PARLIAMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18350, 22 August 1929, Page 10

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By TelearvapK frraaa AaaoeUtlua.. WELLINGTON, August 21. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. NEW BILLS. Notice was given of intention to in- > troduce the following Bills: —Hospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill (Hon. A. J. Stallworthy), Pacific Cable Sale Authorisation Bill (Hon. J. B. Donald), Shops and Offices Amendment Bill (Hon. W. A. Veitch), Counties Amendment Bill (Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle), Apprentices Amendment Bill (Hon. W. A. Veitch), Patent Designs and Trade Marks Amendment Bill (Hon. T. M. Wilford). LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Mr C. H. Clinkard (Rotorua), was granted two days' leave of absence on account of illness. STAMP DUTY. Replying to Mr S. G. Smith (New Plymouth), Sir Joseph Ward stated that the withdrawal form in use by most Savings Banks was in the form either of a cheque or a receipt, each of which documents was liable to stamp duty of 2d. A withdrawal form that was not in effect a cheque or a receipt was not liable to stamp duty. ARAPUNI DAM. The Hon. E. A. Ransom (Minister of Public Works) made a statement concerning the position at the Arapuni dam. He said the erosion which had been taking place on the new course of the Waikato river below the spillway, which diverted the required water into the pen stocks of the power station, had been proceeding at an increasing rate lately. For the first year or so, erosion was proceeding at such a rate as indicated that many years would be available during which any of the remedial measures required could be taken, and as the load on the power house increased, the amount of water discharged over the spillway, and therefore in a position to affect erosion, would be continually decreasing. Some considerable time ago the Engineer-in-Chief reported on the matter, and recommended that remedial measures be taken without'delay, in order to reduce the amount of water flowing over the crest. Arrangements were made to drive two more of the pen stock tunnels, which would be utilised in further extensions, and these had made a fair amount of progress. Also, in view of the possibility of having to open the by-pass tunnel gates, arrangements were made to protect with steel plates the portion of concrete on which the experience gained through the filling i of the dam indicated that maximum erosion was to be expected. This steel protection was now nearing completion. Mr Ransom added that it had been the intention to carry out remedial measures at the waterfall, with the necessity of actually laying the river bed dry continuously. The very extensive fall which took place last week, culminating in 200 feet of retrogression of waterfall on Sunday, had made it evident that the water should not be allowed to fall until the place has been secured. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. Replying to Mr R. Semple (Wellington), the Prime Minister stated that the question of provision of facilities for boys and girls to obtain instruction in practical farm work on modern lines, was receiving a great deal of attention. The Board of Agriculture had set up a sub-committee to go fully into it, and the Farmers’ Union had taken it up. In giving consideration to the matter, the Government would carefully review it from all aspects, including that afforded by the system in operation at Flock House. COST OF LIVING. Mr J. O’Brien (Westland) asked the Prime Minister whether he would appoint a Commission similar to the one appointed by his Government in 1912, to inquire into: (1) The cost of living, and the activities of organisation inaugurated for the purpose of maintaining high prices on our principal commodities. (2) Adulteration of foodstuffs, and how food is affected by preservatives. (3) Weight of articles sold 1 to the public. (4) Whether financial institutions organise for the purpose of keeping up interest rate on money loaned. (5) Carriage of general merchandise by Shipping Companies. Sir Joseph Ward replied that the Government did not propose to set up a Commission for a similar purpose to that set up in 1912, for the following reasons: (1) That data with respect to living costs is now regularly collected by the Government Statistican. (2) That a Department of Industries and Commerce has been established, with statutory powers to deal with trusts and combines, and to check unreasonable prices being charged for commodities. (3) That the Health Department has power to deal with adulteration of foods, and the use of preservatives. In regard to items (4) and (5), there did not appear to be sufficient justification in the Government opinion to set up a Commission. All the evidence available pointed to the fact that there is competition, both Governmental and private, to keep interest charges down to a reasonable level. Similar competition also existed in freight charges made by various shipping companies operating between New Zealand ports and for overseas trade. DEVELOPING RESOURCES. The Prime Minister, replying to Mr R. Semple, said the Government would during the recess, take steps to inquire into the advisability of setting up a Development Commission, to determine the most effective methods of developing and utilising the natural resources of the Dominion, and by doing so find employment for those able and willing to work. The Government would endeavour to obtain full information on the working of such commissions in other countries.

NO STATE NEWSPAPER. Replying to Mr J. O’Brien’s question, submitted on Friday last, Sir Joseph Ward stated that the Government was unable to see its way to take into favourable consideration the establishment of a State newspaper. TUNNEL ROAD. The Hon. E. A. Ransom informed Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch), that it was not proposed to place a sum on the estimates this year to enable experts to examine and report as to whether a tunnel road between Lyttelton and Christchurch would be a help to the economic life of the South Island in particular, and the Dominion in general. TIMBER LAND PURCHASES. Mr C. H. Clinkard asked the Minister of Railways: (i) Whether his attention had been drawn to the statement appearing in the Press with reference to purchases on behalf of his Department in the Horonui district? (2) Whether, in view of his Department’s undoubted requirements, steps were taken to ascertain what timber was available before the purchase from Mrs Hoyes was made, and if not, why not? (3) Whether it is correct that about the time that the purchase from Mrs Hoyes was made a block of timber now said to contain 351,000,000 feet was purchased from the natives for less than £SOOO, and if so why was such opportunity lost by his Department? (4) Whether it is correct that the Crown’s best offer to the natives for the lands mentioned in (3) was 2/6 per acre, and if so, why? The Hon. W. B. Tavener said the transaction referred to took place in 1919, and as the date was not readily available, he was having the matter investigated, and would supply the information later. RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES. Replying to Mr H. E. Holland (Buller), the Hon. W. B. Tavener said that two Garratt engines were now in traffic, and a third would commence in traffic during the current week. “CO-OPERATION.” The Hon. J. B. Cobbe informed Mr F. Langstone (Waimarino), that when corelative legislation was being introduced, favourable consideration would be given to a suggestion to confine the use of the word “co-operative” to organisations where the cash surplus from manufacturing, trading, or other operations, is distributed among producers or purchasers of the commodities. Mr Langstone stated that legislation on these lines existed in Great Britain. NEW ZEALAND TOBACCO. Mr Cobbe, in reply to Mr C. C. Black (Motueka) said he proposed to discuss with the manufacturers concerned, the suggestion to have the labels of smoking mixtures retailed as local-grown, display the percentage of the New Zealand leaf in the blend of tobacco. Mr Cobbe added: “I am already aware, however, that whilst manufacturers are desirous of using a large proportion of New Zealand leaf, there is objection to stating the precise percentage used in mixtures. Alterations are found necessary in the percentage used owing to variation in the quality of the leaf, and the desire to maintain the standard required by the public.” The debate on the Budget was then resumed by Mr E. F. Healy (Wairau).