MINISTERIAL REPLIES TO QUESTIONS ASKED IN PARLIAMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 September 1950, Page 6

MINISTERIAL REPLIES TO QUESTIONS ASKED IN PARLIAMENT

PARLIAMENT BLDGS, Last Night (PA). —Several Ministerial replies to questions were circulated and discussed in the House of Representatives during the afternoon. Railway Charges Mr. Goosman, Minister of Works, answering a question by Mr. Freer, said it was a slack season at pi x>nt and it was too soon to determine the full effect of the recent increases in railway charges, but there was no immediate intention of increasing fares and freights. Public Service Salaries The Prime Minister (Mr. Holland), answering Mr. McCombs (Opp., Lyttelton) said the adult unmarried male minimum salary in the P/blic Service had been increased from 1330 to £346 10s by the decision of the Government Service Tribunal. This was not less than the revised minimum wage rates under the Minimum Wage Act. No Bus Licence Offered The Minister of Works (Mr. Goosman), answering Mr. Freer (Opp., Mount Albert) said he had seen a newspaper report that Mr. R. M. Anset t, of Ansett. Airways, was interested in establishing in New Zealand an organisation conducting bus services, holiday tours, hotels and airways. Mr. Goosman said, however, that Ansett Airways had not been promised any internal bus licences as an inducement to purchase National Airways. It was not proposed to sell portions of the N.Z.R. Services to this company, and existing motor tours organisations would not be subject to unfair competition. Cost Of Living The Minister of Health (Mr. Watts), answering Mr. Freer, said: “The question of the rising cost of living following the abolition, of subsidies is being carefully watched, and the interests of social security beneficiaries will be protected. It is hoped the steps already being taken and still to be taken by the Government to bring about a steadier internal price level will go a long way towards restoring the pound to its full value, thereby real assistance to all members of the community, including social security beneficiaries. Termite Treatment The Minister in Charge of the State Advances Department (Mr. Marshall), answering Mr. Mason (Opp., Waitakere) said the State Advances Corporation uses the termite treatment recommended by the Dominion’s leading entomologist and confirmed by a noted Australian 1 authority. The treatment is effective and the alarming statements of the acting-city engineer of Auckland could be rebutted. The Minister said spectacular success in termite control could not be expected, and scientific control rather than complete eradication was the best that could be hoped for. Treatment was done by the corporation’s trained staff under an officer with the highest technical qualifications, and with, expert entomological advice available. This officer recently returned from Australia, where he studied methods of treating this pest.