WHAT MEMBERS WANT TO KNOW.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 857, 1 July 1910, Page 4

WHAT MEMBERS WANT TO KNOW.

A BUDGET OF QUESTIONS. Mr. T. E. Taylor gave notice in the House yesterday that he intended to ask the Prime Minister whether his attention had been drawn to the recent remarks of Mr. Justice Chapman at Auckland in regard to bookmakers, and whether the House or country will be given ail opportunity to pronounce judgment on the iotalisator and the bookmakers.

Tho Postmaster-General is to bo asked by Mr.' Herdmaii if the Government intend to ercct a suitable post office in Molosworth Street in place of the present unsuitable structure.

Mr. Buchanan gave notice that ho will ask the Minister for Public Works if lie would have a survey made of the best route for n railway from Foallierston to Martinborough with a view of having the line included in tho next Railways Authorisation Bill.

Tho Government- is to be asked by Mr. Wright why as tenders are called yearly for the cartage contract for the railways the same policy is not followed in connection with the Defence, Agricultural, and other Departments, and if it is true that certain firms have had a monopoly of the cartage Vol- these .Departments i'or some veins past without competition.

Mr. Herd man intimated that ho intended to ask that the House be supplied with lull particulars of the scheme for Hi'.' alteration of tho Parlia-mentary gi omuls and the arrangement entered into between the Government and the City Council in regard to tho matter.

Mr. Buchanan stated that lie would ask the 'Government if they intended to take the necessary. steps lo acquire the liautotara Estate near Martinborougli.

Mr. Ilerdman gave notice of his intention to move t hat there 'be' laid" tin -the faille of the House, a return showing— (t) Tlio anjouat yuid to tho contractor and

the cost of material supplied in connec-. tion with the contract for additions . to the old Parliamentary Buildings. (2) The amount paid to the contractor as compensation "far the termination of his contract. (3) The amount spent on additions and alterations to tho old Parliamentary Buildings; and (1) the amount spent on additions and alterations to the building which was at present being used as Parliament House:

Jlr. Buchanan intimated that he would ask the Government whether they will make provision on this year's Estimates for the reinstatement of the nineiience capitation to school committees which was withheld last year.

Mr. Field said that he intended to ask the Government if it intended to give effect to the resolution of the Ijo u-e last session that tlio dispute between the State Coal Department and the Fanners' Distributing; Company' should be referred to arbitration' or ths Crown Suits Act Y,'ai\ed in connection with it, and, if not, what action does it propose to take to givo the company relief, as tho proposed removal of the State coal depot was now of no benefit to the company as its lease of the adjoining premises would expire shortly.

Mr. Hogg expressed his intention of asking the Government whether it was a fact that applications for sums of .£SOO ami over could not yet lie entertained by tho Advances to Settlers Ofiice.

Jlr. Jennings (Taumarunui) is asking for information about the coal-mino at Waimarino, which was recently heard so much of. Jlr. Jennings is curious as to "tho .size of the seams, the quality, of the eoal. and when it will be available for people in' close proximity to the Main Trunk railway line.

The Minister for Native Affairs is being asked by Mr. Jennings what the position is in respect to the disputes between the parties in connection with the Mokiui-Mokakotina Block of 51,000 acres (known as the Mokau Jones Block). This large area of land being practically unoccupied is, he says, a sroat lilork to the progress of South Auckland and North Taranaki.

Mr. Davev is to ask the Government if it will place a sum on the Estimates to assist the St. John Ambulance Association in the four centres.

Mr. Arnold is desirous of knowing whether the- Minister for Railways intends to introduce a Bill relating to unemployed insurance.

Mr. Buchanan, M.P. for Wairarapa, wishes to know whether the Government approves the proposal to levy an increment tax, as suggested by tile Minister for Education in his recent speech at Auckland.

' The question as to whether a dairy school should be' erected at: Palmerston North eamc- up again in the House yesterday. for Mr. Ruiek gave notice to ask the Minister for Education what steps have been taken to carry out the promise given by the Prime Minister and the Hon. K. JPNab in regard to the matter