Ministers Reply To Questions

Northern Advocate, 29 July 1939, Page 9

Ministers Reply To Questions

The House of Representatives devoted yestei’day afternoon as well as the whole of the morning session, to consideration of questions and Ministerial replies ihei’eto.

Butter Selling Charges.

Replying to questions by Mr W. J Poison regarding the reported premium of threepence per pound charged in multiple shops of Britain for' retailing New Zealand bultex-, against a charge of three farthings for retailing Danish, the Prime Minister, who was still absent from the House yesterday, in a written answer, said the relation between market prices and retail prices in Britain, as shown by the average official weekly quotations of the London Provision Exchange for eleven weeks ending July 7, were:—New Zealand butter: average weekly market quotation, 114/3 per cwt.; avex’age retail price, 128/2. This showed a margin of 13/11 per cwt.. or approximately lid per lb. Danish butter: Average market quotation, 124/8; average retail price, 140 ', showing a margin of 15/6 per cwt, or approximately l;;d per lb. On these figures there was a mai’gin in favour of New Zealand butter of a farthing per pound. Mr Savage added that the Government, through the London office of the Marketing Department, was continuing active publicity campaigning to keep New Zealand butter and cheese before the consuming public of Great Britain, and so further reduce the margin between market prices of New Zealand and Danish butter.

An Alleged Embargo

Answering a question by Mr C. A. Wilkinson (National—Egmont) as to whether the Government was aware that Australian manufacturers of steel, wire netting, fencing wire, galvanised iron, etc., had placed an embargo on shipments to New Zealand until such commodities were paid for in New Zealand currency, the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, in a written reply, stated that the matter was at present being investigated by the Government. The Lee Letter. In another answer to a question by Mr Holland referring to the “Lee Letter,” in which he asked if it were the intention of the Government to issue a reply to attacks made in the letter on the Minister of Finance, and whether, if such reply were made over the broadcasting service, Mr Lee would be given the same right of reply, Mr Savage replied that the answer to both questions was in the negative. New Zealand-French Trade. Intimation that the question of trade between France and New Zealand was' at present the subject of negotiations between the two Governments, with a view to the conclusion of mutually satisfactory agreement, was made by Mr Savage, replying to a question by the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, drawing attention to a statement that French woolbuyers were considering boycotting New Zealand wool, in view of the Dominion’s import restrictions.

Mr Picot Vindicated,

A statement made in the House of Representatives on Thursday evening by Mr H. S. S. Kyle (National—Riccarton), which he said gravely reflected upon the character of the Director of Internal Marketing, Mr F. R. Picot, was replied to by the DeputyLeader of the House, the Hon. Peter Fraser, in a statement in the House yesterday. It was clearly implied, if not explicitly stated, Mr Fraser said, that Mr Picot was receiving emolument as guarantor of an egg firm, in addition to his salary from the State. Inquiries had been made, and ft had been ascertained definitely that Mr Picot is not a guarantor of any egg firm, nor has been since soon after his appointment to the Public Service, said Mr Fraser. All interest in produce or other firms whose interests might be in any way affected by the operations of the Internal Marketing Division, were relinquished by Mr Picot as speedily as possible after his appointment. .Full details of these interests were supplied to the Government prior to his apomtment. Furtherfore, he had not attended any annual meeting of any such firm since the inception of the Internal Marketing Division. Advances to Farmers. The State Advances Corporation's policy in connection with making advances o farmers on rural securities was dealt with by the Prime Minister in a written reply to a question by Mr Kidd.

Mr Savage said the corporation was making loans to its mortgagors on rural holdings for necessary improvements, but preference was being given to loans for housing, including housing on eligible rural properties. Weraroa Boys’ Training Farm.

Replying to a question by Mr W. J. Broadfoot as to whether it was intended to take steps to provide for proper discipline among inmates of the Weraroa Boys' Training Farm, the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, said it was intended to transform the training farm into a school providing a wide range of cultural, technical and occupational training, including agriculure, for the boys there. New buildings had been planned for Weraroa and they would enable the whole policy of the institution to be changed in future, in conformity with enlightened practice.

The Minister also stated that it was proposed to confer with the local re-

| preservative in the House and the citizens of Levin before tenders were I called for the new buildings. Equipment of Territorials. I Negotiations regarding contracts for j equipping Territorial forces with j boots and clothing were dealt with |by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. j F. Jones, answering a question by Mr | A. N. Grigg. | The Minister stated that those [ negotiations were actually taking place with manufacturers at present, and it was expected that contracts would be arranged almost immediately. ’Phone Rentals to Isolated Farmers. The Hon. Jones, as PostmasterGeneral, also replied to a question by Mr T. D. Burnett, who asked for a reduction of telephone rentals for farmers in isolated districts. The Minister said it had never been contemplated that concessions granted in past years as a measure of temporary assistance to subscribers on party lines in rural areas should be permanent, but cases of genuine hardship would be considered, with a view to their relief. Racing Commission. “An .announcement regarding the Racing Commission will be made in due course,” said the Hon. W. E. Parry replying to a question by Mr H. S. S. Kyle, who had asked whether the Government intended to set up a Racing Commission as promised to the racing clubs. Mr Hunter’s Appointment. The question of the appointment of i Mr C. L. Hunter (ex-member of Parliament) to a position in the Department of Labour was referred to by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, replying to a question by Mr Holland whether the Government intended to validate such appointment. The Minister stated that Mr Hunter was appointed to a position in the Department of Labour for which he was well fitted and eminently successful during the time he was employed. Subsequent to his appointment, it was found that the provisions of the Electoral Act prevented his continuing in the service, and the appointment was terminated. Steps would be taken to overcome any informality that may have occurred.

Major-General Mackesey’s Report. The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, replying to a question whether Major-General Mackesey’s report would be published, said that as the report was of a secret and confidential nature, it would not be in the public interest to publish it. Mr Jones also explained the reason why it was decided to fix the territorial establishment in New Zealand at 16,000, in answer to another question. In fixing the force at this number, he said, the Government was guided by the conclusion of the recent Pacific Conference, which envisaged a certain scale of attack. A force of 16,000 was intended to be a nucleus, which would be expanded in emergency to such dimensions as would deal with any situation likely to arise.

Social Security Anomalies.

“It is recognised that there is some justification for exemption from liability in respect of sick benefit payments received by members of the Government railways and numerous other sick benefit societies, said the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, in a written reply to a question dealing with this subject by Mr S. G. Holland. Mr Savage added that the matter was at present under consideration with, a view to rectification, along with other anomalies arising out of certain provisions of the Social Security Act.

Price of Potatoes,

Dealing with a question by Dr. D. G. McMillan whether the Government would investigate .and determine whether the high price of potatoes was due to the middlemen’s excessive profits, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, said the Government was closely watching the position. The possibility of reducing potato prices would be fully considered as soon ,as all available facts were obtained.

Official Centennial Guests

“The matter of official guests for the Centennial celebrations is at present under consideration by the Government, but it is not correct that 500 people .are being officially brought to New Zealand by the Government,’’ said the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, replying to a question by Mr J. Hodgens whether the report was correct that this number would visit the Dominion during the celebrations as the Government's guests.