PARLIAMENT AT WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1927, Page 7

PARLIAMENT AT WORK

ANSWERS FROM MINISTERS RENTS RESTRICTION BILL EDUCATION BOARDS’ FATE By Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. When the. House of Representatives met to-day, replying to Mr. R. McKeen, the. Hon. J. G. Anderson said thqt the Rent Restriction Bill had been lost in the Legislative Council, but if any occupant felt he was suffering injustice at the hands, of a landlord he could still apply to the Labour Department for assistance and redress. Replying to Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, the Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister in. charge of the State Fire Insurance Department, said that the seriousness of fires in the Dominion, for the past three, years had been recognised, and figures had been supplied by the State Fire and other fire insurance offices to the Government Statistician, who would have them analysed and scheduled. All the information would be published, when available.

In reply to Sir John Luke, the Hon. 0. J. Hawken (Minister of Agriculture) .stated that' it was considered that that the export of veal from calves of sufficient age, fed and dressed in a manner now being insisted upon, would not react unfavourably upon the excellent reputation of New Zealand meat in the overseas .markets,

Replying to Mr. W. S. Glenn, the. Hon. R, A. Wright, Minister of Education, said he had received no instructions from Cabinet to introduce any Bill dealing with the status of education boards and school committees. As the questioner was aware, all Bills of a contentious nature having reference, to education matters were referred to the Education Committee for consideration. This committee, in common with all select committees of the House,, always gave ariiple opportunity to all citizens to appear before it and tender such evidence as might be thought necessary. The report of the Government printing office, then came up for discussion, Labour members taking the opportunity to complain of the amount of Government work done in private , offices, of the • uncomfortable conditions under which the staff worked and of the cutting of prices by private firms to cripple the Government office. . Mr. D. Jones (Ellesmere) welcomed competition by private firms) as it kept the Government cost in hand. He instanced a case in which the Government printed considerably cheaper than private firms. Mr, V. H. Potter, said that the master printers’ prices were not always reasonable.

Sir A. Ngata asked that a cadet of the Native race should be employed in the Government printing office where he could be useful in making translations. He also .urged the Government publications should be placed in booksellers’ shops for sale on a commission basis. The Hom G. J. Anderson said .the necessity to produce a departmental bal; alice-.sheet had an important bearing on the cost of printing. The present building was out of date, but it was not a simple matter to procure another site on which an up-t<pdate building could be erected. He had given instructions to have the question of selling Government publications by the bookselling trade on a commission basis considered. Reports of the Public Health Department and of. mental hospitals were also laid on the table. The remainder of the sitting was taken up by members discussing the replies given by Ministers to other questions. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. PASSING OF URGENT BILLS. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 to-day. Six days’ leave of absence was granted to the Hon. H. L. Michel and three days’ to the Hon. -M. Cohen, on account of illness. The Finance Bill and the Imprest Supply Bill No. .3, introduced from the House, were accorded urgency and put through all stages and’ passed without amendment. The Egmont National Park Amendment Bill and the War Funds Amendment were also, .introduced and read a first time. The Whakatane County Council Empowering and Loan Money Diversion Bill was reported from the 'Local Bills Committee without amendment. The Council adjourned at 3.23.