QUESTION TIME IN HOUSE

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1929, Page 13

QUESTION TIME IN HOUSE

REPLIES GIVEN BY MINISTERS

MR STEWART SEEKS INFORMATION

ALLEGED RESTRICTION ON LOANS.

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Wellington, Last Night. The Christ’s College (Canterbury) Bill was read a second time in the House of Representative to-day. The Rev. C. Carr gave notice of his intention to introduce the Timaru Borough Empowering Bill. Mr. W. D. Stewart gave notice to ask the Prime Minister whether he would include in the Budget any correspondence that would give colour to the statement that New Zealand was prevented from borrowing on the London market for two years, and in particular any correspondence which suggested that the Finance Minister was embarrassed in his loan transactions by his predecessors. Mr. H. E. Holland asked the Prime Minister whether any offer of assistance in connection with tlie'earthquake had been made by the United States and been refused.

Sir Joseph Ward replied stating that the following cablegram had been received from Mr. Brown, editor of the Province newspaper, Vancouver, on June 20: “Vancouver will gladly contribute to the earthquake sufferers if the privations are widespread. Kindly cable if outside help is required.” Sir Joseph stated that he replied on the. same date: “Vancouver’s generous readiness to contribute to the earthquake sufferers is deeply appreciated, but we are not yet in a position to assess the damage. The severe shock was confined to a small area in the sparsely populated northern portion of the South Island, where 15 deaths occurred through land slips. The damage in other parts of the Dominion is negligible.” Sir Joseph Ward, replying to a question submitted by Mr. R. Semple, said the matter of giving effect to the unanimous finding of the industrial conference convened bv the late Government was receiving the careful consideration of the Government.

SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY.

Replying to Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont). Sir Joseph said the proposals of the Government relating to the South Island railway extension would be submitted in the Budget. Answering a question asked by Mr. R. AlcKeen, Sir Joseph said there was no Public Service regulation debarring returned soldiers from permanent appointments to the Public Service. In order to safeguard the superannuation fund it was necessary that all persons entering any department of the Public Service must be physically fit. Recognition for disability caused through war service was for determination by the Pensions Board rather than by creating a possible liability on the superannuation fund.

In reply to Air. H. G. R. Mason, Sir Joseph Ward said the question of operating the Napier-Gisborne railway electrically had been carefully considered but, as electrification would have entailed a very considerable increase in the cost of construction of the line without an adequate saving in operating costs, no further action had been taken in that direction.

The Prime Minister, replying to Mr. A. M. Samuel, said the important part played by the use of fertilisers and lime in aiding production was fully appreciated, and an investigation was being made with a view to the compilation of data to enable the question of cost of supplying fertilisers and lime to districts not served by rail to be considered from a Dominion point of view. In answer to a question by Mr. W. L. Martin, the Hon. G. W. Forbes stated that the Government had no information indicating that Great Britain would be taking her quota of Nauru phosphates at the conclusion of the present agreement. The indications were that she was not likely to do so. Negotiations carried on by the previous Minister of Agriculture for securing further supplies of phosphates had not yet been completed. In addition to endeavouring to make satisfactory arrangements to ensure a further permanent supply, supplementary to that from Ocean and Nauru Islands, the Government was keeping in close touch with exploratory work for the purpose of determining whether hitherto unknown phosphate deposits exist in locations within reasonable distance of Australia and New Zealand. CONTROL OF RAGWORT.

Mr. Forbes informed Mr. Wilkinson that the liberation of the ragwort moth last season in four selected areas was merely preliminary and but a phase of the experiment to determine if the larvae would control ragwort under 'New Zealand conditions. This had yet to bo proved. Dr. Miller, chief of the entomological department of the Cawthron Institute, under whose supervision the experiment was being conducted, proposed this ’season to attempt to rear and distribute throughout the country large supplies of the insects. Arrangements would also be made for the distribution from experimental areas of plants infested with the grub if there had been multiplication to an exten-t sufficient to permit the adoption of such a course.

In answer to a question by Mr. W. J. Polson, Mr. Forbes stated that a large sum of money had ben expended annually in labour in cutting noxious weeds on Crown and native lands, and full consideration had been given to any requests for the clearing of weeds in any particular area. It was hoped the Government’s intention of stimulating the settlement of undeveloped Crown lands in the future would result in the deterioration referred to being checked.

The Hon. W. A. Veitch, in answer to a number of questions, stated that the whole matter of pensions was now um'V consideration by the Government. Negotions were still in progress between Great Britain and New Zealand regarding pensions reciprocity. Mr. Veitch, in reply to a question by Mr. Jones, said the whole question of motor taxation was under review.

To a question by Mr. F. Lye, the Hon. E. A. Ransom replied that the funds of the Main Highways Board were required to deal with problems of the present and immediate future. To commence retrospective payments would open the board to enormous claims and render of no avail the efforts of the Government through the operations of the Highways Board to improve the roads of the Dominion. RAILWAY RE-GRADING. Replying to Mr. W. E. Parry, the Hon. W. B. Taverner said the regrading of

positions in the first division of the railway service as at April 1, 1929, was now well in hand, and it was anticipated it would be completed at an early date.

In answer to a question submitted by Mr. 11. G. R. Mason, Mr. Taverner said the number of derailments that occurred during the year ended March 31, 1929, showed a substantial reduction when compared with the preceding year, and everything p ssible was being done to further improve the position and to reduce such mishaps to a minimum. Mr. Taaverner, in reply to the Rev. C. Carr, said the Government regretted certain fellmongeries in New Zealand had been closed. He would give careful consideration to the question of taking some steps to rehabilitate the industry.

In reply to Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, who suggested that when the subsidy paid by°the Dominion towards the Vancouver service was renewed the name of New Zealand should be incorporated in ’the line (Canada, New Zealand and Australia), the Hon. J. B. Donald said such an arrangement had not yet been possible, but the matter would have consideration before a new contract was entered.

The Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, answering a question submitted by Mr. A. M. Samuel concerning the conditions and working hours of nurses, stated that in regard to public hospitals an investigation had already been undertaken. A progressive improvement was being effected in the working hours and conditions of nurses. In all the larger institutions an eight-hour day was the rule and every effort was made to give the nurses one day off in each week, or such equivalent as might be arranged with the nurses. Every effort was bein<' made to improve the conditions applying to smaller public hospitals. Private hospitals were governed, by regulations which provided for minimum staffs of trained nurses. These hospitals were frequently inspected to ensure that they were being staffed in accordance witli the regulations. Working conditions, pay, etc., in these places were matters of private contract between the nurses and the employers. •