MINISTERIAL REPLIES

Southland Times, Issue 21661, 24 March 1932, Page 6

MINISTERIAL REPLIES

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. MANY MATTERS TOUCHED ON. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, March 23. Ministerial replies to questions were circulated in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr 11. G. R. Mason asked the Minister of Finance whether he had noticed that the last Budget of the Imperial Parliament was reported to have been balanced by making adjustments in respect to sinking fund payments with great satisfaction to the financial critics and whether he would make such provision as would enable New Zealand local bodies to balance their budgets by similar means. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart replied that the. Imperial arrangement did not affect contractual sinking funds, but the only free provision for debt redemption over and above any contract sinking funds of local bodies in New Zealand, were generally included in contracts under which the lender subscribed to the loan, and interference with these contractual liabilities could only be detrimental to the credit of the local bodies concerned.

Replying to Mr W. J. Polson, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe said it had been decided to hold a conference of the chairmen of the various adjustment commissions set up under the Mortgagors Relief Act for the purpose of establishing uniformity of action and formulating a definite policy concerning such matters as consideration to be given the second mortgagee method to be adopted regarding vendor mortgages, etc.

Replying to Mr D. G. Sullivan, the Hon. J. G. Coates said that the Unemployment Board was in touch with women’s unemployment committees which reported on their activities from time Io time. Grants had recently been made to these committees in consideration of the work they were doing to relieve unemployment among women and the question ol making further grants would be considered in light of the committees’ reports and the need for funds' in each centre. In the course of an answer to a question submitted by Mr W. Nash, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart said the associated banks had agreed to supply him confidentially with periodic statements of aggregate debits and credits to their London fund on account of New Zealand business. The Hon. A. Hamilton in reply to Mr J. A. Lee said attention had been called to automatic devices for the furnishing of time to telephone subscribers, but sufficient information was not yet available to enable a reliable estimate to be made of the efficacy of such devices. It was stated that in most countries a charge was made for each telephone call aud thus the means existed of recovering wholly, or in part, the outlay that would be involved in providing such apparatus. There was no such means in New Zealand. In view of the probable high cost and necessity of avoiding unessential expenditure at the present time, it was not proposed to take steps in the direction of installing automatic devices for furnishing time.

Replying to the Rev. C. J. Carr, the Hon. A. Hamilton said the mat ler of providing suitable regulattons for the control of electrical apparatus (such as Diathermy massage and X-ray apparatus) which caused interference with radio reception had been under consideration for some time and information on the subject was being collected. The department already had an adequate personnel and apparatus for the detection of interfering with radio receivers, but in practice owing to the intermittent nature of this class of disturbance, the detection of the interfering apparatus was extremely difficult. The department was doing everything possible to eliminate the class of receiver responsible for this disturbance.

Mr W. H. Field asked whether in view of the alleged undue profiteering in some of the necessaries of life and unfair trading with the object of creating monopolies, the Government would set up local boards or committees to deal with these matters. The Hon. G. W. Forbes replied that in view of the necessity for the utmost economy in expenditure and the fact that there was keen competition among traders, it was not considered advisable to adopt Mr Field’s suggestion. Complaints relating to unreasonably high prices would be carefully investigated by the Department of Industries and Commerce.

Mr H. M. Rushworth asked whether it was correct that the Tiks-Bank (Swedish National Bank controlling the monetary system of that country) had adopted a policy of stabilizing the monetary system on the price index basis and whether a full and open inquiry would be arranged regarding the working of the New Zealand monetary system and also possible alternatives. Mr Rushworth said it was reported that the Canadian Government had given an undertaking to hold such an inquiry into its monetary system. Mr Forbes replied that information in regard to the matter was already in the hands of the Government and further inquiries were being made. Replying to Mr R. McKeon, the Hon. J. A. Young said the medical officers of the Department of Health had not given approval to Dr Spahlinger’s treatment for tuberculosis. Departmental officers in the past had been guided to a considerable extent by opinions expressed by the English Ministry of Health which, through its experts on the spot, had been able to investigate the claims made by Dr Spahlinger. Some particulars regarding the formula had recently been received, and it was expected fuller details would come to hand later. When these were received, full consideration would be given the question of conducting a trial of Dr Spahlingers

serum. _ _ n Rcplying to the Rev. C. J. Carr, the Hon. A. Hamilton said there was no intention at present of arranging for the broadcasting of Parliamentary debates.