BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1930, Page 11

BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

SOVIET DUMPING FEARED EFFECT ON DOMINION PRODUCE. !> GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY ECONOMY. By ‘f«l«6Teph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Notice was given in the House of Representatives to-day of the intention to introduce the following Bills. —The Wellington City and Suburban Water Supply Amendment Bill (Mr. P. Fraser), the Painters and Decorators Health Protection Bill (Mr. W. J. Jordan), and the Defence Amendment Bill (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe). Mr. A. M. Samuel drew the attention of the Trime Minister to an item in a Wellington newspaper referring to the possibility of Soviet Russia dumping large quantities of produce in Britain and the likelihood of such a development to affect Dominion exports. He asked the Prime Minister if he would when at the Imperial Conference endeavour to secure gome protection for Nev/ Zealand primary producers.

Mr. Forbes said he agreed such a policy would have an effect on the Dominion’s trade and he would be pleased to make inquiries on the subject. Mr. Fraser: It’s just Press Progaganda.

The House went into Committee of Supply to deal with the Estimates and consideration of the vote of £90,000 for the Legislative Departments was resumed. Mr. J. A. Young expressed amazement at the reductions made in the subsidies to the Plunkct Society and the Karitane Home. He moved that the salary of the DirectorGeneral of Health be reduced by £1 as a protest against the Government’s action in reducing the vote. The Chairman of Committees pointed out that Mr. Young would have to wait until the Health Department vote was before the. House before he could move the amendment.

PLUNKET SOCIETY SUBSIDY. The Prime Minister said he regretted as much as anybody the present financial stringency had compelled the Government not to assist the Royal Life-Saving Society and swimming associations as formerly. He would be pleased if the financial conditions improved sufficiently to renew the grants. The position in regard to the Plunkct Society was also due to the financial situation but he hoped to be able to make some further allowance to the society in the supplementary estimates. Mr. W. Nash (Hutt) urged the Prime Minister to endeavour to make some arrangements relating to reciprocal pensions when at the Imperial Conference and to ask Australia to ratify any such agreement on his return. He gave two instances of war veterans who had been in the Imperial Army and who had suffered hardship because they had not remained in Britain long enough to qualify for a pension there and had not resided in New Zealand long enough to obtain a pension. Mr. W. E. Parry also urged that the subject of reciprocal pensions should be given earnest attention. Mr. H. G. Dickie suggested that as a measure of economy the Government might have considered a 10 per cent, reduction in the salaries of members of Parliament.

Mr. W. D. Lysnar supported this suggestion and added that at a time like the present when everyone was suffering from the financial stringency the Government might have been well advised to have recommended a 5 per cent, salary reduction throughout the. Civil Service. The vote was passed.