M.P.s', Queries,

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 October 1911, Page 2

M.P.s ', Queries,

AND CABINET MINISTERS'

ANSWERS.

AN INTERESTING RANGE.

(Cullod from Parliament's Ordor Paper).

(Addressed to the Rigbt Hon. Sir "J. G. W'ai'd, Hart.)

TO\ T TINE LTFB ASSURANCE ' f OLTCI KS.

Mr Colvin to ask tbe Prime, Minister Whotfier. in viow of the number of porso.v interested indirectly and rliroctly as tontine-policy; liolders in the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society (Limited), and in view of tlie strong evidence given before a. committee lastj session in support of cases of linrdslup, lie will take steps to oimiso justice to be done to such sufferers and to protect the public in future from be,n 4 made victims of misrepresentation and banlship in n .similar raaimcr. (Xoto —T'ie tontme-policy holdois ilWe tlmt tlioy were induced some "years ngo to take out policies m "that -society on grtoesly misleading and false made »>y agents, and that they have suffered loss thereby.) . ~ Reply.—As I bave already indicated to another bonourable gentleman the natter hm been under consideration and .great difficulties have been encountered in suggesting an effective remedy, which 111. tHo eireumstane-s would require to he retrospect] v j. SUPER ANNOTATION. Mr Herdman to ask tilie Prime Minister. Why officers who Have readied the age 'of sixty-five years nncl over, and wbo are entitled to superannuation, have not been retired from t'lu> public service? ■R. O ply._T shall be glad if the .honourable gentleman will name the officers referred to so tbnt any special circumstances may bo stated. Vs si "-eneral principle officers are not kept beyond the age mentionchl 'but- tbei-e are exceptions where in tbe interests of the country on officer may be retained beyond the retiring age. There is nothing in the law; that makes it mandatory Hi at this may not be done. FREE rjNTVERSTTY ISDFOATTON.

Mr Hanflii to ask the Priine Minister, (1) Whether lie has considered 'tlio question of grafting free university education to all tiiosc \vlifc> pass the Matriculation Examination ; ami (2) clops ,lio intend to make any ohango in thle direction of free university education being granted on more liberal conditions tli-an at present exist? TCoply.—Free university education i.s now privon to all holders of Junior University Scholarships, of •Senior National Scholarships, of Taranaki Scholarships, and of the Queen's Scholarships that are .till ■current; .likewise the holders <vf bursaries and training-eollpffo studentships. Besides these, the holders 'of Senior University scholarships, of the Sir George Grey Scholarships, and of other scholarships and exhibitions receive geuer■a] emoluments that would enaihle them to pay foes of tho colleges they attend. Thn total number receiving free nniver.sitv education ilast vear wa.v 557. These scholar-

ships, bursaries, and studentships are open bo all oualified persons from any section of the community. Tho bursaries are open to all that .gain predit in the University Junior .Scholarship Examination, nltilwiipjli they may not obtain sfliolarsbips. The question of oponino; them alsio to tliose who obtain hiclior leavino;oertifleates from sneondard schools, district sdiools. or tec.liiiical schools is noAV under consideration : but until tlio standard of the Matriculation Examination (in regard to which the Senate of the University ill as lately adopted new regulations), is dearly e«ta>blislie:l it will be premature to consider whether the bursaries sliould be thrown open to all who pass the Matriculation Examination. Undoubtedly, in the past many who have satisfied the ref|uireinents of that examination ilnavn not been really fitted to tn.ke ii'ii a. university course. _ A return of tbe holders of university scholarship, bursaries, etc.. for 1910 is obtained in Table M 2 of E.—7. Report on Hipilir. , Education.

THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. Mr R.usst'll to ask the Prime Minister, (1) Whether the Government hare noticed that the banking returns for September, 1911, show tibiat. whilst the four other banks trading in the dominion linve assets largelv in excess of' their liabilities, the Bank of New Zealand returns show liabilities £15.550,570. and assets .€12,370,194-; (2) do the Government agree with the opinion expressed "that the bank is no dombt finding a more profitable use for its funds outside of New Zealand": («) do they think it desirable that a bank snnrsorted so largely by the State should export monev belonging to the people 'of the dominion, in order to secure higher profits: and (4) do the Government consult with the directors appointed by them as to the policy to be followed in such matters; it not, is it not time that a closer Government control should be exercised on a. matter of sunlv vital importance as that referred to in this question. Reply.— Fncler the present conditions the Government has no power to interfere with the discretion of the directors of the bank in the investment of its funds, or to direct whether such funds shall be kept in tbo dominion or invested elsewhere. The directors are expected to. do their best in the interests of the shareholders, .amongst tho lartrest of whom is the New Zealand Government.

LICENSING ACT AMENDMENT. Mr Allen to ask the Prime Minister, "Whether ih-o intends to introduce legislation this session to meet the difficulty .which avisos when, after the alteration of the electoral boundaries, an area containing a licensed publir-hmisc is placed within a no-licwnso district? (Tote. —The licensed liouso so placed (.under tilie law as it stands loses its license without the major-ity-vote required in a, licensing district.) Reply.—The matter presents many complications and is n'ow 'being carefully considered. "ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE.'' Mr McLaren to ask the Prime Minister, (1) Whether his attention has been drawn to a statement made by Dr. Newman, in a speech delivered at Kilbiinie on Monday, 9th October, of this year, to the effect that tife present Ministry had "squandered money in ihiring a wholo ship to come from England in"; and (2j will the Prime Minister say whether a ship was so "hired" to bring either himself or any of his colleiagues in the Ministry from England? ■

"Reply.—'Dr. Newman's statement is absolutely imtrue, and it is to be regretted that ho places himself under siich obligations to a distbi"ted imagination for his alleged facts. is one of those impertinent 'fabrications which constitute

the chief stock-in-trade of many Opposition candidates at MVo present time. ARBITRATION" COUNT JUDGI&S. (Addressed to the Hon. Mr Millar.) Mr Hannan to ask the Minister of Labour, "WJielhcr he will introdncelegislation this session to provide that the term of appointment of a Judge of t-ho Arbitration Court shall not .'b© for more than live years, and that such appointment shall not be regarded as a stepping stone to tlr. . Supremo Court Bench. Reply.—l am not prepared to do anything in the direction indicated this session, as it is proposed to go into tho w'ho'ft question on the constitution §of the Court of Arbitrar tion during the next recess. The decision of the Government _in the matter will be announced in due tronrse. ELECTRIC TRACTION KATLAVAYS.

Mi , Jennings to ask tho Minister of Public Works,. Whether lie will give local bodies, in districts wether railway-lines would he too costly to construct, the opportunity of studying the vast strides that electrical traction is making in America; and also encourage these bodies in adopting tho Edison system by holding out special consideration in the way of subsidies towards the construction of these liaht tram-lines. (Note.—This system of transportation has been proved to be inexpensive so far as construction of lines is concerned: and it is also efficacious, as the speed on level country is twenty-six miles per hour. and Up-grade- country is negotiated !both cheaply and 'quickly. This light system of tnim-line will be a solution of the difficulties that exist in the large papa ~belt_ of country vfliero roading is expensive «i. far as metalling is concerned.) Reply.—Tho Government is .always ready to assist local bodies in giving every facility to consider the the question of electrical or any other method of traction. Tho. question of subsidising the construction of tramlines to be electrically operated is worthy of consideration, iimt aintil the Government develops Rome large force of hydro-electrical power for transmission to suitable localities it is doubtful Whether it would ho profitable for local bodies to undertake the construction of small schemes with a view to extraction on light tramways. The matter is, however, receiving the careful consideration of the Public "Works Department.

