Questions On Car Parts, Medical Fees

Press, Volume C, Issue 29671, 15 November 1961, Page 16

Questions On Car Parts, Medical Fees

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 14. “No,” answered the Minister of Customs (Mr Marshall) in the House of Representatives today when he was asked by Mr A. J. Faulkner (Opposition. Roekill) if there was a growing number of immobilised vehicles due to a shortage of spare parts and if so what steps were proposed to ’’rectify this costly position.” Mr Marshall said he believed a satisfactory arrangement had been made for the notification of requirements to enable enough licences to be available for spare parts to keep motor vehicles and equipment and machinery of all kinds operating.

“That la the objective of the Government,” he said, Mr Faulkner asked the Minister of Health (Mr Shelton) whether he had seen a press report of details of doctors’ changes over and above the Social Security fees and, if so, what steps were to be taken to provide that the burden would be eased for the elderly, the invalid and the family man.

Mr Marshall was asked by Mr N. E. Kirk (Opposition. Lyttelton) for the value of unused import licences, and whether they could be used to maintain aipply of materials for factories to maintain full employment Mr Marshall said he hoped the very excessive number of licences issued as a eonsequence of the schedule prepared by the Labour Government in September, last year, would result in a considerable percentage of non-utilisation.

Non-utilisation was 18 per cent, last year, but he did not think it was likely to be “anything like 18 per cent, this year.” « was,” Mid Mr Marshall. “We need to save all the overseas funds that we can. Any nop-utilisation will be savings in relation to our overseas funds’ position, and will remove the necessity to borrow money at rates of interest, which in any circumstances, are too high to be paying for consumer goods ” Mr W. W. Freer (Opposition, Mount Albert) asked the Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) whether in view of the press announcement that the first proof rpirit for the manufacture of gin in New Zealand had been produced in Auckland, and the fact that the product would retail at a lower price than imported gin, while saving more than £250.000 annually in overseas exchange, would he give early and favourable consideration to allowing the wine industry to begin brandy production to further conserve overseas exchange. Mrs E. Tombleson (Government. Gisborne) asked the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Hayman) whether consideration could be given to a reduction in the hydatids fee where the owner of the dog was a pensioner.