To-day in Parliament

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 4, 25 July 1930, Page 5

To-day in Parliament

LOCAL SILLS. MINISTERS ANSWER QUESTION'S Press Association —Copyright. WELLINGTON, This Day. The House of Representatives met at 10.30 this morning. The following Dills wore introduced ami read a first time:— The Gaming Amendment Bill (Mr K. S. Williams). Wellington City Empowering Bill (Hon. R. A. Wright). Dunedin City Corporation Empowering Amendment Bill (Hon. W. B. Taverner). Dunedin District Drainage and Sewerage Amendment Bill (Hon. W. D. Taverner). Hon. J. G. Cohbe, Minister of Defence, replying to Col. McDonald, said it was not proposed to introduce the police box ’ system into Ivjw Zealand at present. Reports ft mu England as to its efficiency there were somewhat contradictory. It had recently been decided to give the system a trial in Sydney, and more definite information as to its suitability to local conditions would no doubt be available shortly when the matter would receive further consideration. RAILWAY CARRIAGE SEATS. The desirability of replacing longitudinal seats with chair seats in rycoiCK class rail/.vay carriages had already had tke consideration of the Department, stated Hon. W. A. Veitch, in reply to Mr F. Langstone. The programme for providing chair seats in second class cars had been adopted on express train's and longdistance trains would he dealt with first. Replying to Mr G. C. Mun-ns, the Minister stated th e provision of second class sleeping carriages on the main trunk; line could not he justified in view of the present financial position. GARRATT ENGINES. In reply to questions from Mr Munns and Mr P. Lye regarding Garratt engines, the Minister stated it was possible that after certain adjustments had been made, these engines would be capable of doing the work required of them.

In the meantime it would be premature to say they were glvjng satisfaction. The total cost of the three engines placed in commission was £51,173. It was not proposed to import further locomotives of this type. Replying to Mr W. J. Poison, Hon. AT. B. Taverner said: it was not proposed to make any alteration at present in the matter of rates of pay for married and single men in relief works. Fe added that single men were only engaged after the needs of married men for employment had been satisfied and then only for comparative! v short periods.