POLITICAL NOTES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18022, 10 November 1920, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

WANGANUI RIVER SERVICE. (By Telegraph.) (From Our Parliamentary Special.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. Matters concerning the Wanganui River service were referred to in the House by Mr R. W. Smith, who said the people who used the service most would like to see it taken over by the State. The Prime Minister replied that at present the service was being subsidised by £775 paid by the Lands Department and £509 paid by the Postal Department. During the last few days the firm running the steamers had applied for additional Government grants, to the extent he believed, of £1 500. It had not been stated, however, what additional benefits the settlers were to be given. The Government had asked the company what its intentions were in this respect, and that would be the way in which they would finally deal with the matter. PRICE OF WHEAT. I Under Clause 2 7 of the Finance Bill, said Dr Newman, there was power for the Government, by Or-der-in-Council, to impose taxatloa on imported wheat and flour. Was it intended that the price should be 9/- per bushel during the coming season, which would increase the cost of bread to the people of the cities? The Minister of Agriculture (Hon. Nosworthy) replied that he could better discuss this matter when the Finance Bill was before the House, but he would say that the provision had been put there so that the wheat growers of the Dominion were not handicapped out of existence by the dumping into our ports of wheat and flour from Australia. making it impossible to grow wheat. The price for the season had not been arranged yet. It would be based on the price of Australian wheat during the forthcoming season. FREIGHTS ON PRODUCE. Increased freights on produce were mentioned in the House when Mr Hawken asked the Prime Minister if anything could be done in regard to the increases now announced. He had a circular from one of the shipping companies, in which it was stated that steamers would be leaving shortly for London and would have a certain amount of space apart from that required for resuisitioned produce, which could be given to cheese. The freight would be l%d per lb, plus 10 per cent. Last year it was l%d. This was a serious rise. The Premier said he had not seen the circular. His hands were full just now, but as soon as the session ended he would go into the matter. NON-UNION ORGANISATIONS. HIGHT TO REPRESENTATION BEFORE ARBITRATION COURT. WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. When speaking on the right of non. union organisations to be represented before the Conciliation Council or Arbitration Court, the Minister of Labour (Sir Win. Herries) stated in the House that he did not know whether he would be Minister of Labour next year, but one thing was quite certain, and t’hat was that ho would recommend his colleagues that the Crown should be represented at disputes on behalf of the public. A Labour Member: “You have the Commissioner there.” The Minister: "Ho is an arbitrator.” Tho public was as much interested in any award, especially if it increased the cost of living, as either of the two disputants. Ho was not sure that every large body which would be affected should not have the chance ol representation. Mr Sullivan: "Do you want to wreck tho Arbitration Act?” Tho Minister said this would not wreck t'he Act. The more interests they had represented at a hearing the better chance there was of obtaining an award which would be fair to all parties. Hitherto the public had been a shuttle, cock between two parties, neither of whom cared at all for its interests. Mr Parry: “We will have the same applied to your wool kings when they fix prices. The Minister: “Possibly that will come within the province of the-Board of Trade, which has to prevent profiteering.” This matter, however, was one in which the public should certainty have a right to put its case.