LEGISLATION TO KEEP HOLD ON PRICES

Chronicle (Levin), 11 September 1947, Page 5

LEGISLATION TO KEEP HOLD ON PRICES

— — - * WELLINGTON, July 10. Ministerial answers to questions again claimed the attention of the Ilou.se of Representatives this afternoon, affording some Telief from the Budget debate in which 25 members have so far spoken. Hon. R. Semple answering an urgeut. question by Mr. C. A. Murdoch (Otaliuhu) said the increased railway freight elvarges on livestoclc will be 20 per cent. on the existing rates. There might be an additional increase, following negotiations, as certain freight su,bsidies paid from the stabilisation aecounts are also being eancelled. Mr. Murdoch said current reports were that the Railways Department intended to charge special rates showing an increase of 32i per cent. on bobby calves, pigs and catlle as from September 15. Mr. Semple, answering a question by Mr. Qram about imports of American coal, said 92/300 tons had been imported to date aiid there was a bala'nee' on order of approximately 36,000 tons, half of which was en route and shipping arrangemelits completed for the remaider. This fnlfilled an order placed in July prior to the dollar crisis. No more coal had been ordered from Ameriea nor would it be. Hon. F. -Jones, answering Mr. T. L. Macdonald (Wallace) said consideration was now being given to establishing a certain number of air-taxi serciees throughout New Zealand and an early annonncement would be made. Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, answering 'Mr. T. L. Macdonald who had quoted a report of eattle being slaughtered in the Chatham Islands because of the irregularity of transport to bring them to the mainland, said the company operating the shipping service to the Chathams had received no eomplaint on the service from the special committee set up in the islands to ai-Fange for essential experts and imports. Up to 100 head of cattle could be brought over at a time on the vessel now in the service whichjappeared suffieient for all the requirements of the Chatham Island trade. Mr. Nordmeyer, answering Mr. D. C., Kidd (Waimate) said the Government had decided that under present conditions price control must be continued in the public interest for some time to come and legislation would he intro duced shortly giving 'effect to this decision. Hon. C. E. Skinner, answering a question by Mr. H. S. Sutherland (Hauraki) about alleged irregularities by the Hamilton Land Saies Committee, -said one of the alleged irregularities reported in a newspaper was that a Crown valuer had travelled with the committee but this was proved to be .incorrect. It was also claimed that this valuer was called into the committee room immediately after a hearing but this was merely to examine a map ooncerning another case > and had? absolutely no connection with the case just heard by the committee.