DIPLOMATS ABROAD -N.Z. CONSIDERING AN EXTENSION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22696, 22 July 1948, Page 3

DIPLOMATS ABROAD -N.Z. CONSIDERING AN EXTENSION

(P.R.) WELLINGTON, July 22. Ministers’ answers to questions were to members in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser, replying to Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Oppos., Waitomo), said he had no information whether the long absence from the Dominion of the French Minister was associated with the Government’s lack of reciprocity in appointing a New Zealand Minister in Paris. It was not intended to abolish the New Zealand Legation in Moscow, but the question of diplomatic representation in France and Belgium was under consideration. Tractors From U.S. A question based on the Federated Farmers’ scheme to obtain agricultural tractors from America was put by Mr. A. S. Sutherland (Oppos., Hauraki), who was informed by the Minister of Finance, Mr. W. Nash, that the question of still further imports was being considered though it was not proposed to raise loans in the United States.

Commenting on this reply, Mr. E. B. Corbett (Oppos., Egmont) said that the Federated Farmers knew the requirements of the industry and knew the suitability and adaptability of various machines. He would appeal to the Minister to see that the promised talks with the Federated Farmers took place soon as the mechanisation of farms was of the utmost urgency. Mr. Nash said he had received, information that afternoon that British crawler four and five-furrow tractors would be available in 19-19. He thought there was something a little fanciful in what the Federated Farmers had put up. Folio Restrictions The Minister of Health, Miss M. Howard, told Dr. A. M. Finlay (Govt., North Shore) that there was no exaggerated public complacency regarding the poliomyelitis danger, and her advisers did not think it necessary to impose blanket restrictions on children’s gatherings as local restrictions would meet the position. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr. A. If. Nordmeycr, answering Mr. R. M. Algie (Oppos., Remucra), stated that the steamer Mountpark was under charter to the Union Steam Ship Company from the Denholm Line, but by arrangement with the New Zealand Government any profit or loss on the charter was to the Government’s account. No demurrage was payable for days on which the ship was not worked.

The Minister of Labour, Mr. A. McLagan, informed Mr. M. li. Oram (Oppos., Manawatu) that the price paid for the Pyramid coal mine, Recflfon. which the owners had worked at a loss, was £7750.