QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 248, 1 August 1946, Page 3

QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS

MINISTERS’ REPLIES DISCUSSED

WIDE VARIETY OF SUBJECTS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 31. Written replies by Ministers to 44 questions asked by members were circulated in the House of Representatives this afternoon, and members spent until the tea adjournment discussing them. Hospital Equipment —The Minister of Customs (the Rt. Hon. W. Nash) replying to Mr J. T. Watts (Opposition, Riccarton), said that when machinery and appliances used in hospitals for therapeutic and surgical purposes were not available economically from Empire countries, there was power under the Customs Amendment Act, 1927, to admit such goods for customs purposes as if they were of Bjfitish origin. There was no corresponding power for the remission of sales tax, but the incidence of sales tax upon surgical apparatus generally was at present under consideration. In the instance cited by Mr Watts of a hospital board paying £215 14s 4d in customs duty and sales tax on apparatus costing £399 19s 6d, Mr Nash said the board would obtain-a rebate on customs duty. Local Body Loans —Mr Nash answering Mr F. J. B. Cotterill (Government, Wanganui) who had asked a quesiton about financing local body loans at nominal rates of interest, said he could appreciate that there was considerable local support for the suggestion that Wanganui’s civic debt should be refinanced at 1 per cent. Mn Nash said the Government’s policy during the last 10 years had been to reduce interest rates to the minimum, and they were at present lower than ever before in the Dominion’s history. It was proposed to continue this policy. Retail Prices. —The Minister of Industries and Commerce'(the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), answering Miss M. B. Howard (Government, Christchurch East) said the Price Tribunal had, no knowledge that consumer goods were being held up in factories, warehouses, and shops in the expectation of a rise in price. The Minister said it was not understood how any suggestion of price increases had arisen, as the Price Tribunal recently ordered that all items of clothing and drapery would be subject to price reductions from August. - Fines on Bookmakers. —The Attor-ney-General (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) in reply to Mr T. C. Webb (Opposition, Kaipara) said, no fines imposed on bookmakers during the last four vears had been remitted, but two had been reduced. Extreme hardship, including illness, family responsibilities, lack of financial means, that the defendant was operating in a small way, and that he was a first offender, were in both instances the grounds upon which the royal prerogative of mercy was exercised. , , , , Housing Areas. —The Minister of Lands (the Hon. C. F. Skinner), answering Mr H. Oram (Opposition, Manawatu) said a few housing sections had already been sold to former servicemen to build their oWn homes in areas where large blocks of land were acquired for State housing. The Minister said this practice would be extended, and where large housing areas were concerned, blocks would, be set aside for sale to former servicemen and others. Details of proceduie had lately been arranged between the Department of Housing Cofisti’uction and other departments. The disposal would be under the Land Act, and the Lands Department would conduct ballots if necessary. Soil Erosion— Replying to Mr Oram, Mr Nash said expenditure on prevention of soil erosion might be of a capital nature, for example, permanent groynes or earthworks. Such capital expenditure would not be deductible for taxation purposes.