MINISTERS' ANSWERS

Chronicle (Levin), 15 July 1948, Page 6

MINISTERS' ANSWERS

Press Association)

Questions About Communists And Cement

(Per

WELLINGTON, July 14. Mr. G. H. Mackley (Wairarapa, Opposition) in an urgent question to the Minister o£ Industrics and Commerce, asked if lie was aware tliat higli costs of production in the poultrv industry vvere not being. recognised with the Tecent decrease in egg prices scheduled to drop 9d a dozen in three weeks, and whether he would urgently consider prevonting this fall in price to give poultrykeepers an in'centivo for incjeased production. • Mr. Nordmeyer replied tliat the existing egg prices had been fixed by the Price Tribunal after a full jexainination of the industry 's- costs.' It was uow making a further iiivestigation aua poulti'ykeepers had beeii asked tt) sub mit further details of their costs. No revision of prices could be promised beEore the tribunal reached a decision. Definitely No Wlien Mr. K. J. Holyoake' (Pahiatua, Opposition) gave notice to ask the L'rime Minister if he would follow the democratie exaniple of the Eederai Labour Government of Australia and take a referendum of all the people to iiscertain wliether the majority favoured abolishing such Government controls as price iixing, land saies, rent re strictions and import controls, Mr. Fraser replied tliat the answer Would delinitelv be no.

Communist Propaganda Mr. Praser, answering Mr. A. S. Suthcrland (Hauraki, Opposition) said tliere was no evidence of any foreign mission in New Zealand abusing its diplomutic privileges but if the honourable member could adduce any groumL t'or suspecting tlie niisuse of diiilomatic bags, thc matter would be investigated. Mr. Sutherland had asked tliat tlie necessary precaulions be taken to see tliat Communist propaganda lilins wero not smuggled into New Zealand Ln diploniatic bags to escape censorsliip. Mr. Fraser, replying to Mr. W. J. Broadt'oot (Waitomo, Opposition) said existing legislation would enable the Government to prevent the recntry into New Zealand, if it were desired to do so, of persons who, after residing fo> years in the Dominion, had returned to their native lands beliind "thei irou eurtain" in Europe. Unesco Conference Mr. Fraser, replying to Mr. Slieat, said no decision had yet been made as to the size or personnel of tlie New Zealand delegation to the third Unesco conference but as the conference was being held in Beirut in the sterling urea, no doilar expenditure sliould be necessary. Two New Zealanders who had been members of previous delegations but who wero now members of tlie Unesco Beeretariat, were prohibited from representing New Zealand while so employed. No Imputations, Mr. Fraser, replying to Mr. W. H. Gillcspie's (Hurunui, Opposition) question about an address in Timaru by Mr. Freer, said: "Tlie lionourable member t'or Mt. Albert assures me he had no iiitention of iniputing any sinister inteutions in regard to wur, to tlie Government of the United Btates. His rcfereuee to ' Powers tliat be; was intended for eertain private interests wliom he considered to be interested in fomenting international aniiuosities rcgardiess of tlie consequences. He regrets tlie use of any terms he used whicli could in any wav be construed as an attaek upon sincerity m endcavouring to secure the peace of the United Htates Government or people as a whole, t'or whoih lie has the liigliest regard." £2 Note Suggested Mr. Nasli, replying to Dr. A. .M. Finlay (North ftliore, Labour) said tlie suggestion that a £2 note be added to the existing range of values, was beiug examiued by the Reserve Bank whicn would report to the Government. Produce in Stores M r. Cullen, replying to Mr. J. J.Malicr (Otaki, Opposition) said that at Jiine 30, tliere were 7400 tons of butter in store of tlie production for expori for tlie 1947-48 season of 130,500 tons, which ineant tliat about 94 per cent. Iiad been shipped. Of S2,600 tons of cliee.se produced, 90 per cent. had been shipped, leaving 3400 tons in store. Of /3.j0,(J00' tons of meat produced, 50 per cent. had been shipped, leaving 155,000 tons in store) Cement Supplies Mr. Nordmever, answering a question by Mr. W. .T. "Sullivan (Bay of iHentv, Opposition), discussed the difficulties of cement production but said it Avas likeIv that either tli rough the operatiou of new eompanies of tlie expansiou of existing plant', the output of New Zealand cement factories could appreciably be increa.sed. Limited supplies of eeiuent wero available overseas but tlie cost so mucli exceeded. the New Zealand price tliat importers were reluctant to order it.