Questions For Ministers

Northern Advocate, 13 July 1939, Page 10

Questions For Ministers

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, This Day.

The House met at 2.30 yesterday

Mr W. J. Poison (National—Stratford) gave notice to ask the Prime Minister that, having consideration for the fact that the Government’s recent refusal to allow the New Plymouth Harbour Board to raise a loan in New Zealand to avoid default in London funds, at a higher rate than 3i per cent., caused a loss to the board, computed at more than £40,000, and, further, that the money could have been raised in New Zealand at a substantially lower rate than the board was compelled to pay in Australia, what adtion did the Government propose to take to compensate the board and the ratepayers of Taranaki for this regrettable result? Mr Poison gave further notice to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the claim made by the Minister of Marketing that premiums enjoyed by Continental butters had been substantially reduced as a result of New Zealand’s policy, the Prime Minister would explain a statement made in the trade press that multiple shops of Britain charged threepence per lb for retailing New Zealand butter, but only three farthings for retailing Danish, and also what stops were intended to be taken to remove this handicap of 2.',d per lb.

Mr Poison also gave notice of a third question to the Prime Minister asking him to inform the House what the present position was in regard to overseas shipping freights, whether he had received any information from the Minister of Finance regarding the proposed new contracts; also what effect any increased freight rates as demanded by the shipping companies would have on the guaranteed price for the dairy producer. Rev. A. Nordmeyer (Government — Camaru) gave notice to ask the Minister of Housing whether he was aware of the difficulty experienced by contractors in securing adequate supplies of heart timber for the construction of State houses, and whether he would consider the possibility of utilising more 0.8. timber. Mr S. G. Holland (National—Christchurch W.) gave notice to ask the Minister in charge of Social Security whether his attention had been drawn to a circular issued at the Hutt Railway Workshops to all members of the Government Railway Employees’ Sick Benefit Society, advising them that any sick benefits paid to members must be regarded as income, and became liable to social security tax oi 1/- in the £; also, would the Minister take the necessary steps to exempt railway sickness benefits from the obligation to pay such tax.