MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 249, 20 October 1937, Page 8

MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Oct. 19. When the House of Representatives met at 2.30 this afternoon, Col. J. Hargest (Opp. Awarua) gave notict to ask if the Minister of Marine's attention had been drawn to the recent trouble on the motor-vessel Port Tauranga and did the Government intend to take steps to prevent a recurrence of similar actions of crews which tended to endanger a valuable vessel?

Mr H. Atmore (Indpt., Nelson) gave notice to ask if the Prime Minister’s attention had been drawn to the low superannuation allowance of some superannuitants and if, in view of the increased cost of living, he would take steps to have their position alleviated.

Mr W. J. Polson (Opp., Stratford) gave notice to ask if the Minister of Education’s attention had been drawn to' a recent statement over 2YA by a member of the staff of one of the training colleges to the effect that people were being told of the bombings in China but were not being told of the bombings of women and children on the north-west frontier of India. Mr Polson asked if the Minister thought it desirable that such a disloyal and inaccurate statement should be made by a civil servant. Mr Polson also asked the Prime Minister an urgent question if he was aware of the conditions under which our produce was being loaded on the waterfront to-day which, he said, was worse than a year ago owing to stoppages of work and dilatoriness. He asked if the Prime Minister would take steps to initiate a drastic inquiry into the matter.

Hon. M. J. Savage, in reply, said he was not aware that the conditions referred to by Mr Polson were worst than a year ago and he was not prepared to accept Mr Polson’s assertions to that effect. He was aware of what was going on on the waterfront and intimated that the Government was making an investigation into the whole position. Eight days’ leave of absence was granted Mr Neilson on account of illness and a similar period was granted Mr Ormond Wilson, also on account of illness.