MEMBERS' QUESTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18189, 7 September 1922, Page 8

MEMBERS' QUESTIONS.

MINISTERS IN REPLY.

PUBLIC SERVICE CONTROL. IB? TELEGRAPH.—PBBSS ASSOCIATION.]. WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The following answers to members' questions were made by Ministers today : — That the Government is strongly of opinion that the principle of tho control ot tho Public Service by the Public Service Commissioner, instead of by Ministerial control, is the better of the two, although it must be admitted that the present Public Service Act requires amending in some important particulars. It was hoped * to be able to have an Amending Bill drafted and dealt with by the House next session.

That having regard to the cost of services and supplies, it is not practicable at present to make any reduction in the existing charges at railway refreshment rooms without incurring heavy loss, and the circumstances do not warrant it.

That monthly shipments of butter ana cheese from New Zealand to tho United Kingdom have been fairly regular throughout the past season, from October, ~" to July, 1922, and the fluctuations of the market cannot be traced to irregularity of shipments. , That the disparity in price between South American chilled beef and New Ze*iland froren beef is not greater than is usually the case between the chilled and the frozen article.

That the Government will not be considering any amendment of the law relating to venereal disease until it has received the report of the committee of the Board of Health which is at present inquiring into the subject. It is not yet certain that the committee's report will be available in time to permit of fresh legislation being introduced this session.