PARLIAMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 20 July 1928, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MINISTERS’ REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

(By Telegraph—l*resa Association.;

VVELLINGTUN, J uly 18.

Ministers gave the following.answers to questions' in the House of Representatii es to-day : Thai married men employed on relief work on day wages are receiving 12s per day of eight hours and single men Us. The Government cannot agree, however, to'married and single men on co-operative contracts receiving minimum of i2tj and Us per day respectively, whether they earn those amounts or not.

That it is not proposed to raise any special loan lor .the State Advances Dejiartment. That the question of an unemployment insurance scheme was dealt with by the industrial conference, which had no recommendation to make.

That it was not intended to introduce legislation this session to provide pensions for those suliering from cancer, consumption and other incuraole or prolongeu ailments. Tnat- it is hoped ah agreement will shortly be made which will remove the risk of those engaged in handling;, basic slag: "* That the Government does not'propose-’ this sesssion- to increase the amount of widows' pensions', old-age pensions or family allowances in- connection with the questions of reciprocity with Australia. In regard to oldage pensions, consideration is being given to representations submitted by the Minister of Lands during his visit to Australia. The matter of reciprocity with Great Britain is in abeyance pending the conclusion of negotiations with Australia. It was not proposed to increase the amount of income a widow might earn without deduction being made i.om her pension. That the progiess of the Bill introduced into the imperial Department, providing for a fixed day tor Easter is being officially noted. The question |of introducing legislation will be considered if the Bill at present before'-the Imperial Parliament becomes law. That the question of reducing the number of members of the Dairy Produce Export Control Board has not been considered, because it has not been asked lor by responsible organisations of the industry. That it, is not proposed at the, present time to set up a- commission to inquire into tlie causes of numerous motor accidents. It is considered that if ail motorist would comply with the regulations laid l down for their guidance, accidents would he very few. That the administration of the Rural Intermediate Credit Act of 1927 hasbeen entrusted to a central board and 16 district boards, on all of which the farming industry is fully and capably represented, and l these boards can be relied on to see that every possible assistance is given to applicants consistent with the maintenance of the scheme in a satisfactory position. That if the Customs tariff is amended this session the question of imposing a duty on cocksfoot seed will receive careful consideration. That the reduction in railway freight on the carriage of fertilisers during the last year cost £106,538. The concession is expected to cost the Government £150,009 during this year. This must he, acknowledged to be a big concession in the gross price of manures to the farmers nearly all of whom use the railways for the carriage of their supplies of fertilisers. That’it is not* proposed to nationalise the hospitals, nor to provide hospital finance entirely from the Consolidated Fund.

That if is proposed this session to relievo the fanner who is not a contractor from the payment of taxation, on his tractor if he employs it to assist his neighbours.