INSURANCE INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 268, 6 August 1920, Page 8

INSURANCE INQUIRY

GOVERNMENT' GATHERING INFORMATION. Mr. T. M. AViLford (Hutt) asked a question in tho House of Representative!), if the fevent of the appointment of a stipendiary magistrate to inquire into the industrial insurance business of tho Dominion, the Government would include in the order of reference an instruction for special inquiry into the methods of those industrial associations or companies which/(a) divide their profits among their policy-holders, and (b) uivide their' profits among their'shareholders.' "I have to 6tate lhat" tho Government is awaiting full information regarding theSvliole matter, including the question of whether tho Lifo .Insurance Aot, 1908, so far /as that Act relates to insurances by parents, on tho lives of children, should ,be amended," replied the Hon. J. G. .Coatos. "The Government will, at the time' it considers the question of amendment of the Act referred to, also consider tho question of whether a stipendiary magistrate should be appointed, to inquire into tho various questions raised by the honourable member. £ hope to give ihe honourable member definite answers at art early date, and in the meantime I can assure him that, the necessary information is being got together as rapidly as possiblo in. order to enable the Government to arrive at a decision."

CABLEGRAMS

THB OVERLOADED CABLES. , "There does not appear to be any prospect ol the acceptance of week-end messages being resumed," Said the Post-master-General (Mr. C'oates),-.iu reply to a question. "The Pacific cable is U IS worKed up to its full capacity. The number of words transmitted over the Pacific route is ' greatly iu oxcess of the estimated maximum capacity of the cable, and considerable delay often occurs. The week-end rate, was •. Bd. a word, against; 2s. Sd. full rate. ..During tho past five years the acceptance of deferred messages has been suspended many tames by both Pacific and Eastern routes. Deferred messages are at present accepted by-each ;route. , The-.rate is Is. 4d. ,a word. I "The congestion on the Eastern Extension Company's system is as great as. on the Pacific route. Although the number of cable messages transmitted lias increased greatly ot late years, a good deal of the congestion' is due lo the Eastern Extension Company's lines wing overloaded in consequence c£ tho interruption of the Indo-European and Great' Northern routes to the East. _ As a re< suit, a large amount of traffic is diverted to the Pacific route- which . would normally be carried 'by the Eastern cables. It cannot be said how long these conditions will continue. The question of duplicating the Pacifio cable is under consideration, but the work would take several vears to complete. The ordinary rate for" cable messages .was reduced in 1015 from 3s. to 2s. Bd. a word.- , Now Zealand's share is Id. a word. No proposal has been made to reduco the present ordinary rate." 1 ministerFanswers . SOME .INTERESTING STATEMENTS. The Government does not' proposo to pay compensation to goldniiners Trh.o. Buffered financially through the prohibition of the export of gold during the war. Bills now-being prepared for consideration this session, says tho Primo Minister. will show what the Government proposes to do in connection. wit lithe recommendations made in tho reports of the Board of Trade and of the Industries Committee for tho improvement, of tho | mining and distribution of coal ill the Dominion. ' .

The Government is inquiring as to tho accuracy of n statement that the Federated Seamen's Union of Austrtilia haa expelled all'members of that union who am Natives of Rarotonga. The Government does not consider li practicable to take possession of empty houses and let or sell them to houseless families. Dr, Pomare, Minister in chargo of the Cook Islands, states that arrangements have been made with the Hukarere School Governors for the admission of scholarship girls from Rarolongan schools to Hukarero School, and threo scholarships will be offered at Ibo beginning of next year. The Govornmeut doe 9 not intend to publish at present information in its possefsion regarding the names under which tho Meat Trust is operating in New Zealand. The whole question of the operations of trust firms and their agents is receiving the closest attention. INDENTURED" CHINESE CORRESPONDENCE'TO BE PUBLISHED. The Minister of External Affairs (Mr. Lee) stated yesterday that the Government had received' a cnblegriim\from tho Secretary of Stnte for the Colonies asking if the 'New Zealand Government had any objection to correspondence specified by the Imperial Government with resnect to the indenturing of Chinese coolies for Samoa being laid 011 tho table of tlie House of Commons. Jh« New Zealand Government had replied that it hfid no objection, and as soon as it received advice that the correspondence referred to had been laid before the Houso of Commons, a copy would be furnished for the information' of honourable members. theteTdhty "Will tho Government without delay romo.vo the duty from tea in order to reduce tho high cost of living? .ask™ Dr. Newman (Wellington East) 111 tho Houso oE Representatives Yesterday. The Minister of Customs (Mr. Homes) replied that tho matter had iiot been considered by Cabinet. Ho < did not think it was likely to bft considered this session. "ONE BUTTERED^CRUMPET " Recently Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller) drew the attention of the House 01 Representatives tp a letter sent by tho Wellington Price Investigation Tribunal to a city firm complaining that Oil. had been charged for "one buttered crumpet." The Minister for Industries and Coiumerco explained yesterday that the tribunals "adopt tho attitude that no complaint, evero from tho humblest member of the community, is too trivial for investigation."