QUESTION TIME

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10632, 3 July 1920, Page 8

QUESTION TIME

M.P.’S WANT TO KNOW WHY TAX BLANKETS? ASKS WAITEMATA’S MEMBER. Mr A. Harris (Waitemnta) gave notice in tho House of Representatives yesterday to ask tho Minister for Customs v.-bethcr, in view of tho fact that New Zealandmade blankets are practically unobtainable an! the local woollen mills quite uriable to keep pace with the demand, tho Government will encomage the increased importation of this necessary article by the temporary removal of the Customs duty thereon? Much distress, said the hon. member, is in evidence, especially during tho winter months, among people of moderate means, due to the difficulty in purchasing blankets. ARE LETTERS CENSORED? Mr G. Witty (R.iccarton) intends to ask the Minister for Defence—(l) Whether tl)b military still censor letters; and, if so, why? . (3) Whether letters so centered have been repressed without notice to the sender? (3) On what grounds nio letters so censored ? (I) What principles, if any, govern the superfluous official who is k«pl at tills work? RACE CONTROL? A string of queries to the Prime Min ister in regard to racing matters was given notice of yesterday by Mr W. E. Parry (Auckland Central). The hoa. member desires to know: —(I) Whether he proposes to bring down legislation with tho object of controlling racing? (21 Whether he will set up a. Royal Commission in which the jockeys will bo given representation, and that tho order of reference be sufficiently wide enough so as to permit Evidence being taken in cases where jockeys have been disqualified or suspended, and, in the event of, the commission being satisfied that such disqualification or suspension has not been justified, the said commission be empowered to restore such jockeys to_ their proper status? (3) Whether h© will instruct that all racing permits he cancelled until the dispute befcweian the Jockeys’ Association, racehorse owners, and the Racing Conference is amicably settled? FEATHERSTOM MILITARY CAMP. Mr J. Edie (Bruce) is to ask the Minister, for Defence whether he will supply to this House the amount of stcok on hand at the Featherston military camp, in the shape of blankets, Loots, axes, harness, and tools in general? A PASSENGER ELEVATOR. Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston) wishes to usk the Minister for Public Works whether he intends to install a passengerelevator in the Government Buildings? (.£I7OO has been placed on the Estimates for some years past.) TOWN PLANNING. Mr W. H. Field (Otaki) intends to ask the Minister for Internal Allans whether in, view of the Dominion-wide feeling that a Town-planning Act is required to ensure the economical expenditure of the largo sums of public money to be devoted to housing, and the development of our towns and. cities on modern lines, it is tho intention of the Government to bring down the much-needed Townplanning Bill this session, and so keep in lino with many other countries that have adopted this progressive measure?