REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 257, 23 July 1908, Page 9

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

Ministerial'replies to Questions asked 1 during tho week wore submitted yesterday afternoon. Some of them arc as under:, It is not intended to submit any legislation on vaccination this' session. "' If there is. tim.e this session for tho Extension of Commerco' Conimitteo to,tako evidence as to tlio method of. trading by the Millers' Association with bakors. storekeepers, and others, every facility will bo, offered by tlio Government for this to bo donei • A larger amount for. tlio benefit ,of tho Salvation ArmJ' than is usually, voted, for the organisation, was asked by Mr. E. G. Allen. The Prime. Minister, in, reply, said he fully recognised tho good work done by the Army in the. cause, of humanity, but it must not be forgotten that- thero were other organisations in their several spheres also doing good work. "It must bo recognised also," says the Premier, "that" while the Government are doing something towards helping these institutions tho charitable resources of tho community aro likewiso materially assisting throughout tho Dominion, and rciiance' to a large' extent upon the latter must, in tho future, as in the past, bo depended;'upon to maintain tlio high traditions of our people in this respect." : • Many local bodies will bo pleased to know that tho Prime Minister has promised the Hon. Sir.W. J. Steward that tho Model Bylaws' Bill will bo introduced, this session. -, ;In an amendment'of the Electoral Act, replies tho -Prime Minister to Mr. Arnold, lie had provided-for a new form 9f ballot paper, so as to put beyond all question the secrecy of tho ballot in this respect. • "I am of opinion," says the Minister for Railways, "that speoial railway cars for ladies would bo no more successful if-, placed on tho trains to-day than they woro a few year? ago." The cxperionc'o in this country had been that ladies, when travollingalono or with children, preferred to rido in tho ordinary carriages in all cases. • -Somo years ago tho experiment had been mado of running on. the through trains carriages specially provided for ladies, but they, wero invariably unoccupiod, and ultimately woro discontinued.

A plea for a weekly half -holiday for surface labourers employed on the railways was made 'by Mr. Graham. "It is regretted that in tuo interests of tho public safety," said the Minister, "tho suggested' arrangement would not be prudent." It was essential that tho track should havo all possiblo supervision while trains wero running. ■ : Girls employed in factories and offices havo a champion in Mr. E. G. Allen. Ho asked the Minister for Railways whether thoy could travel 011 a worker's ticket 011 suburban lines to their work in tho cities by a, train leaving the .suburbs about 8 a.m., so as to savo thorn tho inconvenience of : having to wait an hour in tho streets until their shops or factories open; or. as an alternative'having to pay double tho amount to travel by a later train. . "I regret," ' said the Minister, "after giving the matter careful con- ; sidoration, I caiiMt authorise any extension of tho time for which workers' tickets shall be available; -but, as already intimated , young persons iii' employment can', 011 production of a certificate required by. regulation, obtain a season tickot which Will on- r able them to travel at any timo at a purely nominal rate." The rates paid to fomalo employees in tho Government printing, office, said the PrimoMinistcr to Mr. .Izard, compared favourably : with thoso paid for similar work in private establishments. An increase in tlio rates paid to girls in the earlier period of their service was under consideration.

.■Officers of tho Lands Department aro considering tho best means of preventing sand drift. Tlio Government docs not mean to purchase land for experiments in this connection, as suggested by Sir. Field. The Government does not intend to create a now Land Board in tho King Country. Tho Hon. R. M'Nab said he understood that it was ,a matter for tlio' Palmerston North Borough Council' to consider what effect should bo given to tho recommendations of tho District Road Engineer on the. scheme .for protecting areas around, that town from tho effects of river floods. . In reply to Mr. Lawry's plea for tho dutyfree admission of millet and sorghum seeds, tho Minister for Customs stated that tlio Government does not contemplate any alteration in tho tariff this session. "It is not intended to make the provisions of tlie Shea rors' Accommodation Bill apply to sheds -where loss than six shearers arc employed, as already provided for in tho nrincipal Act." This was the reply of tlio Minister for Labour to a question put by Sir W. J. Steward. ' The Hon. J. M'Gowan stated that the existing system of assisted immigration meets all present requirements, and tho time docs not appear to havo arrived for extending it by facilitating the return of New Zoalanders from Australia, as suggested by Mr-Jennings; or by adopting Sir William Steward's pronosnl to seek to attract immigrants from Germany and South Africa. As largo a sum as circumstances permit I will bo placed on tho Estimates for tlio Raetihi-Parapara Road, said tlio Hon. J. M'Gowan. Mr. Carroll, as Minister for Stamp Duties, informed Mr. Hogan that a deeds registry ! office cannot bo established at -AYangamii ov,> ing to tho expenso involvod. : Tho Native Minister said that White's "Ancient History of tho Maori" might be reprinted, if the sale of enough copies to cover' tho cost of production (about £800) were assured. Tho Premier stated that no spcciaj legal provision is required in connection with the taking of tho Mnnawatu Railway Company's employees into tho Government-service. Jf. ail opportunity offers the Government 'will'endeavour'to introduce a better system .of oar-marking sheep. . Tlio Government does not intend this session to givo authority to confer tlio degroo of Bachelor of' Literature m tho New Zealand University. In regard to two cases alleged to have boon refused admission to tho St.! Helens Hospital (Auckland) under distressing circiimstance's, the Minister for Health states: "On investigation it appears that the first case cited had mado 110 application either to St Helens or to tho Door of Hope, and no traco of such a person could be found at the address given. Np'womaii arriving in labour, whether slio has previously made application ov not, is refused admission. In tho second case, tho applicant had paid tho deposit, and did not tell tho Matron that .there would be any difficulty iu making rip the remainder of tho fee and • in bringing it with hor—in fact, sho had already put.asido £1. Tho Matron had had no communication with her since hor application." ■ ■