Hardwood Flooring Scarce

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30845, 2 September 1965, Page 3

Hardwood Flooring Scarce

(Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 1.

It was not correct 1 that the flooring of 75 i per cent of the KP waggons bought from Japan had had to be i replaced after a short period of service, the Minister of Railways (Mr Shand) told Parliament today. Mr McAlpine was replying to Mr H. L. J. May (Opp., Porirua). He said imported KP waggons were assembled in New Zealand by the Railways Department which provided and laid Australian hardwood flooring. Recently there had been great difficulty in obtaining seasoned hardwood of a standard suitable for waggon floors. It had not been necessary to replace any floors but adjustments to the floors of a considerable number of waggons had been required because of timber shrinkage. Toheroa Fields

The Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) said the Marine Department had experimented with the expansion of toheroa fields by spreading toheroas to beaches around the New Zealand coastline, the Press Association reports.

Because success was limited, a vigorous programme

had not been pursued, Mr Scott said. The work would be done, however, on suitable beaches.

He was replying to Mr J. R. Harrison (Govt., Hawke’s Bay). Not Influenced There was no evidence that the recent riots in New Zealand prisons had been influenced by gaol unrest in England, said the Acting-Minister of Justice (Mr Marshall). He was replying to Mr D. J. Riddiford (Govt., Wellington Central). No Applicants No applications had been made under the Government’s recently-announced proposal to guarantee second-mortgage loans for additional tourist accommodation, said the Minister of Tourism (Mr Eyre). Mr W. W. Freer (Opp., Mount Albert) had asked how many applications had been received. Mr Eyre said there had been 16 inquiries but no applications. Protecting Birds The Internal Affairs Department fostered interest in protecting native birds through leaflets, articles, advertisements and films, material to schoolchildren and illustrated talks, said the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Seath). Mr H. R. Lapwood (Govt., Rotorua) had said that, as the

department had expressed alarm at its inability adequately to protect native birds—particularly the wood pigeon—could Mr Seath outline the methods used by the department. He also asked if the Minister would consider increasing the penalties for wilful destruction of the pigeons. “I thoroughly agree the destruction of our native pigeon is to be deplored,” Mr Seath replied. “Active ranging, to my personal knowledge, is carried out,” Mr Seath said. The maximum penalty for destroying native pigeons was substantial—a fine of £5O and £2 for each bird taken. A Magistrate could also order forfeiture of the firearm. Canal Scheme The Auckland Harbour Board would no doubt take into account the requirements of the New Zealand Steel Company in considering the engineering costs and economics of a canal between the Waikato river and the Manukau Harbour, said the Minister of Works (Mr Allen). Mr A. E. Allen (Govt., Franklin) had asked if any Government agency was invesigating or drawing up plans for a canal to haul lime and coal to the steel works. The Minister said the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board had told the Prime Minister he was interested in the possibilities of developing

internal waterways in the South Auckland area.

Subsequently all helpful information held by the Department of Works was made available to the board, said the Minister. Teacher Shortage Recruitment efforts were being continued in New Zealand and overseas for wellqualified post-primary teachers, the Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) said today. There was still a shortage of teachers, he said. Mrs E. E. McMillan (Opp., Dunedin North) had asked Mr Kinsella what steps he had taken regarding the 584 unfilled or inadequately filled positions mentioned at the recent Post-Primary Teachers’ Association conference.

Government policy on staffing was directed toward recruitment at the highest possible rate, Mr Kinsella said. Since 1961 there had been a slow but steady improvement in post-primary staffing.