PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 18 June 1926, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

QUESTIONS FLY THICK AND FAST AFTER SPEECH FROM THE . THRUNE (From Our V *rliamentary Correspondent; WELLINGTON, This Day. Questions flew thick and fast when the House resumed' after reading the Governor-General's speech.. . ( . > Labour members, hred "off- a! salvo of inquiries relating to ponsion matters, and tliese will be answered in due course. The question of financial assistance to returned soldiers was raised'by Mr J. C. Rolleston, wlio gave notice to ask the Minister' of.Defence whether returned soldiers who had not already received assistance would have■•• preference - -over other applicants for. State, advances, by having Uiejr applications considered as spoil as possible, instead of having to await their turn/ '*

■A question dealing with aviation was placed on ; the order paper By Sir J. Luke He is asking whether negotiations have been entered into (between the New Zealand Government and the Imperial Government 'for incorporation of New Zealand, in a,scheme of Imperial .aviation, and if this .is the case, whether the House, will be informed of the stage negotiations have reached. Notice of question about the dreadnought was given by Sir J. Ward, who presented the vessel tp ' the British Government. He asked the Minister of Finance to supply a statement showing what amount had been raised for repayment of the cost of the. vessel, how much .had- been- paid out of;,sinking fund and what amount had been credited under, the funding-system,, and how long'it would take to. pay the balance. off.. ,-.iii'.-.".' -.„'.;.,; ~, .. ~;,</ ,:. '■■ 'Pension matters-famed the subject of a number of enquiries from the Opposition when«question tjme■ arrived, in. .the, House. s-iv -. v -.-- /<'*■ -Mr Bartriini gave notice to' ask ■Whether" the: Government would" .enter into negotiations with other parts' of the -British -Empire:..with.a view..t.o._estaiblishing reciprocity in the matter of' oldage and other' pensions. 'Mr Parry'asked whether it was intended toincrease.-'.tha ctldT, age,pension to at least £l/5/- per. week, whether an invalidity .pension ■would' b?; introduced,; and whether- the pension ; fqr the blind,would be increas (L. ~, '..-. Mr Fraser, desires the Minister oT Pensions '-to state whether Jibe Government proposes .to,-introduce legislation Xo. -increase the \ widows' pensions to £l/5/- a.week, with an allowance of 10/->for. each child ;_ whether the. Minister of PensioTis x will introduce a general pension^,.scheme, such as he. had, had undei-.i consideration for several years, and which he had repeatedly promised to introduce,' and. whether the Pensions 'Act be amended to .extend its provision-to deserted, wives. l , , ..; . , Sir G.: Hunter, gave notice to ask whether the Government would,, introduce legislation- tin*: session io.v ; enahle nurss,: other "than those engaged in public iiospitals,, to become contributors to the; .National Superannuation Fund. ,