ANSWERS GIVEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23257, 19 July 1945, Page 4

ANSWERS GIVEN

Questions Asked By Members Payment Of Gratuity Early Announcement (N.Z.P.A' WELLINGTON. .J .liy 18. Tins afternoon was question time in the House of Representatives, a number of questions being asked by members during the period for I formal business and then the House went on to '(instiler Ministerial replies to questions asked on previous silting days. .1 number of select committees, notice of which was given last we: k, were also set r p. ■ Mr E. P. Adcrman (National, New Plymouth) asked the Minister of Defence when and to whom the war gratuity would be paid? The Hon. F. Jones, in reply, said that since the announcement that a gratuity would be paid had been made, the machinery for payment had been the subject of consideration and the whole procedure had not yet been completed. It was expected that the Government would be able to make a more definite announcement at an early date. Internees Mr M. 11. Oram (National, Manawatu) gave notice that he would move for a return showing (1) the number of internees on Somes Island: (2) the total number of staff employed on the island looking after the internees, and (3) the classification of the duties of such staff, showing the number comprised in each classification. American Cigarettes Mr D. C. Kidd (National, Waitakti gave notice to ask the Minister of Supply what the Government had paid for the American cigarettes recently placed on the New Zealand market, and also the price charged to retailers for them. Mr Kidd said that the same brand of cigarettes was available to New Zealand and United States forces at lOd a packet, while the price to the public was sd. although many of the packets were damaged. Inquisitorial Inspection Mr E. B. Gordon (National, Rangltikei) gave notice to ask the Minister of Transport if he was aware that traffic officers were stopping motorists not because of any breach of the regulations but to enable food control inspectors to search cars and question motorists regarding suspected breaches of the rationing regulations. He asked the Minister to put a stop to such inquisitorial inspections. Pay of Seamen In written replies the Hon. W. Nash, in reply to Mr C. M. Bowden (National. Wellington West), who asked if the payment of £l2 a month to seamen on the New Zealand coast was consistent with the refusal to give extra pay. to New Zealanders with the British Pacific Fleet, replied that conditions of pay in the Merchant Navy and the Royai New Zealand Navy were not comparable. Different allowances and concessions were available to personnel of the R.N.Z.N. which were not received by men in the Merchant Navy. The pay of New Zealanders in the Navy was comparable with the pay in the Royal Navy, notwithstanding the granting of the war service increment and the Japanese campaign pay to Royal Navy personnel. Ambassador to Moscow Mr Nash, in reply to Mr H. T. Morton (National. Waitemata), who asked for a report on the work and general activities of New Zealand's Ambassador to Moscow, said he would be glad to arrange for the House to be given an account of the activities of the New Zealand Minister in Moscow. Mr Nash said the Minister made frequent reports to the Government on conditions in the U.S.S.R. and on matters relating to foreign affairs, and these reports were most informative and useful.

The Minister of Education (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason), in reply to a question asked by Messrs R. McKeen, C. H. Chapman and T. H. McCombs, three Government members, said it was not practicable at present to install telephones in all primary schools because of the extreme shortage of equipment. Railway Affairs

The Hon. R. Semple in reply to Mr A. S. Sutherland (National, Hauraki), who asked what steps were being taken to provide rolling stock for the distribution of fertiliser, said that during the last two months the supply of railway waggons for fertiliser had more than equalled the demand. The Minister added that everything possible was being done to expedite the construction of new rolling stock. Replying to the Rev. Clyde Carr 'Govt.' Timaru) who had suggested the introduction of the queue system in railway refreshment rooms and the sale of meal tickets on trains, said that the whole matter had been investigated and the Railways Department had decided that the solution of the present, difficulties was the. remodelling of the refreshment rooms. This remodelling would be done as soon as practicable. The Minister said the sale of tickets on trains, apart from making work the train staff could not. cope with, was unlikely to be satisfactory as there could be no guarantee" that food paid for on the train would be available at the refreshment rooms. First Furlough Draft Mr Jones, in reply to Mr Aderman, said that those members of the first furlough draft who refused to return to their units on the expiry of their furlough and who were dismissed from the defence forces, were originally deprived of deferred pay and mufti allowance and were debarred from participation in any rehabilitation benefits and from employment or re-employment in the service of the State. Deferred pay and mufti allowance and rehabilitation and other rights to them would be considered by the Government. Press Censorship The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), in reply to Mr R. G. Gerard (National. Mid-Canterbury) said that in harmony with the United Kingdom and the United States Press code, the New Zealand Government had decided not to dispense with the censorship so far as it related to Press cablegrams and mailed dispatches intended for publication overseas during the period of the Japanese war. War Risk Bonus The Prime Minister, in reply to Mr G. H. Macklev 'National, Masterton) said that the "war risk bonus of £l2 a month payable to seamen in New Zealand registered ships applied not only to the New Zealand coast, but also to the Pacific area, and while the risk of attack by the enemy had been appreciably reduced, it was by no i ■, ;-.••rt-fore the subsidy from the War E::ui-nses Account was not being discontinued, but appropriate steps would be taken when circumstances justified such action. Mr Nash, replying to Mr J. T. Watts 'National. Rlccarton >, stated that no firm in New Zealand had been granted a licence giving them the solo rights of importing D.D.T.. and applications lor a licence would receive consideration. Tyre Manufacture The Hen. D. G. Sullivan, rep’, mg to Mr W. Sullivan 'National, Bay of Plenty' said that negotiations between the Price Tribunal and tyre importers were proceeding with a view' to securing an amended price list for tyres. The matter was being investigated, and lie hoped to be able to make an early statement. I In reply Io a question by Mr W. A. I .'-them iN; ' io; il. Paten) M“ Sullivan | said a full inquiry had been held by the Bureau of Industry into the quesI'ion Of Hie ;■ .!>n-|f:i'“lire of lyres in I New Zealand Ail II"- interested parties had been heard mid the depositions made were being considered. ”"’nre(■ni 'li'm: lor licence:! to import I res j would b. co- sid'-red on their :n--ditirlu 1n- and it v , not possible at present to give any guarantee as to the future position.