Ministers Reply To Questions In House

Chronicle (Levin), 11 August 1949, Page 8

Ministers Reply To Questions In House

Wide Variety Of Subjecte

WfcLLiN&T'ON, August 10. ' Two supplementary order papers containiiig 40 Miiiisteiistl- aiiswers to questions asked by mtmbbl'S duriug the previous \veek, wei'd cii'tiulated in the Bouse of R eprhs'eilt'atives this httei'noon. Mr Fraser, in liis reply to Mr Broacl foot, said thftt the q\i&Stloil whether lie (the Prime Minister) hkd taken steps to aseertain if papei'S aild 'd'ocUHieitts gatherecl in the police v'aitl oil Marx [louse, Sydney, revealed any infonna tiou regarding Comihuhist aetivitv in Xew ^ealandj re^erred to iiifoi'iiiation that might be in 'the possessioii of ^ a department controlled b.y aiiotlier Government, but it xvas receiving attention. " The question of obtaining the consent of the Governnient oi ISexv Soiith Wales to the Connuissioner of Poliee sending an ofiicer to Sydney to obtain and examine all available documents ahd ot,her ilifprmation, will receive consideratioil. ' ' Mr Praser said that the Uovernment was already well aware of the extent of Comniunist influence in some New Zealand trade unions and kept itself informed on such matters. Mr Fraser, replying to Mr E. P. Aderman (New Plymouth) said that Neu Zealand 's percent'age of shares in German reparations was .40 per cent of Gernian assets in neutral an'd Alhed countries and .(50 per cent. of industrial aiid otlier capital equipment reitioved from Westerii Gernltlny, together with merchant ships and inland water transport. Included in reparations New Zehland had already reeeived, were a sniall motorship, machine tools, engineering equipment, aii'f rameSj aero engines an'd accessories, together with fmancial payments representing Neiv Zealand 's share of proceeMs from the liquidatidn of Gernian external assets in neutra] countri'es.

, i Conserving Doliars i "It, is the policy of the Governmexit to conserve doliars by using British transport services in all eases where itineraries and travelllng times permit," said Mr Nash when replying to Mr Sheat who sought an assuraiice that in all future arrangenients for overseas visits bv Ministers of the Crown and Government officials aiid delega tions, travelling arrangenients would be made so as to avoid the unnecessary use of dollar funds. Mr Nash said that on his recent trip overseas it ivas desirable to confer with United States Officials and New Zealand trade representatives in the Uiiited States on mat ters related to the London conference and except for actual 'travelling in the Fnited States; British planes were used exclusively. " Furtlierniore, the faci. that the conference was convened at short notice, preeluded the possibilitv of cholera inoeulations before departure which are reqnired befoie travftlling via the Middle East," said J\Ir Nash. Calf Skins. It was not proposed to extend the pavout for bobbycalf skins beyond the price of 3M per lb., said ^ Mr Nordniever replying to Mr A. S. S'ucherlaml (Hauraki). Waterfront Control "The future control of the water t'ront is receiving the Government s consideration, " said Mr McLagan wheu replying to Mr M. H. Orani (JManawatu) who sought an indication of the final policy of the Government regard ing the control of waterfront laiiour. - Mr McLagan said that no arrangenients for payment to members of the Waterfront Industry Authority were necessary as they were paid on a daily fee basis only. The Waterfront Industry Commission was still carrying on its administi'ative work which, as always, comprised the bulk of its duties. Mr A. S. Sutherland, discussing Mr McLagan 's answers said the Minister j had been runnihg true to form. Had the Minister ealled for a seeret bhllot On the question of overtiiiie work 011 the 1 waterfront including both union and non-union workers, he would have had the men back at overtimb work iong ago. Ships were piling up in Auckland harbo'ur yet^ the Minister appeared to be sitting baclt doing nothing. Schools As Polling Booths All returning ofiicers were instructed (to avoid the use of schools as polling places but where that was ftot possible, they were to arrange for closing only that part of ahy school building re quired for voting purposes on the military training referenduiu, replied Mr Fraser to Mr S. W. Smith (Hobson) "Resulting from this instruction, 36b polling places were changed from schools to other buildings," said Mr Fraser. "Although halls or other buildings may have been available, the returning officers were obliged to retain many schools in order to secure the services of teachers who, in country districts, are often the only persons suitable to act as polling officers." Auckland 's Bridge "There has been no delay on the part of the Government for financial or other seasons, in initiating steps for the construction of the Auckland harbour bridge," said Mr Nash when replying to Dr. A. M. Finlay (Nofth Ghore.). The Minister added that arrangenients h'ad been Cnte'red into with a London lintt for a design and the Supe* vision of construction. Preliminary surveys and borihgs had been completed and the results sent to the engiueers in London. "When plans have been Com pleted a declsioil regarding the com nreneem'ent of the construction of the bridge will be made iii the light. of -ab circumstances then Oicisting, inclpdin'jj the supply of critical materials and manpower, " said the Minister. "The Government has already pro mise'd .to teview the ratOs of social se' ctiiity beneilts afid the member for In vercargill can be assui^ed that the fnat ter of retrospective ^payment is a ques tiou to .which the Government is giv img earnest consideration," said M W. E. Farry when replying to a ques tion by Mr Hanan. It was not proposed to alter the lav to give domain boards power to p6rmi

