QUESTION TIME

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10853, 19 March 1921, Page 9

QUESTION TIME

M.P.’S WANT TO KNOW PRIME MINISTER ON RENT RESTRICTION. •■MORE HARM THAN GOOD" "Will it:gif>iatiun be introduced this session to provide for the continuation- oi tho rent restriction clauses which expire iu July next?" asked Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon; without notice, of the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives yo.-tonlay afternoon.

•"It is "intended for the present,” replied Mr Massey, ‘To continue the rent restriction legislation. But it is also intended, during the business session this sear, to go into the whole question of i rent restriction, because information has reached me that part of the legislation is out of date ..and is doing more harm than good.” Mr A. Harris (Waitemata): It is operating most harshly. •THOSE ACCUMULATED SURPLUSES. 'Would tho Prime Minister, in introducing; tho Finance Bill, make a full utaierm-ut to tho House in regard to the annual surpluses that had accrued since 19JL how they were invested, and what I hey were earning ? asked Mr R. McCall urn (Wairau) in the House of Representatives ytislarday afternoon. Mr Ma-.toy replied that he would be very glad to do so. Nearly the whole of the money had been invested ill land, and the land is rented at Id per cent, on what we gave fov it. The .reserve fund rioeurities (tho y/lt-odged ‘securities) have also Won increased from .£IOO,OOO to £2,000,000. UNANSWERED QUERIES. j Mr Or. Witty fßiccarton) asked the Prime Minister if he intended to allow j discussion on the -various qno tions which Mind been put on the order palmer? Mr Massey said h© doubted if it would be possible to prepare answers to questions unless the went on till Wednesday or Thursday. NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY. f, J wish to a<sk the Minister for Pub- • Jic Works,” said Air V. Reed in the i House 3-esterday, “if the North Auckland : Railway Commission has reported, and j if so,, will he give the House an opporj tunity of seeing the report? j The Hon. J. G. Coates; Yes, tho Commission has reported and I will be glad to see if there is any objection to that report being- laid on {no table. ILLEGAL OPENING OF CORRESPONDENCE. Ah- H, E. Holland (Duller) asked if a system of censorship obtained at the Post Office ? Ho said correspondence had reached him bearing signs of having , been opened. Others had had similar , experience. The Postmaster-General (Hon. Jr G. Coates) said that he thought Mr Holland had justification for what he said. He (Mr Coates) had no knowledge of any such thing, but would again make it quit© plain that such action was illegal. He was certain the staff had nothing to do with the matter. SUPERANNUATED CIVIL SERVANTS' BONUS. Mr W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) raised the question as to Avhat was to be done respecting the inquiry that had been placed on the order paper about the application for tho continuation of the superannuated bonue. The Prime Minister replied that «£IOO, COO was a big sum for him to have to find, and he had to take very great care to avoid anything in the way of a deficit for March, 1922. He proposed to leave the matter over till the huednese session to sec if the same amount (or less) could be given. There was not the same need for the bonus now as foi merly. A member: Why? Mr. Massey: Because everything io coming down Mr McCombs: The Statistician does not say so. Air Massey; I know‘what he says, be-, cause I have a" report on iny table now.Mr McCombs; Since October the cost of living has gone up 72 points. Mr D. Sullivan; Will the bonus go on after March 31st? Mr Massey: I have not said so, and I am going to be verv careful about any promise I make. THE SAMOA POLICE. FORGE. Mr T. M- Wilford, Leader of the Liberal party, asked if, considering the allegations of breaches of contract which were being made by those who went as members of the Samoan Police Force, would a member of the force be allowed to come here to present a. petition to be considered by a magistrate appointed for the purpose? The Minister for External Affairs, Hon. E. P. Lee, ©aid that if the Crown had committed any breach of contract he.had no objection to giving those concerned the right to cue the Crown. He understood that petitions were to be presented, but they oould not be considered this session. Mr Wilford: Then what are the men to do ?