QUESTION TIME IN HOUSE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1932, Page 7

QUESTION TIME IN HOUSE

REPLIES FROM MINISTERS

SCHOOL TEXT BOOK .CONTRACT.

i EXTENSION TO SAVE EXPENSE.

iMR. .(FORBES DENTES STATEMENTS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Replying to Mr. H. S. iS. Kyle in the House of Representatives to-day, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes .stated that the extension of the contract for the supply of primary school books in the Dominion had been approved (by the Government in order to save the parents from being forced to incur the expenditure of about £40,000 in the purchase of an entirely new set of books at a time when they could ill-afford the expense, and further, to avoid the Government spending some thousands of pounds for the preparation of . fresh manuscripts. There was no evidence whatever of widespread dissatisfaction regarding the extension, or that the text books had been condemned by teachers throughout the Dominion aS being entirely unsuitable for the treatment of the various subjects. Replying to the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Forbes said the warning on passport application forms that persons who might be visiting any country or place which was under any Communist form of Government might be refused permission to land in New Zealand within three years after leaving such place had been issued in accordance wiijh additional immigration restriction regulations gazetted in March last. Those regulations had declared that Section 3 of the Immigration Restriction Amendment Act, IQBI, should apply to all persons arriving in New Zealand, the date of whose arrival was earlier than three years after they had left any country or place which was directly or indirectly under the control of any Communist form of Government.

NO PROMISE TO LONDON.

Replying to Mr. H. Atmore, Mr. Forbes said it was not true that the Government had given a promise to the London authorities that nd,internal loan would be raised or State notes issued in New Zealand without the permission of such authorities.

Replying to Mr. J. Linklater, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates said the 12 i per cent, rebate on county rates had been made possible last year ibyythe utilisation of funds which were then in the hands of the Main Highways Board. There being no other similar reserve from which to draw this year it would! not be possible ito provide similar relief to county ratepayers, unless 'additional taxation was levied on the community generally. It was not proposed to impose such further taxation. - . , ■

Replying to the Rev.' C. L. Carr, the Hon. J. A. Young said the establishment of a special institution for dangerous mental patients was recognised as one of the several provisions which were considered desirable, but which must be postponed until the financial conditions improved. The Leadei- of the Opposition whether sufficient funds would be provided- to'enalble the Unemployment Board to extend city relief work rates and conditions •to the. epuntry centres. 'Mn Coates replied that it was not .intended to" increase the existing special taxation for unemployment.

SUGGESTED LEVY EVASION...

Replying to Mr. W. E. Barnard, Mr. Coates said a farmer was required to pay the unemployment charge on the same basis As any other income earned. If, as- would .appear from the question, Mr. Barnard was aware of cases of evasion the Unemployment ■Board would be glad to be informed of such cases. Mr. A. J. Stall worthy asked whether before any fresh appointments _ were made to the Legislative ouncil the House would be given an opportunity of voting on the question of an elective •Upper UHouse or, failing that, would the House be given an opportunity of discussing the policy and personnel of any further appointments at the present time.

Mr. Forbes replied that the Government did not'intend to submit this session proposals involving a change in the present mode of appointments. Replying to the Leader of the Opposition the Hon C. E. Macmillan said inquiries would be made with a view to ascertaining whether the Ibrown coals of New Zealand could be utilised for increasing the productivity of many plants, such as potatoes. and tobacco, by the addition of controlled quantities of brown coal in the soil. Mr. H. E. Holland drew attention to experiments in Germany along these, lines.

Replying to Mi*. T. D. Burnett, the Hon. A. Hamilton said the protection had been removed from chamois and thar in 1030. The Government had no intention of reimposing any measure of protection on the animals. In areas covered by deer destruction parties of the Internal Affairs- Department instructions were issued to include in their operations chamois and thar where possible. i