Barrage of Questions

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 152, 30 June 1939, Page 8

Barrage of Questions

Denial of Request For £33,000,000 INDUSTRIES IN OVERCROWDED AREAS Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 29. In the House this afternoon the leader of the Opposition, Hon. A. Hamilton, in an urgent question, asked the Prime Minister: “(1) Is the newspaper report from London correct when it states that the Minister of Finance wants to raise £33,000,000 in London? “(2) Has the Minister of Finance been authorised by the New Zealand Government to raise £33,000,000 in London —that is, presumably, £17,000,000 for the renewal of the loan and £16,000,000 of new money?” The acting leader of the House (Hon. P. Fraser), in the absence of Mr. Savage, said the Government had no knowledge of the newspaper statement in question. The primary object of Hon. Walter Nash’s visit to Britain was to prepare the way for the conversion of the £17,000,000 loan which fell due for repayment in January next. Mr. Nash was also taking the opportunity to discuss matters of defence and trade, both of which involved questions of finance. A special authority of Parliament would in fact be necessary before new moneys to the extent of anything like £16,000,000 millions could be raised. Overcrowding Industries in Cities Mr. E. L. Cullen (Hawke’s Bay), on behalf of Hon. W. E. Barnard, gave notice to ask the Minister of Industries and Commerce whether, when licensing new industries, the Minister would give consideration to the questions of: (A) Better distribution of population; (B) the safeguarding of essential industries against possible enemy attack. Air. Cullen said the modern tendency was for new industries to crowd into two or three industrial areas, which might be open to attack from enemy aircraft. The erection of a factory at Rongotai for the manufacture of aeroplanes was a striking instance of the present trend. Erection of Unessential structures Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer (Oamaru) gave notice of intention to ask Mr. Savage whether the attention of the Government had been drawn to the proposal to erect a large hotel for the Exhibition and whether, in view of the dislocation of the building trade already caused by the Exhibition construction and by the erection of unessential structures, the Government would take the necessary steps to mobilise the building resources of the Dominion in order that men and materials might be diverted from nonproductive works to the more desirable task of making homes for the people. Ex-Member for Manawatu Mr. S. G. Holland (Christchurch North) gave notice to ask the Minister of Labour: (1) Whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation validating the unlawful appointment of Mr. C. L. Hunter to a position in the Government service; (2) whether instructions have been given that proceedings must not be taken as provided by the Electoral Act, 1927, prescribing a fine of £SO per day for every person who, within 12 months of being a member of Parliament, accepts a position in the public service. A Disastrous Strike Notice of intention to ask tho Minister of Labour the following questions was given by Mr. W. S. Goosman (Waikato) : (1) Whether he realised the serious consequences to the farming industry, particularly in the Waikato and Auckland districts, that would result from the continuance of the present disastrous strike in the fertiliser works in Auckland; (2) would the Minister inform the House and the country what steps he had taken or intended to take to deal with the present situation and prevent a recurrence. Allocating State Houses In an urgent question Mrs. Stewart (Wellington West) asked the Minister of Housing whether ho would explain the position in regard to State rental houses iu Wellington and the method used in allotting them to applicants.

Mrs. Stewart referred to the acute housing shortage in Wellington and said thero was some complaint that applicants who were most urgently in need of houses were sometimes overlooked when allocations were made.

The Minister, in reply, said that owing to the amount of work involved and to avoid any possibility of favouritism, a small departmental committee had been established to select tenants. He could assure the honourable member that the committee did its best to ensure that absolute fairness was used in its selections.