Ministers’ Reply To Questions

Northern Advocate, 14 July 1938, Page 4

Ministers’ Reply To Questions

[Per Press Association. — Copyright!

WELLINGTON. This Day. The afternoon sitting of the House of Representatives was mainly devoted to the consideration of ministerial replies to questions asked by members during the session. Bank of N.Z, Ownership. Answering a question by Mr Kyle, as to whether the Government was in favour of taking over the Bank of New Zealand, the Prime Minister replied that the Government had not considered the matter. Protection of Flat Dwellers. Replying to a question by Mr Anderton, whether he would consider providing protection under the Fair Rents Act to flat dwellers, Mr Savage stated that the Government would be pleased to take the matter into consideration when the question •of amendment to the Fair Rents Act was under examination. Milk to Country Schools. The question of supplying milk to country school children was a subject dealt with by the Minister of Education, the Hon. Peter Fraser, who stated that funds were available to provide a ration of milk for all country'children. and full development' of the milk-in-schools. scheme was not being retarded by the question of finance. The principal difficulty, however, was to secure a safe milk supply, properly pasteurised and drawn from registered dairy farms, for children attending more remote country schools. The Minister added that in the case of such remote schools preparations had been made for the supply of milk in the form of malted milk powder, which would be prepared at the school and issued in liquid form equivalent to half a pint of fresh milk per child. The scheme was already in operation in some schools' and would be further extended in August. •; Clothing Manufacturers, The Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in reply to a question by Mr Wright, whether the Minister was aware that some • clothing manufacturers were compelled, owing to the high cost of production, to reduce the number of their staffs considerably, stated that the position in the clothing industry was at present under investigation by the Government, Mr Sullivan added that considerable conflict of opinion had been expressed by various sections of the industry with regard to its economic position, and, in view of this, the industry had been asked some three months ago to submit a case to the Government. It was only last week, however, that the representations of certain sections of the industry were put forward. Mr Sullivan also stated that adequate steps had already been taken by the Government to restrict importations from foreign and certain Empire countries, but insufficient time had elapsed for the benefit of this action to be fully appreciated.

Industry’s Ability To Fay Wages. A published statement attributed to Mr Justice Hunter, president of the Second Court of Arbitration, to the effect that the court was. not concerned in the .matter of an industry’s ability to pay rates of wages provided for in the court’s award.s which was the subject of a recent question by Mr S. G. Holland (Opposition—Christchurch North), drew a reply from the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong to the effect that his attention had been drawn to the statement as published in the newspapers. Mr Armstrong added that he had perused the official copy of the court’s memorandum to the clothing trade employees award, and nowhere in that memorandum was it stated that

the court intended to depart from its •onstant practice of hearing evidence md taking into consideration as a actor in the making of awards the question of the ability of an industry to pay the wages prescribed. If the court had so intended, it would ao doubt have indicated its intention «n plain language. It followed, therefore, that there was no necessity to introduce legislation directing the court to take into consideration, the ability of each industry to pay the rates of wages provided for in awards. Restriction of Photographers. Replying to a question by Mr W. J. Poison (Opposition—Stratford) asking whether his attention had been drawn to a statement by Mr E. de Rothschild, who asked the Prime Minister why the Japanese were allowed to photograph harbours and anything they pleased unmolested, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones stated that the matter of placing restrictions on persons taking photographs, etc., was a very difficult one. To be effective, such a restriction would have to be general, and no one, whether of British or foreign nationality, should be permitted to photograph strategical points. Its enforcement would require increased military and police forces. There was provision under the Defence Act, however, added the Minister, under which any person entering upon or loitering in the vicinity of defence works without authority, or who had sketching, drawing, photographing or printing materials in his possession, with intention of committing an offence against the Defence Act, was liable to imprisonment or a fine on summary conviction by a magistrate. It was considered, said Mr Jones, that any person acting suspiciously would come under the observation of the police and action would be taken accordingly. Further, that the co-operation of police and defence forces afforded adequate safeguards.

Nurses’ Working Hours. “The issues raised by the honourable member will continue to receive consideration, and he can rest assured the Health Department will watch the situation carefully with a view to ensuring that the working hours of nurses are reasonable, and that patients will not suffer from lack of nursing attention,” stated the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, replying to a question by Mr Holland, who asked whether the Minister had noted the alarm concerning the effects of recently gazetted hours of work regulations in private hospitals, and the danger of private maternity hospitals having to close down because of difficulty in securing sufficient number of trained nurses.