DELIVERIES OF GOODS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26151, 29 June 1950, Page 3

DELIVERIES OF GOODS

MR MCCOMBS SEEKS INFORMATION

QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED BY OPPOSITION

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. June 28. The number of firms that have instituted delivery services since early this year was sought by Mr T. H. McCombs (Opposition. Lyttelton) in the House of Representatives this afternoon. He asked for a return of the number of firms approached by the Government with a request that they should institute delivery services before February 3, a date mentioned in the National Party election pamphlet “A Family Affair.’*

Mr McCombs also asked for the number of firms, if any. which had started deliveries after the Government approached them and before February 3. Price of Gas

The increased price of gas was referred to by Mr P. G. Connolly (Opposition, Dunedin Central) when he gave notice of his intention to ask the Minister of Finance (Mr Holland)

whether the Government intended to restore the coal subsidy for gas manufacture. Mr Connolly mentioned the increased costs to the Dunedin City Council’s gas department for coal and railage, wages, and stores, and said that from June 1 the price of gas had been increased nearly 33 1-3 per cent., which did not cover the increased charges, estimated at £48.300.

War Pensions Mr F. Jones (Opposition. St. Kilda) gave notice to ask if the Government would take immediate action to increase war pensions, thus enabling pensioners and their dependants to meet the increase that had occurred in the cost of living. Family Allowances

Mr F. Hackett (Opposition. Grev Lynn) asked the Minister of Finance to give early consideration to the prospects of an increase in all family allowances to alleviate pant of the burden imposed on larger families by the removal of subsidies Parliament’s Life Notice of his intention to ask the Prime Minister for an assurance that the Government did not intend to prolong the life of Parliament beyond the present term of three years was given by Mr P. Kearins (Opposition. Waimarino). Mr Holland led the laughter which greeted this question. Minister as Counsel Mr McCombs gave notice to ask the Prime Minister if he had seen newspaper reports published on January 21 that the Minister without portfolio. Mr J. R. Marshall, had appeared as counsel opuosing the Crown in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court. Mr McCombs asked if the Prime Minister cid not consider this action capable of interpretation as an attempt to influence the Court against the Crown because a Minister of the Crown opposed a Crown prosecution, and he asked if steps would be taken “to prevent such ethical breaches by Ministers of the Crown.”

Use of Sterling Funds Mr Hackett gave notice to ask the Minister of Customs <M? C. M. Bowden) what action he intended to take in view of a report published on June 24 that holders of previously undisclosed funds abroad were now selling those funds through motor-car dealers at premiums up to 12J per cent.

Building of Schools Notice was given by Mr A. G. Osborne (Opposition. Onehunga) of his intention to ask the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie) if the Government intended to give priority in the building of new schools to districts which undertook to raise a substantial amount of the cost of construction.

Mr Osborne said that the Minister had twice been reported as saying that if local people made a substantial contribution it would materially assist him in presenting their claims to the Cabinet. Exchange Rate

Mr Connolly gave notice to ask the Minister of Finance if the Government intended an early alteration of the exchange rate between New Zealand and Australia. Mr Connolly said that the “Otago Daily Times” on June 17 reported in a statement that June 30 was widely rumoured as the date for an exchange alteration, and that opinion was fairly unanimous that Australia and New Zealand would take concerted action to bring Australia closer to parity with sterling and New Zealand away from sterling but on a par with Australia. Legislative Council

Notice of two questions about the Legislative Council was given by Mr C. H. Chanman (Opposition. Wellington Central). He will ask the Prime Minister if the term of recent appointments to the Legislative Council will end at the close of the present session. and whether the substitute proposed by the Government for the reform of the Legislative Council will be referred to the people for their consent.