WAIKANAE RAILWAY. Mr Wilford to -ask the Minister of Public Works. Whether, when considering the arguments already adduced by tlic member for Hutt in relation to the proposed survey for .1 railway-lino to Waikanae via Akatarawa, he will consider as an additional argument the fact that the Gear Meat Company killed, approximately, last year 750,000 sheep, wliilo the. Meat Export Company killed a very large number as well, and that the daily average number of trucks carrying sheep in the busy season to these companies via Pao kakariki is no less than 250?

(Note.—As a result of these, conditions, the yards in Wellington aro daily in a congested state; also, tho diversion via Akatarawa will sava expensive haulage over high mountain ranges, and will relieve the congestion in Wellington.) Reply.—Tie information at present in'the possession of the Publip Works Department shows that considerable exploration and surveys have been made in connection with the proposed vailwav from the Huft to Waikanae. via Akntarawa, but ro far such explorations do not apear to show any satisfactory route. Further investigations, however, may lead (x> better results, as Tain informed that a lower snddle is said to exist between the Hutt Valley ■and the West Coast Olanawntu line).

A STOCK FEED FOR DRY | AREAS. I (Addressed to the Hon. Mr T. Mackenzie.) ]\lr Poole to ask the Minister of Agriculture, "Whether his attention has been called to the great value of the ■algaroba tree as a producer of stock-feed in dry areas; and, if so, ivill he take steps-to experiment with this tree in the parts of NewZealand where the land is poor and the rainfall not heavy? (Note. —Tn the Hawaiian Islands the value of the beans from this tree is very great for it returns about four tons per acre per annum, where the rainfall is not more than 10in per year; and the beans are very palatable to all kinds of stock.) Reply. I'll algaroba bean is the product of a tree (Prosopis) of which the several species are native of tropical or subtropical countries.. 'Die plant has been tried in Nelson,, but tho climate was not warm enough. A further trial might be made in the North Auckland district, but it is not l'kely t'hat the tree will .succeed in any part of New Zealand proper. CHEAP HIDES AND DEAR LEATHER. Mr Field tf. ask the Minister of Commerce, Whether is is true, as reported to tho questioner, thathides are bought in New Zealand at a cheap rate .sent to England and tanned, and returned to this country in the form of leather, which is sold at an enormous profit, and tint thus the price- of boots manufactured in New Zealand is rendered unnecessarily high ; and. if so, whether the Government cinnot devise .some method of improving .such a condition of thina*? Reply. The matter will be inquired into and carefully considered ■when a report is received. THE IMPOUNDING ACT.

Mr I*oss to ask the Government, AYhetlier they will this session ainend the Impounding Act, in the direction of allowing owners of stock which have not been actually impounded to obtain possession of "the same at any stieo of tho jo>n--ney by tfMulerino: driving foes (.is srt out in tlie Act) based on mi':i°Q from the plaef-. at which the were trespassing to the point uprui the road to the r"vind at which payment is tendered?

Ren'ly.—The arrangement proposed might lend to misundoiV. o**0**' 1 -- itisrs between the owner of t> 1,,1 li"-' , storvk" and the ppry-n driviiY* H til" pound. especially as the '"•riv- ,,,, minM not know tl>e nrnper fees. Ft is therefore thoucriit mn-lviFabb to adopt the suggestion.

A good selection Post Card hums at Thompson's, Levin.—Advt. Tonking s Linseed Emulsion—tinonly eert.vi) cure' from all chemists ' md stores If 6d 2s 6d, 4s 6d.Ad • Have you seen the new "Pan'liui Hat" for working men? Just the hat to wear for haymaking, log-ping-up, or general farm work. They are an improvement on the old "Island Hat," being strong nnd pliable, naving a broad brim with a good leather strap and buckle around crown. Clark's have been fortunate in securing a good qnantitv. 18 dozen, from the makers at a.low price, and, as usual, intend to share the bareain with o"r Try -I*" tone! Wβ are offering-them for tho "• *~ --very low price of 9d and-Is each.