CANADIAN LEGISLATION

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1931, Page 9

CANADIAN LEGISLATION

PARLIAMENT ENDS SESSION MANY MEASURES, MANY CHANGES. Ottawa, Aug. 20. Here, in brief form, are some of the things done by the Parliament of Canada in the session of almost five months which ended in August: An extensive revision upwards of the tariff was effected, and a Tariff Board of three, to hold office for ten years, was authorised. The Board is a fact-finding ■body and has no legislative authority. A preferential treaty with Australia was endorsed. Assistance was given Canadian farmers by a five-cent-per-bushel bonus on wheat grown this year. The Canadian coal industry also was aided. The Federal treasury henceforth will pay 75 per cent, of the cost of old age pensions instead of 50 per cent, as in the past. Five of the nine provinces so far have elected to participate in the scheme. The necessity was removed for holding a by-election on the elevation to the Cabinet of a member of Parliament.. Grants were made to assist vocational training in Canadian schools. The Royal Canadian Mint, a branch of the Mint in London since its establishment here, was taken over as a department of the Canadian Civil Service. The Government was given very wide powers to provide employment by means of public works, and to relieve distress by direct aid where work cannot be supplied. The Statue of Westminster, a Bill having to do with the status of the Dominions, was approved, following a conference with the Provinces, and will come before the Parliament of tile United Kingdom in due course.