Budget occupied two hours 20 minutes. Replying to Mr. Coates the Prime Minister intimated that the debate on the Financial Statement would be commenced on Tuesday evening. The House rose at 9.55 p.m. till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.

A very large number of bargains in Men’s and Boys’ Clothing is to be found at Broome’s Winter Sale. There are boys’ fleecy-lined singlets, all sizes, at 1/6, boys’ coloured handkerchiefs, four for Is, boys’ sports suits, all wool, at 20s 9d, boys’ blazers, with white, red or gold piping, at 7s lid for all sizes, men’s wool socks, three pairs for 2s 6d, men’s all-wool saddle tweed trousers at 16s 9d, men’s oily canvas coats, at 29g 9d, men’s felt hats, at 7s lid, men’s worsted suits, worth £5 10s, all to be cleared at 59s 6d. All these Bargains are to be had at BROOME’S CORNER, Devon and Liardet Streets, New Plymouth.