Members Ask Questions Of Ministers

Chronicle (Levin), 1 July 1948, Page 5

Members Ask Questions Of Ministers

Drcss Association)

(Per 1

WELLINGTON, June 30. In the House of Representatives, Mr. M. H. Oram gave notice to ask the Minister of Finance wdiethei', in cases where it could be shown that a farmer's wife was actually working on the farm, the Minister would consider Jncreasing the allQwed exemption in respect of incoqie tax in respect of the vvife, from £100 to the normal personal ex'emption of £200. Mr. J. R, Hanan (Invercargill) gave notice to ask the Prime Minister if the New Zealand representative at United Nations, Sir Cai-l Berendsen, acted with the approval of .tlie Government when he voted for the proposal to partition Palestine. Mr. Fraser answered in the affirmative. Mr. W. A. Sheat (Patea) gave notice to ask the Minister of Agriculture whether the recently published statement by the Director-Gencral of Agriculture, to the effect that he would be "very surprised if prices ior primary produce in this eountry are maintained for live years without a break, " was made with the prior knowledge and approval of the Minister. Mr. Sheat asked whether this opinion waa based on information in the Government 's possession as to the possible future oi pyiee movements and if the Directo'rGeneral 's statement was intended as an. official warning to produeers of an ap- ; proaching reeession of produce prices. h \