N.Z. NEWSPAPER IN LONDON

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26211, 7 September 1950, Page 8

N.Z. NEWSPAPER IN LONDON

PARLIAMENT

SUBSIDY GIVEN BY GOVERNMENT

MINISTERIAL REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. September 6.

The newspaper. “New Zealand News.” published in London, is sub£;dised by the New Zealand Governm nt. Ihis reply was given in the House of Representatives to-day by the Minister of External Affairs (Mr F W. Doidge* to a question by Mr J. Rae (Government. Roskill) on behalf of himselt and Mr E. P. Aderman (Government. New Plymouth). Mr Rae had asked whether the n wspuper which i> distributed free to all members of Parliament, was a Government publication, or w'hether it was subsidised bv the Government. Mr Doidge said his attention had b en drawn to a recent edition of “New Zealand News” which Mr Rae had described as highly critical of the Government, and likely tn dissuade British migrants from coming to New Zealand. fc’ociil Secnritv Payments The Minister of Social Security (Mr .1 T Watts* is not prepared to recommend the Governrr.ent to change the present system of payment to social security beneficiaries, until he is satisfied that the change would be approved by a substantial majority o r the beneficiaries. Mr Watts eave this reply to Mr F G. Connolly (Opposition. Dunedin Con ral) who had asked whether the Government i-tended to pay social security beneficiaries by cheque, as promised bv the National Party durin" the last election campaign Mr Watts <aid there was a conflict of opinion among the beneficiaries them e’vrs about what was the more satisfactory method of paying bene-fits--bv cash or by warrant. t'hildren’s Homes “I am not prepared at this stage to say that I favour Dr. Field’s proposal 'or a periodical audit ” said the Mini ter 'or the Welfare of V’oiren Children (Mrs G. H Ross* in renly to Mr C. L. Carr (Op portion. Timaru). who had asked whether the Minister favoured a periodical audit of all institutionhaving the care of home-deprived children as advocated by Dr. H. E Field, of education at Canterbury University College, in the foreword to a booklet by Doris Mirams of Timaru. Mrs Ross said that, if after fuller consideration she was satisfied tha* the nrnnosal merited adontion. she would be hapov to act uoon it. She had visited manv children’s homes and had been favourably impressed with their administration bv the controlling private organisations, and by the work of officers o' the Chi’d Welfare Division in their inspection of homes and suggestions for improvements. “ a good spirit of co-operation exists between private organisations and ♦*•*» Child We’far" Division” said Mr> *T consider that children’s homes are doing very good work and that the stat” + orv system of registration and inspection operates smonthlv and efficiently.” P’-Mic Service Salaries The Prime Mini c ter (Mr Holland* ars'”‘ a ring Mr T H. McCombs (Op position Lyttelton), said that the minimrm salary for an adult un manned m»le in" the Public Service had be°n increased from £330 to . 346 10s bv a decision of the Government Service Tribunal. This was not less f han the revised minimum wa«e rate* ”nder the Minimum Wage Act Prices The Minister of Industries and Commerce <Mr C. M. Bow'den). answering Mr A. G. Csborne (Opposition. Onehunga). said that the Price Control Division kept a close watch on the prices charged bv both manufacturers and bespoke tailors for all types of clothing, including men’s suits. The Minister continued: “The Director of Price Control reports that the division has found no evidence during recent months of any overcharging for men’s suits by either clothing manufacturers or tailors, and the division has not received any complaints from the public on that subject. Prosecutions for overcharging were taken against a few tailors towards the end of last year. The division v. ill continue these checks on prices as in the past, and prosecutions will be made where warranted.” Reported Transport Project In reply to Mr W. Freer (Opposition. Mount Albert), the Minister in charge of Civil Aviation (Mr W. S. Goosman' said he had seen a newspaper reoort that Mr R. M. Ansett, of Ansett Airways, was interested in establishing in New Zealand an organisation conducting bus services, holiday tours, hotels, and airways. However. Ansett Airways had not been promised any internal bus licences as an inducement to the purchase of the National Airways Corporation. It was not proposed to sell portions of the Railway Road Services to this company. and existing motor tours organisations would not be subject to unfair competition Railway Charges Replying as Minister of Railways to another question by Mr Freer. Mr Goosman said that, because it was the slack season at present, it was too soon to determine the full effect of the recent increases in railway charges, but there was no immediate intention of increasing fares and freights Cost of Livin'? Mr Watts, answering a question by Mr Freer, said: “The question of the rising cost of living after the abolition of subsidies is being carefully watched and the interests of socjal security beneficiaries will be protected. “It is hoped that steps already being taken and still to be taken by the Government to bring about a steadier internal price level will go a long w T ay towards restoring - the £ to its ful 1 value, thereby affording real assistance to all members of the community, including social security beneficiaries.” Termite Control

In reply to Mr H. G. R. Mason (Opposition. Waitakere), the Minister in charge of the State Advances Corporation (Mr J. R. Marshall* said that the corporation used a termite treatment recommended by the Dominion's leading entomologist and confirmed by a noted Australian authority. The treatment was effective, and the “alarming statements” by the acting-city engineer of Auckland could be rebutted. The Minister said that spectacular success in termite Control could not be expected, and scientific control, rather than complete eradication, was the best that could be hoped for. The treatment was performed by the corporation's trained staff under an officer with the highest technical qualifications. and with expert entomological advice