ITEMS FROM PARLIAMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19365, 23 July 1925, Page 5

ITEMS FROM PARLIAMENT

ANSWERS TO LOCAL QUESTIONS POWER BOARD COAL (By Telegraph). (From Our Parliamentary Reporter). WELLINGTON, July 22. | Mr Glonn asked the Minister for Railways whether he will take into serious consideration the effect the proposed increase in railway freight on New Zealand coal will have upon local bodies generating electricity by steam driven plants. The Wanganui-Rangit i kei Electric Power Board advise that the increased cost of fuel for the power station at Wanganui will be approximately £l5OO per annum, he said. Air Coates replied that the matter of rates on coal is now engaging the attention of the Railway Board and it is hoped to arrive at an arrangement, which will return the desired amount of revenue to the Department and at the same time avoid the difficulty mentioned by the honorable member. Mr Glenn said that the increase of £l5OO would not be a diminishing but an increasing quantity. He hoped the matter would yet be gone, into as what was being done was taking a local body by surprise. WANGANUI EAST POST OFFICE Mr Glenn also asked the PostmasterGeneral whether provision will bo made, on the estimates for an up-to-date post office at. Wanganui East. Sir Jas. Parr (Postmaster-General) replied that during the late war and the subsequent period of financial depression very few post, office buildings were erected. There are, however, several places where the necessity for a Post Office building is more pressing than at Wanganui East. The requirements at that place will be. dealt with strictly in order of urgency with other demands and when c> cumstanc.es permit. HARBOUR ENGINEERING. Mr Veitch asked the Minister for Marine whether ho will endeavour to secure the services of Sir George G. Buchanan, K.C., 1.E., a harbour engineer of wide, repute, who is now on a visit to Australia to report on the development of harbours in the Dominion. The Hon. Anderson replied: This matter has already been fully considered but the Government cannot see. its way to issue ap invitation to the gentleman named to visit the Dominion for the, purpose mentioned or to contribute towards the cost that, would be, involved in the. event of any of the harbour, boards exercising their power to enter into arrangements for him to report on their harbours. HOSPITAL BOARD EMPLOYEES. Sir Maui Pomare informed Sir Geo. Hunter to-day that it is proposed to give, an opportunity of being included in annuation benefits to every employee of a Hospital Board who has been in the service of a Board for a. sufficient period to be considered a permanent employee of the Board. The Bill has not yet been considered in itS final form. GAMING LAWS. Tn reply to Mr Langstone. the Hon. Bollard stated that consideration is being given by the Government to the question of setting up a special committee of the House, to go into matters relating to gaming. FREE SCHOOL BOOKS. Asked by Mr Witty whether free school books will bo. provided, Sir Jas. Parr, the Minister, replied: The Erjucation Department has already done a great deal to relieve parents of the expense of providing primary school books inasmuch as all reading matter for standard classes is provided free through the. medium of the school journal and supplementary continuous readers. The cost to the State at pre sent is not less than £lO,OOO a year. The number of text-books in other sub jects has been restricted as much as possible, the authorized list now con taining only five books, all of which are uniform throughout New Zealand. This obviously cheapens the cost to parents. Further, in all cases where parents are. unable to afford to purchase books these are provided free. Beyond this the Department is not prepared to recommend the Government to go. since the establishment of a free book system would Involve the. expenditure of a very large sum of money. On account- of heavy financial commitments in other directions he could not see his wav clear to recommend free school books.