QUESTION TIME

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 268, 23 August 1945, Page 3

QUESTION TIME

ANSWERS IN HOUSE. PARTY FUND CONTRIBUTIONS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 22. Questions occupied the attention of members of the House of Representatives this afternoon, a number being presented for answers and a large number of others asked earlier receiving printed answers, which were discussed. Replying to Mr H. E. Coombs (Goveminent, Wellington Suburbs), Mr Fraser said the question of introducing legislation making it mandatory for all political parties to disclose the source' of all contributions to party funds, and the way in which such funds were disbursed, was receiving favourable eon sideration, Mr Fraser, replying to Mr W. T. Anderton (Government, Eden), said consideration would be given to the introduction of legislation making it an offence for daily newspapers to publish “factory-made” letters. Mr Andertou had said that a “factory-made” letter was one prepared in a newspaper’s own office, and inserted to deceive readers into believing it was from an outside source. A comprehensive review of the salaries of non-permanent postmasters and post-mistresses is being made, and the department hopes to be able to make an early announcement. This reply was given by the Acting-Post-master-General (the Hon. F. Jones) <to an inquiry by Mr E. B. Corbett (Oppo-sition,-Egmont) about what action was being taken to adjust these salaries to bring them into line with those of permanent employees. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) replying to Mr ti. G. Lowry (Government, Otaki), who asked whether in view of the alleged practice of auctioneers buying on their own behalf, he would consider setting up a commission to inquire into what way justice could be done to those who had been wronged over a period of years, said that as the result of a Wellington case an inquiry had been instituted, and when it was completed consideration would be given to the course of action which might be necessary to protect growers against such buying jn of produce. In reply to a question by Mr Anderton about the sentence of two years’ imprisonment imposed by justices of the peace on a prisoner -who escaped from a prison farm, the Minister of Justice (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) said that in the last 12 years the same term had very frequently been imposed by experienced Judges and Magistrates. The Prisons Board had power to review sentences, and, where an escapee settled down and showed worthiness of it, it invariably recommended remission of a substantial part and sometimes the whole of the added sentence for escaping. Mr Andertoh, who described the sentence as ‘harsh and unconscionable,” had asked if the Minister would introduce legislation preventing justices of. the peace from imposing such sentences. None of the privately endowed bursaries and scholarships at New Zealand seedndary schools was subsidised by the Government, said Mr Mason as Minister of Education, in reply to Mr J. Acland (Opposition, Temuka). A number of agricultural bursaries were provided for those taking degree courses at Canterbury Agricultural College or Massey College. Mr Acland had asked whether the Minister would consider subsidising funds raised by schools for bursaries at Canterbury Agricultural College, as in the case of the Pleasant Point District High School.