the erection of seaside cottages Oi shacks on domains uiuler their contro where the artia was larger than thal required for facilitids toi' the geileral publie, replied Mf C. F. Bkihnet to a question asketl b}7 Mi* Atienniin anu Mi Broadfoot jointly. . Mr McLagan, replying to Mr G. G. E. Harkar (Hawke's Bay) said that slupping companies were responsibkfor the s'upefvision of waterside labour and he understood that tlie eompanibh had recentiy taken action with the view of eliniinatiiig the speliing abuse at the four main ports. MorO Productibn "The GdV'eriliiient reooghises the desirability of fulfilling both speeific aho implied undertakings so far as is p(>ssible, within the time giV'en and a smali departmental committee under tno chairmaliship of htr F. P. Walsli, is actively investigating the factors which influeuce food production, said Mr E. L. Cullen in reply to Mr Sheat who sought a statemeut clai'ifyiiig the position regardiiig any undei talcing.-. entered into by the Government with the British Government, tOr il sUbstui. tial increase in food production duiing the next five years. Mr Cullen said tlu 1948 long-term contract entered ititu with the United Kiugdom Govemmeiu for the supply of meat and dair-y pro ducts, had a eurrency of seveh y'ekrS. In that sect.ion dealing with meat it was specificallv stated that New Zealand ' would eiideavour to increase the export of meat by 50,000 tons yoarly by 1955. j With tegard to dairy produce 110 speeific undertaking was given but in an excliange of ideas, the New Zealand negotiators agreed that all morea., e m pi'uduction would be niutually advau tageous and it. was suggested that un der nornial conditions, an over all ^ in crease by 20 per cent. was a possibii itv.

"The Government, in eo-operation vith producei' liodies, h'as agreed to^ sublidise importations Of basic slag, linely >round Noi'tll Afriean phosphate and luanos, in aii elideavoUr to inciease 1 certiiiser usag'e during the cOining yoai 1 is it is recognised that added fertilisei supplies are essential before the stock jarrying capacity can be materially 111 2reased," said the Minister. It was an tieipated that the committee would tnake further reports to the Government at an eai'ly date and the comniit tee's reconimendations would receive the most serious consideration. It was not intended to make any re duction in imports of the drug streptomycin on account of the dollar situation, said Miss Howard when replying to Mr J. A. Roy (Clutha). The drug was of great value in certain serious diseases such as tuberculosis aiid mehniT gitis. Gallant Amethyst rffiie story of the gallant and courageous achievements of the officers and men of H.M.S. Amethys/;, would be told 111 the School Journai in a way which ehild readers would understand, said Mr JMcCoiuds when replying to Mr F. G. Gonnolly, who sought recognition tlirough the schools of the ex ploit of the sliip in escaping recentiy down the Yangtze River and rejoining her squiadron on the Ghina statiou. The Miilister added that teachers in high er grades would also make litting refer'eilces to the Amethyst 's historic exploits to appropriate classes. 1942 Land Values In a question addressed to the Minister in charge of stabilisation, Mr W. A. Sheat (Patea) asked whether he had given consideration to the recent eomments of hlr Jbstice Isortheroft severely criticising the injustice of iixing rents on 1942 values in view of the serious deeline on the value of money sinee that date, and whether the Minister intended to revisa the stabilisation policy so aa to remove the serious iujustice to which his Honour rbferred. Mr J. R. Hanan (lnvercargi-li) gave notice to ask the Minister of Finance whether, in view of the vast power reserves in the South Island not required for many years at the present increase of demand, the Government will consider sending Oxports to Britain and North America to explore the possibii ity of establishing major industries based on electric power.' In a note to the qbestion, Mr Hanan said an organisation in the far south similar to T.V.A. in tlie United States, might alford an opportunity for the investmeiit of hard ciifreiicy in au Empire Gountrv, which the Minister had stated wOuld ease the dollar sliortage. Import Litences An extension of the currency of 194lJ import licences, was sought by Mr Oram in a question addressed to the Minister of Customs, Mr Nash. Mr Oiam asked whether, in view of shipping holdups in Britain and elsewhere and the consequent difficulty in getting merchandise completed and shipped in time, the Minister would state whether it would be possible to extend the currency of the> 1949- import licences to the end of February'so as to prevent congestion and difficulty over the Christmas and New Year period.