MINISTERIAL REPLIES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1202, 10 August 1911, Page 7

MINISTERIAL REPLIES.

TO MEMBERS' QUESTIONS. STATE BOARDING-SCHOOLS. No fewer than 151 Ministerial replies to questions put by members were circulated yesterday in printed form. • The Minister fesr Education (the Hon. G. l'owlds) sees considerable difficulties in the way of establishing State boardingschools in the cities, as suggested in a question by }[r. Taylor, and he thinks the number unprovided for by scholarships, railway facilities, etc., is not large. He adds:—"ln my opinion every secondary school which has a • considerable area of agricultural or pastoral land around it should have recognised boardinghouses, where the pupils could be tvdyofl i<ndor propel supervision at reasonable rates. There are obvious objections to bringing all the countrv pupils into the large cities, and the cost of suitable sites would be a serious addition to the total cost of the scheme."

The Elingamite. The Minister for Marine states that provision for a rehearing of the inquiry telating to the wreck of the Elingamite will be made in the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill. If this is done provision will be made that the evidence taken at the former inquiry shall be accepted by the Court as evidence, as it will beimpossible to get all the witnesses who were then examined. The magistrate, Mr. Haselden, and one of the assessors. Captain Smith, would be available, but the other assessor, Captain Waddilove, was lost in the Duco. The Osborne Judgment The Minister for Labour states, in reply to Mr. Fisher, that he does not intend this session to introduce legislation reversing the Osborne judgment in so far as it relates to New Zealand, as trades unionists, who desire to use their funds for political purposes, can register under the Unclassified Societies Act. Native Land Claims. Mr. ■ Field asked the Native Minister when he purposed setting up the promised Court or other tribunal of inquiry, in conformity with the report of the Nativn Affairs Committeo of last year, to investigate the claims of the Ngatitera 'and Ngatihauriu hapus of the Xgatitca. tribu in respect of lands in the Pahautanui and l'ackafcariki districts. The Minister roplied that there wore a number of similar claims, which were under consideration. If circumstances warranted further inquiry, a commission would bo set up to deal with the matter.

Hon. R. M'Kenzie's Behaviout. Mr. Herdman asked the Acting-Prime Minister: "Whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the behaviour of the.Minister for Public Works when waited upon by a deputation, headed by the Acting-Mayor of Wellington, on Tuesday, July 25, 1011, to discuss proposed regulations under the Tramways Act; and if the attention of the Government has been drawn to the Minister's conduct, does it propose to take any action in the matter?" The reply given yesterday was: "The Government dees not consider any action necessary."

"Wireless" Patents, In reply to' Mr. Wilford. the ActingPrime Minister stated that the Government is aware of the terms of the Parker judgment on wireless telegraphy, but', in view of the opinion of the Department's consulting engineers in London, there has been no reason to feel the slightest anxiety. The Government is not aware of the source of the honourable members information that the Admiralty had given the opinion thai "subject to anv appeal or further judicial decision that may affect the judgment, no commercial system now known is outside the Marconi master patent"; but the Acting-Primo Minister states that the Admiralty, on August 3, denied that any such statement or declaration was over made by them. The interests of the Dominion are protected to 'the fullest extent by a bond for .£IO,OOO given by sureties approved by the bankers of the Post and Telegraph Department.

Maori War Veterans. The position regarding the claims made by JUaori war veterans and recently investigated by stipendiary magistrate.-, was explained yesterday by tho Hon. G. I'otylds. The. Minister stated that tho majority of recommendations from magistrates have reached the Government and are being .classified. Claims for tho New Zealand war medals to (ho number of seventy have been allowed and medals issued. A number of veterans petitioned larhaincnt for a special military pension ol 10s. per week in lieu of pensions under the Old Age Pensions Act, but the Government was unable to entertain the proposal. Replies in Brief, Answering Mr. Luke, the Minister for Internal Atfa lr s stated that the Classification Board is now sitting and will deal with the■salaries of officers in the Inspection of Machinery Department along with others. r : Replying to Mr Dive the Minister for Public Works stated that the Government will consider the introduction of a Railways Authorisation Bill at a later period of the session. The construction of the railway to Opunako and other branch linc-s will then be dealt with Interrogated by Mr. Luke the Acti'n"--Minister for Customs stated that as soon as tho report of Mr. Cameron, 'trade expert, upon the state of the iron and steel industry in the Dominion is available, tho Government will deal with th* whole question as a matter of policv. " the Alimster for Railways has declined w .adopt a suggestion in Parliament that bo allowed to travel at half rates Hie Minister for Labour agrees with Mr. M Laren that wages should bo a liivf. claim upon a bankrupt's estate, and if time will permit the question of introducing legislation in this direction (his «t«. sion will be considered. The Minister for Marine, in replv to a question m which Mr. J. Duncan referred to the burning of a. bcnzinr-propollrd bunch in the Pelorus Sound, states that the regulations provide I hat vessels must carry means of fire extinguishing. Experiments have been made, and surveyors nf ships will be specially instructed to see that, the necessary appliances are carried JJarboiir Boards have been asked | 0 lot the Marino Department have anv amendments they think are required in'the Harbours Act, and as coon as replies are received from them (say* the linn. .1 \ Millar) t,n> question of introducing nii amending Bill will be considered Tho Civil Service classification' list has not been compleled. but the Government states that an announcement will lie m .'it!« on the subject lo the House rlurintr Hie session.

Mr. 01;ey, in n question In the Native. Minister, suggested legislation ffj v j n « tenants of lands held under Hie 'Vc;T Coast Mttaßont? Reserves Ac! (he n >hf to grant options for boring for nil rivn r the land leased by them, snbiort-to .the consent, of tho Puhlic Trustep.' The Min' ister, in reply, says that if any legislation is brought down the position will be conadered, but it must be noted that oil,

minerals, etc., are excepted from tho lessee's interest in the West Coast settlement reserves leases.

The Itnhotu Township is not a township under Hie provisions of the Native Townships Act. IS!).), and, therefore, cannot be dealt with thereunder the Native Minister in reply to Mr. Dive). It householders de-ire local government they have tho necessary provisions afforded them to constitute'themselves a local authority under the Town Boards Act, 1908.

NEW BILLS. The Stone Quarries Act of last year provided, inter alia, that when explosives are used in a quarry a charge which has missed lire may be drawn ivy n copper pricker, but must not be approached until three hours after the lighting of the fuse. Tho Hon. ]J. M'Kenzie's amending Bill proposes to reduce the three hours to one. The Otaki County Bill (Mr. Field) proposes to constitute a new county of that name, to comprise the Otaki and To Horo ridings of iho llorowhcnun county and the Wlnirerna riding of the Htitt county. Tho Olaki road district is to be abolished. Nolice has been given nf the introduction of Ihe following new Bills:—Wanganui [fiver Bridge Bill (Mr. IFogan), Mount Hutf County Bill (Mr .Hardy), Civil Service Reform (.Mr. Herdman). Municipal Corporations Amendment. Bill (dealing with election of Mayors) (Mr. Davey).