Questions Asked in the House

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 July 1947, Page 6

Questions Asked in the House

(P.A.) Parliament Bldgs, July 22.

Questions came briskly from the Opposition benches when the House of Representatives resumed to-day, but th e formal business passed uneventfully before the resumption of the second reading debate on the Dairy Marketing Commission Bill.

ADMISSIONS TO N.Z. FROM INDIA

Mr. C. M. Bowden (Opp., Karori) in conjunction with Mr. R. M. Algie (Opp. Remuera) gave notice to ask the Minister of Customs if the department had issued permits for entry into New Zealand as residents of a number of Eurasians who recently arrived on a ship from India.

Mr. Bowden asked what was the Government’s policy as to the admission of other Eurasians who might seek to leave India because of the impending termination of British rule in that country? THE TURN-ROUND OF SHIPS.

Air. A. S. Sutherland (Opp., Hauraki) and Mr. W. Sullivan (Opp., Bay of Plenty) gave notice to ask the Prime Minister if his attention had been drawn to a statement issued by the Matson Line wherein it was stated that the slow turn-round of ships had made th e Pacific trade unattractive? Mr. Fraser: At which end?

Mr. Sutherland: At this end! Mr. Sutherland asked what steps the Government proposed to take to remove the delays and assist in reestablishing the sei-vice. Mr. Sutherland, in a note, to the question, said th e future tourist trade from America was very important as a means of building up our dollar fund. Valuable cargo trade to and from this country was also in danger. POWER PLANTS. Mr. W. S. Goosman (Opp., Piako), in an urgent question asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of a statement that Mr. J. T. Gilkison, an engineer of the Hydro-Electric Department, was going to the United States and Canada to inspect power plants and administrative centres, the Minister would state if it was intended that this officer should interviewmanufacturers of steam generating plant in an endeavour to find out how soon suitable plant, for both the North and South Islands, could be available.

Mr. Semple replied that Mr. Gilkison was concerned with the construction side of hydro-electric projects, but Mr. A. E. Devonport, chief electrical engineer of the department, was being sent abroad in an effort to procure power generating plant, including steam plant suited to New Zealand conditions.