QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24640, 9 August 1945, Page 3

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE

MINISTERS’ REPLIES DISCUSSED INCIDENCE of taxation to BE REVIEWED / pA) WELLINGTON, August 8. Ministers’ written replies to questions wert; discussed in the House of Representatives to-day. Sales 'lax on Building.—The Minis- : ter of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash), i answering Mr W. Sullivan (Opposition Bay of Plenty), who asked for 1 immediate consideration of the removal of sales tax on building, said the Government would give lurther consideration to the practicability of some adjustment of this tax when, ns was intended, the whole incidence of taxation was being reviewed. Tax Evasions.— Replying to Mr J. F. rj Cotterill (Government, Wanganui), Mr Nash said the Government had so far not adopted the proposal to call in banknotes of more than £5 in value. The experience of other countries in this connexion should prove valuable. In the meanwhile, said Mr Nash, the most satisfactory means of preventing evasion was to incirease the inspectorial staff of the Land and Income Tax Department, the ranks of which had been depleted during the war. ' Steps had been taken to remedy the position, and a progressive improve- , meat could be anticipated in this rePunishment.—The AttorneyGeneral (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason), replying to Mr R - M - Al § ie (Opposition, Remuera), said inquiries did not reveal an increase in the number of convictions for murder since capital punishment for this offence was abolished. It was not considered that the existing deterrents wer„ less effective. Mr Algie, discussing Mr Mason’s answer to bis question, said there was a distressing frequency in the number of ermes of manslaughter or murder, and the Minister, in shelving the matter under "convictions,” had sidestepped the issue. While no one could be dogmatic on the question of capital punishment, it was more important to protect the people than to punish the wrongdoer by capital punishment or otherwise. As capital punishment had been abolished, it might be necessary to consider an alternative of a majority verdict in such cases. There was nothing sacrosanct in a unanimous verdict in criminal cases. It was really an historical accident that had been retained in the jurisprudence, and one day a step might have to be taken to alter it. • . _ . Reciprocity in Pensions.—The Minister of Social Security (the Hon. W. E. Parry), answering Mr A. G. Osborne (Government, Onehunga), said an agreement on principle was recently reached with the United Kingdom Government concerning reciprocity m pension benefits. The stage had now been reached for detailed negotiations, and it was hoped that reciprocity would be established soon. Speed Limits.—The Minister of Transport (the Hon. J. O’Brien), replying to Mr W. A. Sheat (Opposition, patea), said exemptions from the speed limit regulations were granted ambulances, Are brigades, constables and traffic inspectors, and Ministers of the Crown, and it was not considered necessary to provide for distinctive markings. Use of DDT.— Answering a question by Mr E. L. Cullen (Government, Hawke’s Bay) concerning the use of DDT, the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. B. Roberts) said the whole question of its use as an insecticide for orchard spraying was being investigated, and until official tests were completed it was unlikely to be generally used for this purpose. Should it prove to be dangerous to the beekeeping industry, the Government would nave its distribution controlled. Wool Exports.—Mr Roberts, answering Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitomo), said the Government and the industry intended to explore every avenue for the sale of New Zealand wool, and discussions had recently been proceeding wijh representatives , of the United Kingdom Ministry of Supply and the Wool Control to this end. . Plans were in prospect which would enable full advantage .to be taken of every opportunity of sale in China and elsewhere from stocks of New Zealand wool and from current clips. Plywood for Doors.—Replying to Mr J. T. Watts (Opposition, Riccarton), the Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) said the Timber Controller advised him that only one building contractor in Christchurch had been unable to obtain immediate supplies of plywood for door manufacture, and arrangements had been made to meet his urgent requirements. Although one Christchurch distributor was reported to have low stocks, four others had notified North Island manufacturers not to send further immediate supplies. Any shortage which might exist was because there had been no available shipping during July, as a result of which two plywood factories were holding 300,000 square feet for shipment to Christchurch. Merino Meat.—The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. B. Roberts), in reply to Mr D. C. Kidd (Opposition Waitaki), said the possibility of collecting and freezing surplus merino sheep for export to England to relieve the food shortage was being investigated. If appreciable supplies could be arranged an approach would be made to the United Kingdom to arrange a price. • Stock Poisoning.—Replying to Mr T. H. McCombs (Government, Lyttelton), Mr Roberts said considerable investigation had been made into poisoning from ngaio leaves, but no effective treatment had been found. Investigations were being continued, and in the meantime the only advice he could give was that farmers keep stock away from paddocks in which ngaio trees had blown down, or keep ngaio trees fenced off.