BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1930, Page 11

BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

MINISTERS ANSWER QUERIES 1 ’ sj REPORT ON TOBACCO INDUSTRY. URGENCY GRANTED FINANCE BILL _____ . i , 1 • i . IBy Telegraph.—£ress Association. Wellington, .Last Night. (Mr. W..J. Polson asked in the House of Representatives to-day whether a report in a southern newspaper that the Awfefua wireless station was to be scrapped and the plant transferred to Christchurch was correct.: The Hon. J. B. Donald replied that the removal to Christchurch of the wireless station at Awarua had not been contemplated by the department. -Replying to Mr. H. E. Holland, the ’■Ron. W. A. Veitch stated that it was true the Railway Department had been taking reduced quantities of coal from ‘the State Mines. The matter of taking increased quantities was at present under discussion by the departments concerned. , Replying to Mr. R. Semple, , : ,Mr. Veitch said that while he was anxious to encourage the Sanders Cup .yachting races he could not see justification in view of the existing financial conditions, to grant the free carriage of boats on the railways. In a personal statement Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) requested that when calling on speakers in debates ■ Mr. Speaker should in future dissociate him from the Reform Party and treat him as a complete Independent. . !: ' Mr. 'b.”C. Black in presenting- the report bfi-tlie committee on the tobacco, industry gave a resume of the com- 1 mittee’s findings. Mr. W. E. Barnard said the com-

mittee wdSflOf the opinion on the evidence adduced that Nelson and district were best, suited to tobacco growing, having an advantage owing to the sheltered conditions. It was clear to v the committee that the evils' which had sprung up in'the issue of bonds in connection with forestry companies had spread to the tobacco industry. An amendment to the Companies Act was needed with a view to placing restrict tions on the offers to the public 'and to- control ■ highly speculative . shares and bonds. >

Mr. W. J. Polson said the recommendations of the committee would y help the growers and encourage the local manufacturg^ ;|J of tobacco. The committee was satisfied that there was not only a possibility of local expan-, jsion.but also of an export trade. : '■ The report- was, referred to the Government, for favourable consideration. A message was ’received from j the Legislative Council asking, the House to , appoint.'three managers to confer with three managers from- the Council regarding the amendments to the New Zealand ■ University’s Amendment Bill and the Law Practitioners’ Amendment (Bill. The Hon. H. Atmore moved that Messrs H. G. Dickie, W. E. Barnard and himself be appointed, and this was agreed ' to.. . ... . . The amendments..._of the Legislative Council to the Land Laws Amendment Bill, were : agreed to.' , Urgency-was accorded the passing of the Finance Bill; (No. 2) ‘and .th® Sup* plementary Estimates.. . Moving the second reading of the Fin-* ance Bill the Hon. E. A. Ransom ? said the measure was largely of a “washing up” nature and lent itself to tian in committee clause by clause. . Mr. W.‘ D. Stewart drew attention tx# the clause granting authority to; falsa a large loan for railway construction and suggested that it was not 'right; for the Government to make such <.. request when it had not yet. given a' clear declaration of its policy in to the construction of new lines. He urged the Government to clear up the position in regard to both running raiK ways and railways under construction. There should be some standard set. It might be possible to countenance some loss in view of the benefits from de* velopment, but it would be serious to allow a general drift to take place in railway finance. , Mr. Stewart contended that- the Bill did not give any accurate answer to the defence problems that had been raised from time to >. time. .Whenever reference had been ma t de .to such <proIblema it had always.' been" .stated ; that the Finance Bill would clear the matter up, .but beyond providing for the! appointment of an under-secretary for defence (as a resblt'.'bf “ftliich itwas hoped to effect considerable? economies) it gave no further indication of the Government's intentions.