Kyle Asks 4 Questions In House

Northern Advocate, 1 August 1940, Page 7

Kyle Asks 4 Questions In House

[Per Press Association. Copyright.] WELLINGTON, This Day.

FACTORY HOURS

Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition—Ricearton) asked the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) in the House of Representatives yesterday why factories in New Zealand turning out battle-dress uniforms and working night overtime on the .job received no decisive reply to an application to the Factory Controller for permission to work on Saturday mornings to fulfil war orders. Mr Fraser, hi reply, said the Factory Controller had no knowledge of an application for Saturday work. The award did not prevent work on Saturday mornings except that overtime rates must be paid for all time in excess of the weekly number of hours prescribed, or for work on Saturday mornings. The limit of overtime prescribed for women employed in factories had been extended in view of the war situation.

SALES TAX ON UNIFORMS,

Addressing an urgent question to the Minister for Finance, Mr Kyle asked whether it was the intention of the Government to continue to add sales tax to articles of military uniform.

Mr Kyle said it was stated that sales tax was charged to the Government, thus increasing the total cost of uniforms, which would have to be paid for out of the War Expenses Account.

For instance, when an account for military overcoats was paid, sales tax was added on to the making, but not on the cloth.'

Sales tax was apparently paid to ensure that prices were correctly comparable in State purchases with private-enterprise purchases, said Mr Nash.

The procedure was introduced in 1933 and had since continued without amendment.

He would have the procedure examined so that if an alteration were required, it might be made. HOUSE BROADCASTS. A further urgent question was addressed to the Prime Minister by Mr Kyle, who asked: “Who controls broadcasting from the House? Is it the Director or the Prime Minister?

"Last night the relay from the House was closed down at 10.47 p.m. after the Prime Minister had spoken to the operator, although the usual time is 11 p.m." Replying, the Prime Minister said the usual, time for closing down broadcasts was 10.30.

He thought the House had had n very good spin last night.

MUNITION MAKING

Mr Kyle addressed his fourth question to the Minister for Supply (Mr Sullivan). He asked whether the statement bv Mr R. Burn, of the Precision Engineering Company, Wellington, that an offer had been made by a deputation of Wellington engineers in November to “loot up” for the production of munitions was correct.

Mr Sullivan said that the question of making munitions in New Zealand had engaged the attention of the Government.

Plans had been made for production in New Zealand, he said, and some orders had been placed with both private and State establishments, and other orders would be placed as quickly as possible. Mr Sullivan also stated he had no knowledge, other than the assertion by Mr Burn, about the Wellington deputation. WOOL PRODUCTION. As a very considerable quantity of wool in the South Island was taken over by the Government at a price below cost, would the Government tell the growers affected if maximum wool production at present time was in Imperial and Dominion interests or not. asked Mr T. D. Burnett (Opposition— Temuka) in addressing an urgent question to the Prime Minister,

Mr Burnett added that if maximum wool production were not required, then it would be better in the Dominion's interests, if large areas of purely pastoral country were systematically spelled, in which event rents, rates and taxes should be adjusted. Mr Fraser stated in reply that, in arranging appraisal values for various types of wool throughout New Zealand, particular regard was given to ttie position of the grower of fine wools in the South Island.

Undoubtedly wool growers, as a whole, had suffered adversely as a result of the poor production conditions of last season, but this was by no means confined to the South Island.

Tlie United Kingdom required all the wool that New Zealand could produce and had already contracted to purchase the entire clip for the duration of the war and one year thereafter.