HOUSE DEALS WITH WIDE VARIETY OF CURRENT TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 26185, 21 August 1947, Page 8

HOUSE DEALS WITH WIDE VARIETY OF CURRENT TOPICS

y Questions and Answers

(Special.) * WELLINGTON, August 21

A substantial portion of yesterday’s session of the House of Representatives was-devoted to Ministerial replies to questions from' both sides of the House, members seeking information on a wide variety of topics. RADIO CUTS STAND. The improved electric power position did not, in the opinion' of the electric supply authorities, warrant any restoration of the cuts mide ill the broadcasting hours. This was the reply of the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Jones) to a request by Mr P. G. Connolly (Govt., Dunedin Central) that the radio cuts be abolished under the present improved conditions. The Minister gave an assurance that the position was constantly under review, and consideration would be given to the restoration of the radio cuts when such a step was considered justified. CREAM PERMITS. All cream was sold on permits issued by the local food controller, who, in turn, only issued permits as recommended by medical practitioners, stated the Minister of Health, Miss Howard, in a written reply- to a question by Mr W. A. Slieat (Nat., Patea), who had drawn attention to the increase in the consumption of cream in Wellington during the last two years.

The Minister added that she was informed that the figures for 1947 included sales in Hutt Valley, as well as the city area. In 1945 the city only was supplied, and this accounted for some -of the increase. Although more permits for cream were now being issued under doctors’ orders than was the case two years ago, the Department of Health was not aware of any deterioration in the general health of the public of Wellington over that period. BARQUE PAMIR’S FUTURE. The Government was at present considering the future disposition of the barque Pamir, stated the Minister of Marine, Mr O’Brien, in a written reply to a question by Mr T. L. Maftdonald (Nat., Wallace). The Minister said that consideration was being given to the disposal of the vessel, continuance of operation on a purely commercial basis, and operationon a basis of commercial use and training ship combined. No offer to purchase the vessel had been received, said the Minister. Overall, up to tile-end of the last voyage, which was the ninth, the operations of the vessel showed a small profit. WATERFRONT CONTROL.

There was no Government plan for t.he . establishment of a new waterfront commission consisting of six memberg at a salary of £1.650 each, stated the Minister of Labour, Mr McLagan, in a written reply to a question by Mr W. A. Sheat (Nat., Patea). The Minister added that exploratory discussions of the possibility of establishing a representative waterfront commission had been held with organisations of employers and workers, and not with any individual The Government did not intend .to commence discussions with any- individual, much - less coutinue them, said the Minister. The Government was desirous of establishing a suitable and efficient form of waterfront commission acceptable to the organisations of employers and employees in the industry, and it was not a question qt reaching agreement- with any individual. • WEEK-END LIBERTY.

A proposal that an alteration should be made to the law to provide that offenders should be required to spend their week-ends in prison was by no means novel, stated the AttorneyGeneral, Mr Mason, in a written reply circulated in the House. He added that it had been closely examined previously, but it was fraught with too many practical difficulties to be capable of adoption with advantage. The Minister’s answer was in reply to a question by Mr J. R. Hanan (Nat., Invercargill), Mr W. H. Fortune (Nat., Eden), Mr C, L. Carr (Govt., Timaru), and Mr D. M. llae (Nat., Parnell), who had asked whether consideration had been given to the question of initiating reforms in the judicial system in order to .give the. courts wider powers in regard to forms of sentences. AUXILIARY POWER. “ The allocation of power in the South Island is now the same as this time last year, and it is hoped that the department will shortly be able to alleviate the position still further.” This was an announcement -by the Minister of Works attached to his reply to a question from Mr W. H. Gillespie (Nat., Hurunui), asking what steps were being taken to instal auxiliary power stations in the South Island. The Minister’s answer on this point was that the chief electrical engineer of the State. Hydro-electric Department had been instructed to ascertain whilst in Britain if suitable plant of 25,000 or 38,000 k.w. capacity could be obtained for urgent delivery. INFORMATION FOR IMMIGRANTS. Immigration booklets gave a sober and realistic description of conditions of employment and housing in this country, and were not in any way misleading, stated the Minister of Immigration, Mr McLagan, in a written reply to a question by Mr W. Sullivan (Nat., Bay of Plenty), who had asked the Minister if he would investigate a report that 30 immigrants were so disappointed that they immediately booked their return passages to Britain.

The Minister said the only information available as to the number of persons who were alleged to have returned to the United Kingdom and their reasons for leaving New Zealand was contained in the Press report. As these people had left the country, it was not possible to make any detailed investigation into the matter. Mr, McLagan said that inquiries had failed to reveal the number of persons involved, but it was definite that none of those concerned was brought to New Zealand under the Government’s immigration scheme. It would appear from the Press report that the people concerned were family groups who had come to New Zealand entirely on their own initiative and without first having taken the precaution of making inquiries from a reliable source such as the High Commissioner’s office. All overseas inquirers were definitely advised of the acute housing shortage, and were informed that it was practically impossible for new arrivals to rent houses or flats. Married people were also advised against coming to New Zealand at present unless they had made prior arrangements for accommodation on arrival.