QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 286, 27 August 1908, Page 9

QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

THE TIMBER TRADE. . "Tho freight charges on Now Zealand timber as at present in operation," said the Minister for Railways in reply to Mr. Fiold, "were, fixed a-timo when tho value of New Zealand timber was very much less than at present. The rates are reasonable for the services performed by tho Department, and do not include charges for handling. If tho Department were called upon to handlo the timber at both. ends, it would bo necessary to impose a higher rate per 100 superficial feet for the carriage of timber. If any restriction of tho importation of Oregon pino is necessary, it should not be at the expense of tho revenue of tho Railway Department by a reduction: in rates. Orders have been placed by the Railway Department for supplies of native timber, and there has been tho greatest possible difficulty in getting tlioso orders fulfilled. After full consideration, I am not prepared at tho presont time to make any reduction in the railway rates." 11l regard to this matter Mr. Massey said that tho Government wero not doing right in subsidising boats to virtually bring Oregon pino to Now Zealand to compete with our own timber. • Ho complained also that Oregon timber was being used in connection with tho repairs to Parliamentary Building. Mr. Barber, in tho courso of somo remarks, said tho possiblo or alleged loss of employment to the sawmillers and their men was smajl compared to the number.dependent on tho carpentering trade, which was being affected by the prico of timber. He enumerated tho various trades dependent upon carpentering. . ,< The Minister for Railways, in the courso of a briof reply, said, regarding tho assertion that tho State used imported timber, that if tho native timber was unobtainable ho was certainly not going to keep carpenters of it. Yet this was becoming tho case. Ho would take Oregon timber if he could get no other. A member: Start a Stato mill.

Tho Minister was understood to reply that the Stato sawmill at Kakahi (Main Trunk) ljad' saved them from most difficult situations in tho construction of tho lino. . The mill also had paid its way handsomely. He said a gcod.numbor of places along' the Main Trunk line and tho Manawatu lino would require to be •erected beforo long, and what was the prospect if-timber was unavailable? Ho asserted that tho increase in competition had'not accounted' for the riso in tho prices of timber. (Hear, hear.) DAY'S BAY BEAUTY. ' "No record can bo found of any petition to acquire .the Day's- Bay bush, and the only representations I can recall (said tho Hon. It. M'Nab ill reply to Mr. Barber) wero those made personally to mo at an interview in November, 1907, when I stated that tho Government would consider tho question of granting-a subsidy on any money raised by the public or local bodies for tho acquisition of tho area in question. As nothing has since been done by those persons interested, the Government havo not taken any steps." Mr. Barber expressed groat disappointment at the'answor. The preservation of this locality would benefit-one of tho largest sections of people in Now Zealand. (Applauso.) Tho Government wero spending money over tho remote Tcngariro Park, the benefit of which expenditure would bo reaped by tourists and peoplo of wealth, whilo a boautifui sito, accessible, to city-stained thousands, was to bo allowed to bo wiped out. In this connection' Mr. AVilford informed a reporter that a number of petitions on this subject had boon handed by him to tile Prime Minister,

, The work of chainmen under tho Roads Department is neither of such a responsible ijaturo nor docs it requiro so much ability and training as that performed by men bearing a similar designation in the Lands and Survey Department, said tho Hon. J. M'Gowan. He therefore submitted that the difference in the rates of pay (wliicli Mr. Jennings had said, amounted ,j;o..a shilling a (lay) r/as justified. ! In reply to Mr. Jennings as to tho Mpkau Leases and Mr. Joshua Jones's conncction therewith, tho- Prime • Minister yesterday said: "The course suggested of legislating to settle n decision of tho Courts of justice is pne involving such gravo issues that I logret 110 promiso m tho direction indicated can bo

made. Tlio hotter courso for Mr. Jones, to follow would bo to petition Parliament so that lus evidence may bo -taken ami his case reported upon by tlio representatives of the people." • ■ ■ lo put ail ond to the annoyance at present caused by induction through the clcctrie train service, Mr. Barbor wanted the PostmasterGeneral to havo an installation of the metallic circuit in tlio telephono sorvico to tlio 1 Brooklyn district. The Minister yesterday replied that every subscriber to the Wellington Telephone Exchange would bo given a metallic circuit, and work was now in progress in this direction in, tho Brooklyn district. For tho information of the honourable gontleman ho might sny that thoro were only 832 connections still to bo dealt with out of a total of 3077, and it was expected that the work of connecting theso with tho metallic circuit would bo completed within tho next six muntlis.

"It will .depend upon tho number and urgency of tho case 3 requiring legislation and the length of tho present session, whether a Maori ■ Land Claims Adjustment, or washing-up, Bill, to a>vo effect to tho recommendations of the Nativo Affairs Coinmitteo; will be introduced this year."—Nativo Ministor in reply to Mr. Ngata. Mr. Sidey: "Will tho provisional classification list under the Public Servico Classification Act bo gazetted before tho close of the session?" The answer of the Minister was: "As soon as tho public classification list is received the law in connection therewith will be complied with." Instructions liavo been issued to tho registrars to notify all paronts who have not complied with tho vaccination law (said tho Hon. G. Fowlds). .If no attention is paid to tho notices, tlio registrars are authorised to' prosecute 1 , the selection of names being left to themselves, . The Hon. G. Fowlds stated that the Hospitals and-Charitable Aid Bill will bo proceeded with, if tliora js an opportunity of doing so. . . The Hon. R. M'Nab stated that the measures recommended by tho Agricultural Department for coping with the potato disoaso are quite efficient, and it is not considered necessary to offer a bonus for a remedy. | Tlio Minister for Labour promised. that consideration would bo given to the question of seeing that, in cases undor tho 'Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, tho needy are represented by counsel. j is proposed (says tho Minister for Marino) to mako provisions rdgarding tho inspection of wool, flax, tow, and skins befpro shipment in tho Bill which is being prepared to amond tho Shipping and Soa--111011 Act, and as soon as the Bill is passed ajnd comes into forco tho question as; to whothor the Marino Department will undertake the work of making tho necessary tests will bo decided. Meantime, the" question as to whethor tho Department should test tho various inventions which havo been brought under its notice is hold over. As soon as the Act comes into operation and inspectors are appointed, it will bo ono of their duties to mako investigation of the suitability of cargo for shipment with tho view of preventing fires on ocean-going ships.