QUESTIONS AND REPLIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9090, 8 July 1915, Page 7

QUESTIONS AND REPLIES

Two supplementary order-papers contained Ministerial replies to various questions of which' members had given, notice. The. House did not take advantage of its opportunity to discuss , the questions. ; " ■" SOLDIERS’ INSURANCE.

Mr Okey (Taranaki) drew the attention of the Government to the fact that

the different life < insurance companies' doing business in the Dominion were charging an extra 5 per cent, on all policies taken’ out by those enlisting and going to the front since the commencement of the war as a war risk; and asked whether, in order to encourage those enlisting to.: insure _ their lives, prior to leaving the Dominion, the Ministers would consider the advisability of the Government paying the amount charged for war risk. __ The Prime Minister replied that the contributions suggested would ha additional to provisions to be proposed in the Pensions' Act. It was not thought advisable to provide a special subvention to induce-insurance by those who enlisted. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES-

Mr Harris (Waitemata) asked the Minister in charge of the Friendly Societies Department if it was the intention of the Government to introduce a Friendly Societies Subvention BUI during the present ' session.- . , . The Hon. R. H. Rhodes (Minister in charge of the Friendly Societies Department) replied that the Government was quite sympathetic towards the prbposal to subvent friendly societies, and, as previously stated, a. bill would be brought down as, soon as circumstances permitL&cii SMALL ARMS FACTORY. ‘

-Mr Anderson (Mataura) asked the Minister for Defence (1) whether the Government had considered the odvisableueps of establishing a small-arms factory in Now Zealand; and, if so, > what steps had been taken in the matter. U.) Dan the Government made inquiries as to whether there were any engineering establishments in New Zealand .able ana willing to make shell of any kind; and, if so, had any steps been taken to have such establishments converted into ammunition factories ? ~ "The issues raised by the honourable member have engaged the'attention oi the Government," said the Hon. James Allen. "The existence of a small-arms factory' : under. State ■ control on Australia. and. the fact that the Commonwealth Government has commenced the facture of artillery ammunilion. tosome extent relieves the anxiety of the New Zealand Government ; in this connection. Inquiries have been made a® to the possibilities of the manufacture of shells in -the Dominion: Following upon precedent laid down by the Impmial.Government. I might say that it is not advisable' for Stole -roasons dumng the existence of a state of ;war for the Government to fully disclose publicly the exact nature of the steps taken regarding a small-arms factory and the manufacture of ammunition. . ; ,