REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 256, 27 September 1945, Page 4

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

SALES TAX ON BUILDINGS

(Press Assn.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 26

Ministerial replies to questions occupied tlie attention of the House of Representatives this afternoon. The Minister of Defence (Mr Jones), answering an urgent question by Mr G. H. Mackley (Nat., Masterton), said that new regulations governing the formation and administration of defence rifle clubs had been prepared and were now receiving the Government’s attention. A statement would be made as soon as possible on the facilities that could he provided to enable clubs to resume activities and on the question of the issue of ammunition. <

The Prime Minister (Mr Eraser), in a written reply to Mr C. M. Williams (Lab., Kaiapoi), who had suggested shitting the seat of Government to Blenheim, said: “The question no doubt will be kept steadily in view by many successive Governments.” Mr Jones, answering Mr C. G. Harker (Nat., Waipawa), who had suggested allowing demobilised servicemen to retain their battledress at a reasonable price to counteract the clothing shortage, said that, if the soldiers uow being discharged were permitted to purchase their uniforms, in common fairness this privilege would have to be extended to all already discharged servicemen. The stocks held were insufficient lor this, while uniforms would still be needed to meet the requirements of New Zealand troops. The Minister of Einance (Mr Nash), answering Mr Morton, who had asked for the removal of all the sales tax on building materials for servicemen erecting their own homes, said to relieve the servicemen of the burden of sales tax the Government had decreased the interest rate on loans to exservicemen. The effect of this was to save servicemen £2lO on a loan of £ISOO, whereas the estimated amount of sales tax on a house of this price was approximately £IOO. However, as soon as the financial position warranted it, the sales tax on building materials and other essential requirements would be reviewed. The Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan) answering Mr J. A. Roy (Nat., Clutha), said there were some surplus items of equipment, such as trucks, jeeps, bulldozers, shovels, tractors, etc., in New Zealand belonging to the United States authorities, and the Ministry of Supply was inquiring as to the conditions under which this surplus equipment would be made available and whether it would be suitable for our requirements.

The Minister in Charge of Broadcasting (Mr Jones), answering a question by Mr R. M. Algie (Nat., Reniuera) concerning the rejection of a broadcast script, said it was 'correct that the script submitted was not considered suitable for broadcasting. The Minister of Marketing (Mr Roberts), answering a question by Mr Roy, said the Tasmanian potatoes just discharged at Wellington and Auckland landed, on. the whole, in good condition, but a small portion showed some deterioration owing to storage difficulties and the unavoidable lack of ventilation during the somewhat lengthy period between the commencement of loading and the completion of discharge. Of the quantity affected, which was less than 10 per cent, of the total shipments, only a few bags were in such a condition as not ,to warrant repicking and reconditioning, and almost the whole of the damaged portion was being picked over, with only a comparatively sriiall loss in the reconditioning. Those which were unsuitable for marketing were being used for pig food or otherwrise disposed of by market gardeners and no potatoes had been dumped.