QUESTIONS IN HOUSE

Hawera Star, Volume L, 11 September 1930, Page 5

QUESTIONS IN HOUSE

REPLIES BY MINISTERS

UNEMPLOYED NURSES.

CANTERBURY POWER SUPPLY.

(Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 10.

Ministerial replies to questions were circulated in the House of Representatives to-day. , . ... ~ Mr H. E. Holland asked the Post-master-General whether he was aware that issues of the “New ZealandSamoa Guardian” of August. 7 and 14 respectively had been confiscated by the Postal Department, and, if so, would he inform the House why this action had been taken. Hon. .1. B. Donald said he was aware that the issues mentioned had been intercepted in tho post and destroyed. The action had been taken under the Post and Telegraph Act because the newspapers contained matter of a libellous nature. In taking this action the department had merely been carrying out the law.

Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, replying to Mr P. Fraserj said it was known that a number of trained nurses ‘ were' at present unemployed. Consideration would be given to tho question of introducing a regulation to enforce a minimum proportion of trained nurses to trainees, also of trainees and trained nurses to patients. Further inquiry was necessary before any practicable measures could be taken. With regard to public general hospitals, the minimum proportion of one trained nurse -. to three trainees was at present widely, but not universally, observed. In reply to a further point raised by.T: Mr Fraser, Mr Stallworthy said the provision of nursing services in (country districts was the fuuetion of the hospital boards. Hon. A. J. Murdoch, replying to Mr T. D. Burnett, said the bonus payable by the Department of Agriculture for beaks of keas had been withdrawn.. Its reinstatement would be given further consideration.

Mr Burnett pointed out that in the present critical period for the woolgrowers of the Dominion the stopping of the bonus would be one of the factors making for the abandonment of large areas of Crown land& in the back country of the South Island.; - In reply to a question •submitted foy Mr W. J. Broadfoot, .Mr .Ransom said. I the Agricultural Department- was obtaining particulars from the United States authorities of legislation granting patents for newly-evolved- plants'. As s-oon as these -particulars were available the matter of granting similar patents to New Zealand plant breeders would be further investigated. Mr Ransom, replying to- Mr. E. J. Howard, -said the -Government -did not intend to insta-1 steam, Diesel or other plant at Christchurch for stand-by purposes. However, in view -of tlfe dry winter period experienced this year the Government bad! already commenced work on the diversion of the Acheron River in order, that the might bo •augmented. In view of the fact that the Waitaki power scheme, providing for an ultimate installed capacity, of 7‘0,000 horse-power, was in such am advanced stage of construction, and that it would be inter-connected with the Lake Coleridge system of supply, there -would appear to- be no necessity for Christchurch to .harness the Waimakariri River for the generation of electricity. 'Moreover, information at present available would) indicate that -it was not the desire of the -city of Christchurch to enter into such a large expenditure as would be involved in the "Waimakariri scheme.

Hon. J. G. Cobbe, replying to Mr W. J. Jordan, said it was- not proposed to make payments-o-f old-age and widows’ pensions outside New Zealand,- nor was it intended l to apply the provisions of _ the New Zealand pensions,, legislation to residents of Dominions, dependencies and mandated territories.

Replying to Mr W. H. Field, Mr Murdoch said no legislative authority existed in New Zealand for declaring a levy on wool' on lines: similar to those adopted in South Africa. The matter of introducing legislation givmg such power had lately been discussed by the Sheepowners’ Federation and the Farmers’ Union and was now having the consideration of the Government. Mr Field drew attention to a letter from >Mr Bernard Tripp," (written in London, describing what the South African Government was doing for! the advancement of the wool-growing industry.