ANSWERS GIVEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23316, 27 September 1945, Page 6

ANSWERS GIVEN

Questions Asked By Members Petrol Rationing And Sales Tax (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept 26. Ministerial replies to questions occupied the attention of the House of Representatives this afternoon. . The Hon. F. Jones, answering an urgent question by Mr G. H, Mackley (National, Masterton), said that new regulations governing the formation and administration of defence rifle clubs had been prepared and were now receiving the Government's attention. A statement would be made as soon as possible on the facilities that could be" provided to enable clubs to resume their activities, and on the issue of ammunition. The Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, in a written reply to Mr C. M. Williams (Government. Kaiapoi), who had suggested shifting the seat of Government to Blenheim, said: “The question no doubt will be kept steadily in view by many successive Governments.” Mr Fraser, replying to Mr H. T. Morton (National, Waitemata), who had asked for the Government’s policy concerning defaulters still in detention, said the Government’s decision in regard to military defaulters will be duly announced when our servicemen return to New Zealand. Purchase Of Uniforms The Hon. F. Jones, answering Mr C. G. Harker (National. Waipawa), who had suggested allowing demobilised servicemen to retain their battledress at a reasonable price to counteract the clothing shortage, said if soldiers now being discharged were permitted to purchase their uniforms, in common fairness this privilege would have to be extended to all men already discharged. Stocks held were insufficient for this, while uniforms would still be required to meet the requirements of New Zealand troops. Mr Jones, answering a question by Mr A. S. Sutherland (National. Hauraki) concerning the issue of a Home Guard medal, said the Government had already decided to recognise the services of the Home Guard and Home Service personnel. The form of recognition -was at present under consideration. Sales Tax The Hon. W. Nash, answering Mr Morton, who had asked for the removal of the sales tax on building materials for servicemen erecting their own homes, said to relieve servicemen of the burden of the sales tax the Government had decreased the Interest rate on loans to ex-servicemen. The effect of this was to save servicemen £2lO on a loan of £l5OO, whereas the estimated amount of the sales tax on a house of this price was approximately £lOO. As soon as the financial position warranted it the’ sales tax on building materials and other essential requirements would- be reviewed. Petrol Rationing The Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), answering a question by Mr W. A. Sheat (National, Patea), said the Government would consider abolishing petrol rationing as soon as the availability of supplies to New Zealand made this possible. He would be pleased to consider extending the availability of coupons for a period of more than one month during the holiday season if petrol rationing were not earlier abolished. Answering a question by Mr W. Sullivan (National, Bay of Plenty), the Minister of Supply said he had seen a recent report that petrol w’as landed in New Zealand at 8d a gallon and retailed at approximately 37- a gallon. The retail price had been stabilised at 2/95 at main ports since June 30, 1942. This was made up of the selling price ex-Government to bulk distributors (fixed as approximate for the distribution of petrol at the level existing at the date of stabilisation), taxation of 14.7 d a gallon, and wholesalers and retailers’ operating margins. It might be possible in the near future to obtain petrol from the sources normally supplying New Zealand's requirements and through the usual trade channels, and consideration was being given by the Government to reverting to the previous method of price fixation. Negotiations with the oil companies were proceeding. Surplus Stores The Minister of Supply, answering Mr J. A. Roy (National. Clutha), said there were some surplus items of equipment such as trucks, jeeps, bulldozers. shovels, tractors, etcetera, in New Zealand belonging to the United States authorities, and the Ministry of Supply was inquiring as to the conditions under which this surplus equipment would be made available and whether it would be suitable for our requirements. Mr Jones, answering a question by Mr R. M. Algie (National, Remuera) concerning Mr Bradshaw’s broadcast, said it was correct that the scriot submitted was not considered suita'ble for broadcasting. Tasmanian Potatoes The Hon. B. Roberts, answering a question by Mr Roy, said the Tasmanian potatoes just discharged at Wellington and Auckland were landed, on the whole, in good condition, but a small portion showed some deterioration owing to storage difficulties and unavoidable lack of ventilation during the somewhat long period between the commencement of loading and the completion of discharge. Of the quantity affected, which was less than 10 per cent of the total shipments, only a few bags were in such condition as not to warrant repicking and reconditioning, and almost the whole of the damaged portion was beingpicked over with only a comparatively small loss in the reconditioning. Those which were unsuitable for marketing were being used for pig food or otherwise disposed of by market gardeners, and no potatoes had been dumped.