REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9096, 15 July 1915, Page 9

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

MILITARY CLERKS. Mr C. J. Parr (Eden) asked whether military officers wore being employed in Auckland to do work which any ordinary mercantile clerk could deal with. The Hon. J. Allen said that in all defence offices there were civilians to carry out ordinary clerical duties. It vras considered advisable, however, to have military officers to look after recruiting and such work. STOCKS OP GRAIN. Replying to Mr Anstey (Waitaki) tho Prime Minister explained that it is now too late to make any-alteration in, tho forms for securing grain statistics, a large proportion having already been, collected. No provision is made in • the form for showing oatsbeof chafi, but provision ia made for showing tho quantity of bats in stack, whether for threshing or chaffing.. The circular request, accompanying the return asks that all stocks held in possession or in transit are to be included in tho return, and should thus cover stocks stored on behalf of others. Care is being taken to obtain lists of names end quantities of grain stored on behalf of clients so as to avoid duplication. So much potatoes are grown on very small holdings and sections in every part of New Zealand that it is not considered practicable to obtain complete particulars of the stocks of potatoes in the Dominion except at such a cost as would not be justified by the value of tho results obtained. Tho collection is now going on. and .before it is completed ail grain-growers will be asked for returns. THREATENING CIRCULARS. ■ Tho Minister for Lands (Mr Massey) informed the member for Taumarnnui that he is not aware that Land Boards have issued threatening and peremptory circulars to various Crown tenants in which it is stated that court proceedings will be at once instituted unless arrears of rent are, immediately paid. It appears, said Mr Massey, that the Auckland and Taranaki Land Boards issued circulars last May to tenants owing two or more payments who had failed to pay or reply to previous notices by the Land Board. No drastic action has yet been taken, and every case is being considered by the Land Board on its merits. Where reasonable explanation is received, time is allowed' for payment. No such notices have been issued to tenants on active service. Notwithstanding this assurance Mr Jennings mentioned that he had received three different complaints of harsh treatment. MACHINE-MADE BREAD. The question was put to the Prime Minister by Mr Wilford whether he would this session introduce legislation to enable local authorities to open a depot for the supply of machine-made bread. Mr Massey replied mat the Peton© Borough Council was Informed on March Ist, 1915, that, if possible, an amendment of the Municipal Corpatious Act would be introduced this session and that this matter would receive consideration when framing that amendment. It was doubtful, however, whether, in view of .the pressure of other urgent legislation! consequent upon the war, it would be possible to bring down such a measure this session. NURSES’ UNIFORMS. Mr Q. Witty (Riccarton) asked the Minister for Health whether all nurses going abroad to nurse the sick and wounded were compelled to go to a certain firm to have their dresses made. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes replied that estimates were obtained from leading firms for the supply of nurses’ uniforms and the most satisfactory estimate, both;ns to quality and price, was accepted. It was thought better to have the uniforms made by one firm, though nurses were at liberty to obtain any other articles of equipment wherever

they chose. The arrangement had proved entirely satisfactory. Mr Witty considered that public tenders should have been called instead ot letting the work go to a firm of German shareholders. Mr Rhodes said that, with regard to the D.I.C. the position was that the firm had received certain orders because it* prices had been lower than those quoted by any other concern. The first batch of nurses had had to leave the Dominion at very short notice and there had been no time to call for public tenders by advertisement. Various firms had been asked to submit prices and the D.I.C. had secured the order. Tho founder of the firm had been a member of the House of Representatives. Some of the firm’s capital was held in Germany, but no money was going from New Zealand to Germany at the present time. The Dominion was following the course laid down by the Imperial authorities in dealing with the firms which had shareholders in Germany.