MINISTERIAL REPLIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 September 1944, Page 3

MINISTERIAL REPLIES

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WELLINGTON, September 13. Written answers to questions, 41 ot which were tabled, were discussed in the House of Representatives this afternoon. _ . Seamen's Bonus. —The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser), replying to Mr Sheat (Opposition, Patea), said that although the danger to seamen employed on the New Zealend coast had undoubtedly declined since the present rate of bonus was introduced, it was by no means eliminated, and accordingly it was not proposed to discontinue the bonus. The Government was not aware of the bonus having been reduced in any part of the Empire. J . Fencing Standards. —The Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan), replying to Mr Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago), said the restriction on the use of steel for fencing standards had been recently removed. The Government was taking steps to import supplies of suitable sizps of steel for rollmu - in local mills'. Meanwhile any suitable sizes in the Government’s reserve stocks would be made available.

School Teachers’ Salaries. —Replying to Mr Bodkin, the Minister of Education (Mr Mason) said regulations were at present in preparation I'ov a revision of the salaries of all secondary and technical school teachers." Any increases payable under the new scale would date from February 1, and instructions had been given to add arrears to the cheques for September. These changes embodied. the maximum which had been possible to achieve under the stabilisation regulations. The Government proposed to set up a consultative committee to inquire and report as to the recruitment, sajaric-s, and conditions of service of such teachers, but these adjustments were being made in the meantime.

Release of Objectors.—Replying to Mr Sutherland (Opposition, Hauraki). who asked for an assurance to the country that military objectors would not bo released until all servicemen had been rehabilitated, Mr Mason, as Minister of Justice, said an assurance could not be given in terms open to so much variation of interpretation. Any decisions in the matter would be made in the light of relevant circumstances existing when decisions were made, and would be so directed as to safeguard the rehabilitation interests of servicemen. Civil Rights.—Answering a question by Mr Sutherland as to whether the Government intended to introduce legislation depriving military defaulters of their civil rights for a period of years. Mr Fraser said the matter would receive the , Government’s consideration.

Paper and Pulp Mills.—Answering Mr. Gillespie (Opposition, Hurunui) the Commissioner of State Forests (Mr. Skinner) said it was correct that the Government had in view the development of a national pulp and paper milling scheme for the future, but such a project, though not necessarily a Slate scheme, had been envisaged by the State Forest Service since 1925. Such a scheme was a logical and integral part of the proper utilisation ’of exotic softwoods. Final proposals were now being prepared for examination by the Organisation for National Development.

Censorship.—Answering a question by Mr. Eroadfoot (Opposition, Waitomo) concerning the censorship of private correspondence forwarded internally in the Dominion, Mr. Fraser said it was not expected that it would be possible to remove- entirely internal censorship until the cassation of hostilities with all our moment enemies and particularly unci! the conclusion of the war agamst Japan. although it had nnuady been greatly relaxed. The censorship wa.s maintained solely lor security reasons. Taking of Census. —Mr. Sullivan, replying to Mr. W. Sullivan (Opposition, Bay of Plenty) said the Government' had under immediate consideration the question of whether a census would be taken next year. The difficulties of taking a census under war conditions weie considerable. Serpentine Super. —Replying to Mr. Sutherland, who asked tnuc Unuse of serpentine in superphosphate should be optional, the Minister oi Agriculture (Mr. Roberts) said that die National Council of Production had reiterated its suggestion that serpentine should be used. This reply was discussed by several members. Mr. C. Morgan V/iiliams (Government, Kaiapoi) pointed out that experiments had shown that serpentine helped io keep a proper balance in the soil. This was supported by Mr. Polson (Opposition, Stratford), who declared that opposition to serpentine did not come from the farmers, but from “certain financial interests in the north.” Mr. Sutherland argued that those who did not waht to use serpentine should not be compelled to do so. Radio Serials.—An answer to a question by Mr. McCombs (Government, Lyttelton) by the Minister in charge of Broadcasting (Mr. Jones) regarding the broadcasting of serials which might prove harmful to young children was also debated at length. The Minister’s reply stated that there was a diversity of opinion even among authorities, as well as parents. In fact, many requests had been received from parents to have the .serials broadcast earlier, so that children could get to bed instead of having to wait up to listen to .them. Mr. McCombs referred to a serial which had depicted a woman being attacked and locked in a room, and said he had been told by a woman that this had had an effect cn her children's nerves.