HOUSE IN SESSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 189, 12 August 1938, Page 8

HOUSE IN SESSION

THE AFTERNOON SITTING BUDGET DEBATE CONCLUDED 1 Per Pi«!» Asxcx-ialldn. 1 WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. When the House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. A. C. A. Sexton (Country Party, Franklin), gave notice to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view or the almost stationary position of New Zealand’s population and the very serious implications involved, the Government would take steps to encourage a natural increase in the Dominion’s population by adequate en-» dowment of motherhood? The Geraldine County River District Amendment Bill (Mr. T. D. Burnett, Opp., Temuka), was introduced and read a first time, and Mr. R. McKeen (Govt., Wellington South), gave notice to introduce the New Zealand Federation of Funeral Directors’ Bill. The formal machinery measures finally disposing of the Budget debato and clearing the way for the introduction of the estimates when the House is ready to proceed with consideration of them, were rapidly put through. Three local Bills, the Paritutu Centennial Park Bill (Mr. S. G. Smith. Opp., New Plymouth), the Tauranga Borough Council Empowering Bill (Mr. C. H. Burnett, Govt., Tauranga), and the Palmerston North City Council Empowering Bill (Mr. J. Hodgens, Govt., Palmerston North) were put through all stages and passed. The House proceeded to deal with Ministerial replies to questions for the remainder of the afternoon. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS MINISTERIAL REPLIES [ Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. During this afternoon's sitting of the House of Representatives Ministers replied to a number of questions which had been asked by members. Salaries For Men Teachers. The Minister ot Education (Hon. P. Fraser) replying to a question by Mr. S. G. Smith (Opposition, New Plymouth), regarding increased pay for men school teachers, stated that a new salary scheme for all primary school teachers had been the subject of consideration and consultation by the Government and the New Zealand Educational Institute for a considerable time, and had been already announced. Insulating New Zealand. “The Government will, as occasion requires, take the necessary steps to safeguard the Dominion from shocks associated with the fall in prices overseas and operations of speculators in oversea markets,” said the Minister of Finance (Hon. W. Nash), replying to a question by Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton) whether the Government would bring in the necessary legislation to insulate the Dominion from a fall in oversea prices prior to the introduction of the Superannuation legislation. Payment of Pensions. Answering a question by Mr. A. C. A. Sexton (Counrty Party, Franklin), who desired to know whether the Government would consider payment of pensions by cheque, the Minister in Charge of Pensions (Hon. W. E. Parry) said it was not considered that such payments by cheque would be as convenient as the present system of payments. Deterioration of Land. It was not proposed to have an investigation made on the lines suggested, said the Minister of Lands (Hon. F. Langstone), answering a query by Mr. T. D. Burnett (Opposition, Temuka), who pointed out that the Crown possessed some fourteen million acres in the South Island back

country let in pastoral licence, and as small grazing run leases. Profound and marked deterioration had taken place in such country, and Mr. Burnett asked the Minister if he would have an investigation made into the problem by two practical sheepmen, a member of the Land Board and a specialist from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Mr. Langstone, in the course of his reply, added that already n commission had investigated the matter in 1920, and it was not admitted that the deterioration of land had been profound and marked in recent years.