MINISTERS REPLY TO QUESTIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 September 1949, Page 10

MINISTERS REPLY TO QUESTIONS

WELLINGTON, Sept. 21 (P.A.).— Ministers’ written replies to questions were ■ circulated in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Sales Tax.— “ The Minister of Customs (Mr Nash), replying to Mr K. J. Holyoake (Opposition, Pahiatua), said sales tax exemptions were recently extended to coyer practically everything in the way of printed books and papers and racebooks were now included in the exemptions. This was done because of the difficulty in determining which particular types of books and papers were liable to tax. Nd such difficulty arose with birthday and similai’ cards, but the question of exempting them from sales tax would be given early consideration.

Control Of Bank Advances.—“Mr Nash, answering Mr A. S.‘ Sutherland (Opposition, Hauraki), said the Government’s policy of controlling advances by trading banks was an antiinflationary one which aimed at limiting the amount of bank credit issued especially when the accommodation should be obtained from non-banking sources. The policy was subject to constant review in line with current economic conditions, the measure of control being merely sufficient to prevent the undue extension of bank credit. It was not considered the control hindered increased production as each case was considered on its merits. The Government would consider revising or lifting the control measures if at any time their continuation appeared unnecessary or undesirable. Air Service Certificate. —“The Minister in charge of the Air Department (Mr F. Jones), answering Mr M. H. Oram (Opposition, Manawatu), said the National Airways Corporation had not yet been able to meet requirements for the issue of an air service certificate, but had in all of the immediately essential ■ respects fully met the safety requirements for the issue of such, a certificate to the satisfaction of the Civil Aviation Branch. The corporation should be able to qualify for the issue of an air. service certificate in the immediate future. Absentee Ownership.— “ The Prime Minister' (Mr Fraser), answering Mr J. J. Maher (Opposition, Otaki), said that the Minister of Lands (Mr C. F. Skinner) ,in stating recently that absentee ownership would be gradually eliminated by the continuation of the policy of encouraging the. purchase of farm land by’genuine working farmers “was reiterating the Government’s present policy.” No further legislation was at, -present required to implement this policy.

..Intoxication -in Charge .Of. Car.—“The Attorney-General (Mr H. G. R. Mason), answering : Mr W. H. Fortune (Opposition, Eden) said the. existing maximum penalty for intoxication in charge of a motor-vehicle was three months’ imprisonment or a fine of £lOO. The actual penalty in each.case was fixed by the Court,: subject to these limits; These limits did not stand in the way of independent proceedings for manslaughter or any other offence that might be associated with that of intoxication in charge. Empire Games Special Trains.— “The Minister of Railways (Mr R. Semple), answering G. Connolly (Government, Dunedin Central),

said jthe Railways-Department • would run additional . trains to meet the requirements of Empire Games traffic. Mr ’ Conholly: had' asked-. fot .special trains: through .the South arid . North Islands : to. Lake 'South Islanders /to the games..'.. / / ; J.':' / . w.u/.•; -' Jet |Aircraft./-“Mr Jones, replying to Mr T. L. Macdonald (Opposition, Iljataura), said , the .National Airways Corporation : was with the closest interest the /development m Great Byitairi' of modern commercial aircraft,' butdt was unlikely that jet airliners would be suitable for ipter-r nal. operation in New Zealand at present. They were too large to- be operated from existing airfields. There, were turbine-powered aircraft now being developed 'in which the corporation would be interested. They would offer higher'speeds and greater passenger cornfort, but the economics of operation must also be given careful consideration. There had been insufficient experience to date on these aircraft.

National Theatre Proposal.—“Mr Frasei’, replying to Dr A. M. Finlay (Government, North Shore), said the Government had been considering the formation of a national theatre and he had. already had some preliminary conversations with interested parties. He was anxious to proceed with the project, but was conscious of the need for very’ careful consideration of such an important venture. As soon as some more definite proposals had been formulated there would be further discussions. He would, obtain further information about the plan of the Commonwealth Government to establish a national theatre in Australia. .

Content To Remain : Peerless.—“Mr Frasei’,;..replying to' Mr.. W. A.'.:Sheat (Opposition; ’Patea)',/whoihad .drawn the Prime Minister’s attention to a report that he would enter the House of Lords arid join an Empire council of elder statesmen in London, said the statement, which appeared in a Communist newspaper, was a complete fabrication and he was sure no “person high in Labour circles in Britain” had helped to circulate such stupid rubbish. “As Prime Minister I- am very pleased and well content to remain peerless,” Mr Fraser. Maori Antiquities.—“Kiir Parry, answering Mr W. Sullivan (Opposition, Bay of Plenty) said every care was taken to prevent Maori antiquities leaving New Zealand. Few permits had been granted for the export of such articles and no permission had been given for the reported export of an historic Maori mere by the New Zealand Navy League to the Navy League of Canada. School Journal.— “ The Minister of Education (Mr T. H. McCombs), answering Mi’ D. M. Rae (Opposition, Parnell), said criticism of the literary standard of recent issues of the School Journal presumably referred to ■ slang expressions in a published short story.' Mr McCombs said this story had an authentic New Zealand background and, if exception was taken to the slang used, exception could be taken on similar ground to the publication in the Journal of extracts form Dickens, Mark Twain, Marryat, and other classic authors. Use Of Iron.— Mr Semple, answering Mr E. B. Corbett (Opposition, Egmont), who had quoted the cage of a farmer who was refused a permit to use salvaged iron from his own property in repairing buildings after a gale, said instructions had been given to all district building controllers to . exercise discretion in approving the use bf second-hand iron by bona fide owners of such material. Waterfront Control.— “Mr McLagan answering Mr Sutherland, said normal work had been resumed on the waterfront under restored commission control and the question of bringing the Waterside Workers’ Union under the Arbitration Court’s jurisdiction as suggested therefore did not arise. Answering another question by Mr Sutherland, the Minister said: “I am not aware of any disruptive elements in the Waterfront Industry Commission.” Theatrical Make-Up.™A licence to import theatrical make-up had been granted, said Mr Nash, in reply to Mr C. Carr (Government, Timaru). Mr Carr had said in the question that make-up materials were practically unprocurable. Chatham Islands Fish.— “lt is quite incorrect to assume that Chatham Islands fish is normally consumed in Christchurch and Canterbury,” said the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer), in reply to Mr J. K. McAlpine (Opposition, Selwyn). Mr McAlpine had asked whether it was the intention of the Government to continue to use departmental aircraft to carry fish from the Chathams to the North Island when it was normally consumed in Christchurch and Canterbury.