REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 250, 21 October 1937, Page 8

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

MANY SUBJECTS COVERED [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Oct. 20. Ministerial answers to questions were circulated to-day. Ballots for State Houses. The Minister of Housing (the Hon. W. Nash), replying to a question by Mr R. A. Wright (Ind., Wellington Suburbs) as to whether a ballot was held to determine who should occupy State houses, stated that such a ballot was held in connection with the houses at Miramar, Lower Hutt and Johnsonville, and applications after the closing date of the ballot were not received.

Unrest in Railway ’Shops. In answer to a question by Mr H. G. Dickie (Opp., Patea), the Minister of Railways (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) said that he had no knowledge of any unrest in railway workshops, nor of any promise to increase the hourly rate of wages of employees there by 2*d an hour.

Boys Selling Newspapers. Answering a question by Dr. W. G. McMillan (Govt., Dunedin West), whether the Minister of Labour would introduce legislation to prevent young boys being employed delivering newspapers in the early hours of the morning, the Minister of Labour (Hon. H. T. Armstrong) replied that under the Shops and Offices Act boys under the age of sixteen were prohibited from being employed before 7 a.m. This restriction operated only so far as shop assistants were concerned, and consideration would be given to the question raised by Mr McMillan. Auckland Harbour Bridge.

The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), answering a question by the Hon. J. G. Coates (Opp., Kaipara), whether the Government was making a report on the possibility of construction of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, said that the Public Works Department had already submitted a report on the matter. This indicated that closer investigation into the possible toll revenue was necessary before a true prediction of the economic value of the bridge could be made. Taking Over Trading Banks. Mr Savage also answered a question by Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Opp., Ric- , carton), who asked when the decision of the Government regarding the taking over of the trading banks would be made public, to the effect that the matter had not been considered by the Government.