BUDGET OF ANSWERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22046, 28 February 1935, Page 13

BUDGET OF ANSWERS

WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS

FOOD FOR LONG DISCUSSION SOME POINTS OF POLICY [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Wednesday Resembling stale buns at a feast, 40 j Ministerial answers to questions asked j by members as long as five months ago were circulated in the House of Representatives to-day. Members discussed the replies for several hours, even though some of the questions related to such problems as to-what was to be done for the unemployed in the summer, now fast fading, and when it was likely that bank overdraft rates would be reduced. However, some of the replies revealed aspects of Government policy on which statements had not been previously made. Consideration will be given to the question of introducing an amendment of the Family Protection Act empowering Courts to make an order increasing the amounts payable to holders of life interests in estates whose income from such estates has so diminished in consequence of economic conditions as to cause destitution and hardship, said the Minister of Justice, Hon. J. G. Cobbe, in answer to a question by Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Government —Riccarton). No Auckland Medical School A definite statement that it was not proposed to establish a medical school at Auckland was made by the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, in reply to Mr. A. S. Richards (Labour —R oak ill), who had urged that course in view of a recent report th?t, the Dunedin School could not cope with more than 60 students. It is not proposed to introduce legislation this session to repeal the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1932, said the Minister of Employment, Hon. A. Hamilton, in reply to Mr. R. McKeen (Labour —Wellington South). The Minister explained that notwithstanding the improvement in trade and business generally, many industries were still experiencing great difficulty in carrying on. A request that fcho Government should either exclude North Jsland wheat-growers from the Wheat Purchase Board regulations or give them representation on the board was made by Mr. W. J. Poison (Government—Strat*ford). In replying, Mr. Forbes said the question of giving the North Island representation on the board would be considered when the matter was again under review. There appeared to be no grounds for excluding the North Island from the operation of the regulations. The question of introducing unemployment insurance in New Zealand has been under consideration on several occasions, said Mr. "Hamilton, in answering a question by Mr. A. E. Ansell (Government —Chalmers). However, it was not considered that conditions in the Dominion were suitable to the adoption of such a scheme. The experience of other countries where unemployment insurance was in force was, however, being closely watched. Police Administration The reintroduction of the payment of commission on stamps sold by private vendors is not considered desirable, said the Postmaster-General, in replying to Mr. C. L. Carr (Labour —Timaru). The Minister said such commission was not paid in Great Britain, Australia, India, South Africa, United States and- other principal countries. A suggestion that an inquiry into police administration was necessary was made by Mr. A. J. Stallworthy (Independent—Eden). In replying, Mr. Cobbe said that if Mr. Stallworthy had reliable evidence that matters were not right in the Police Force and such information was supplied, it would receive earnest consideration.

Reasons why one of the employees at the Hutt railway workshops was refused leave of absence without pay to enable him to visit Russia to examine experiments being carried out there, were sought by Mr. W. Nash (Labour —Hutt). Mr. Forbes said the Railways Board viewed the question from the point of view of the extent to which the employee might, by the granting of leave 3 be improved as a tradesman, giving him additional value to the department which would justify his being guaranteed employment on his return. The board concluded that, considered from that angle, the circumstances did not point to any justification for giving that guarntee, and the application was decided accordingly-