HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11928, 23 October 1919, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ANSWERS TO QUESSTIONS. Replying to the Hon. Hanan, Mr Massey said the question of legislation dealing with child labour was not one that could be dealt with hurriedly and satisfactorily. His idea was that an inquiry should he made during recess by officers of the Labour Department, and when their reports were received legislation could' bo prepared and dealt with when the House met. If immediate steps were taken to prevent children working, he was afraid it would impose a great hardship on many families who, in view of the high cost of living, were depending on their children’s earnings.

Replying to Mr Veitcb, Mr Massey said lie had not lost sight of the Workers’ Accommodation Bill, which he promised to bring down. He hoped”to go into the question in the next few days. Replying to Mr Harris, Mr Massey said it was hoped to start the second express to Auckland at a nearly date. Replying to Mr Sykes, Mr Massey said the Government would as soon as possible go into the question of making Grown lands in [Samoa available tor soldiers’ settlements. He was favourably impressed with the idea.

Replying to Mr P. Eraser, the Hon. Herries said that if the inquiry Into the loss of the steamer Tainui revealed the fact that the regulations governing the loading of benzine were not being enforced the Marine Department would see they were enforced.

Replying to Mr Poole, the Hon. Herries said he had already sent out instructions to make an inquiry into the alleged finding of a box of matches wedged in between cases of benzine in a steamer’s hold. The inquiry in the meantime would he unofficial, but if necessarj’ au official inquiry would he held. Replying to Mr Nash, the Hon, Hiue said there was a Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill on the stocks, but he was afraid that owdng to the lateness of the session it could not be dealt with this year. The Undesirable Immigrants’ Exclusion Bill was introduced by Governor’s message and read a first time.

Referring to the report of the Agricultural Committee on the petition of certain dairy companies, Mr Massey said the Government had decided to compensate dairy producers who sunplied the local market during the war to the extent of the difference between the local price and the export value. The amount involved would be about £170,000. Sir Joseph Ward endowed the decision of the Government, as that decision was in accord with the policy wnich he publicly advocated.

The remainder of the afternoon sitting wasjtaken up with discussions on reports and Ministers’ answers to questions. Amongst others, Ministers gave the following answers to questions ;

That with reference to the engagement of a scientifically trained forester, the High Commissioner has advertised in the United Kingdom for a director and assistant director of forests. Both these officers must be graduates of a recognised school of forestry, and, in addition, the director must have had not less than five years’ experience in actual forest management, and the assistant director not less than two years. “That instructions have already been issued that a polling booth is to be appointed to each military hospital where soldiers are inpatients. Polling places will also be appointed in each of the military camps. That it is quite impossible during the present session to pass legislation necessary to give effect to the suggestion that Maoris in the Dominion should have the opportunity of voting on the liquor question. That proposals in the Education Amendment Bill now before Parliament, and in the Estimates, include provisions for considerable increases in teachers’ salaries in addition to the increases granted last year, and as these further increases are to he made retrospective to March 31st last it will he unnecessary to pay further war bonuses.

That it is not possible to carefully revise the values of all lands in New Zealand in one year. Revaluation of lands is always proceeding, and the districts selected for revision in each year are those where there is reliable evidence of increased values. That the question of testing a system of light railways in New Zealand is at present before the Government, and arrangements have been made for obtaining information as to their use in the war zone. That the Government cannot see its way to increase the rate of interest paid by local bodies. An increase in the direction indicated would be likely to cause an increase in the ruling rate of interest chargeable throughout the Dominion. That it is not proposed to make anj T special provision for the coast defence troops employed in New Zealand during the war. That it is regretted provision cannot be made this session for voting a war bonus to superannuated civil servants. All available funds are required for other purposes. That the whole question of old ago and other pensons will be dealt with comprehensively next session,

when it is hoped various’ anomalies will be removed. That the present distribution of totalisator licenses is in accordance with the recommendations made by the Gaming Commissions of 1910 and 1914 respectively. Population is not the only factor to be taken into consideration the determining the allocation of totalisator licenses. That the pay and condition of casual employees be given due consideration when the rates of wages of the permanent railway* staff are dealt with. 3 * That the High Commissioner is being asked fo endeavour to arrange with the Imperial authorities for a reduction to be made in freight rates on hemp and tow shipped from the Dominion to United Kingdom ports. The ruling rates of freight are:— Hemp £l6 10s,;tow £26 Bs. The rates are based upon the amount of space required for stowage. That the Government will consider the laying on the table of Colonel Bettington’s report as early* as possible. That the question of garrisoning defended ports of New Zealand will be considered in conjunction with the report of Admiral Jellicoe. That legislation is being introduced this session which it is expected will act as a very effective check on laud aggregation. That in view of ths fact that a weekly* cable market report is found sufficient with all other products of the Dominion it is not thought that a twice weekly* report on the hemp market is necessary. The HighCommissioner will, however, be reqeusted to specially cable advice of any important sudden fluctuations of the hemp market. The House resumed at 7.80 p.m. Hon. Herries moved the second reading of the National Provident Fund Amendment Bill. Mr Harris contended that friendly societies should be reimbursed to the full extent of the extra liability they were now called upon to bear in consequence of their members’ war service. Mr Talbot said Government should assist friendly societies more generously in connection with the management of the fund, otherwise the National Provident Fund would become an unfair rival of friendly societies, which everyone admitted are doing most valuable work in the community. Mr Payne said ,he considered friendly societies were obsolete, and there ought to be a complete national system to cover all phases of benefit. The Bill was read a second time. Hon, Herries moved the second reading of the Native Townships Bill, which, ho said, was to remove anomalies which had accumulated under the Act of 1901. Tenants in native townships, such as Taumarunui, Te Kuiti, and Otorohanga could pur chase the freehold of land purchased from the natives by the Crown, but there was great difficulty in effecting leases and this Bill was an endeavour to formulate some cheap and easy system of leasehold. He anticipated the Bill would be of great benefit to the natives, The Bill was read a second time. The State Forests, Counties Amendment, and Police Offences Bills were put through their final stages.