ON THE ESTIMATES

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 60, 8 September 1917, Page 4

ON THE ESTIMATES

POST AND TELEGRAPH AFFAIRS

DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT

Shortly after 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon the House of Representatives went into Committee of Supply for the consideration of the Estimates.

At the vote for the Treasury Department, Mr. Ell contended that there was quite a large amount of space available in the new Parliament Buildings that could be utilised for public offices. If that was so used it would save a great deal of the rent that was being paid yearly on behalf of various Departments. Sir Joseph Ward said that arrangements had been made for the removal of the National Provident Fund offices to tho new police offices. Answering a question by Mr. Forbes, Sir Joseph Ward said that the position of the Friendly Societies in regard to funeral benefits was becoming serious. Later on it would have to receive much fuller consideration.

In answer to Dr. Newman, the Treasurer said that it was proposed to make a statement on the subject of the date of thfe. payment of land and income tax. He would also have an explanatory statement published so as to make the system of land tax and income tax as clear as possible. The vote was passed.

POST AND TELEGRAPH,

The next Department dealt with was Post and Telegraph, total vote £1,456,----086.

Mr. Hornsby complained that cadets who lived .away from home had not enough to live on respectably. Sir Joseph Ward . replied that he would reconsider the whole scale, "but it had to be borne in mind that selfabnegation in one's earlier days was not a bad thing.

NOT THE TIME FOR CABLE

CONCESSIONS.

The Hon. K. Heaton Rhodes asked the Postmaster-General what was to be the future of the Pacific cable.

Sir Joseph Ward, answering this and other questions, said he would like to be able to say that the system of. "coding" of cables could be reverted to. But the limitation applied to all parts o.E the British Empire. It was done to prevent any possibility of any messages being intercepted. As to the Pacific cable, there was no liability at all this year. New Zealand was not required to make up any deficit. He had discussed the matter with the authorities at Home, and he had come to the conclusion that this was no time for further concessions. • . • ■.

Mr. V. H. R.«ed asked what the' Department was going to do about telephone extension ? Sir Joseph Ward said the Government had 400 tons of wire ordered, but the Department had. not a ton on hand. The Department could not do anything, until they got the wire. , '

NO BIG VOTES FOR EXTENSIONS.

In answer to another question, Sir Joseph Ward said that applications for increase in the size of post offices would have to wait until the war was over. He was referring particularly to Patea, and New Plymouth, but it was in any case impossible to put on a large vote for extension purposes. It was' no use asking him for money for such purposes. The Government would not put on the Estimates sums of £50,000 or £100,000 for the erection of public buildings until the war was over. If that was done the burden of taxation would become unbearable.

INLAND MAILS CONTRACTORS.

Speaking on the subject of the conveyance of Inland mails, Mr. Hornsby said that some of the .contractors would have to give up their contracts owing to the increase in prices since the contract price had been-arranged, and they were running at a. loss. He suggested that one way out of such a difficulty would be for the Department to supply contractors with .their necessary requirements Otherwies some of the contractors would have' to give up their contracts. Mr. G. R. Sykes supported Mr.. Hornsby in his argument, and added that, when the contractors tendered, the cost of running a car was 3jd a mile, and now it was 6d. The only way out of it was for the Government to provide contractors with supplies at wholesale prices. Sir Joseph Ward pointed out that in such cases it was quite possible 'that persons who had tendered unsuccessfully 'would infer that the contract should be concluded, and fresh tenders invited.

Mr. WOford said he had an idea that the Post and Telegraph Office' had no liking for tli6 sic* telephones that some influence Tras pulling against their erection. Incidentally he paid a tribute to Mr. Ell for tho work he h«d done in establishing the "slots," and suggested that 'they should be called "EUephones." Sir Joseph Ward said he was in favour of providing slot telephones wherever possible. He knew nothing of anyone resisting the establishment of such institutions ; if he knew of anything of that sonb being done he would put a stop to it.

' Mr. Sykes urged the necessity of installing slot telephones in Masterton, He believed they would there be a payable proposition. Sir Joseph Ward contended that the telephone facilities of Nev) Zealand were not surpassed by any other country in the, world.

The vote passed.