REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 674, 26 November 1909, Page 5

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

1 , OIL TENDERS FOR RAILWAYS.. ' •Replying, to a question -put by Mr. Massey, the Hon. J. A.-Millar states that it.is. not a fact that ; the specifications for lubricating oils are so arranged to make it impossible -for , ;any firm or 'company; other than the Standard Oil Company to-comply with the conditions. For lubrication of locomotive engine-running gear castor oil-is used. 'Supplies 'of this are obtained by the Department through its Indian agents . direct, experience having, amply, demonstrated ; , that- the supplies of castor oil obtained ■through loiial contractors were frequently unsatisfactory. Many of the lower; grade oils are. quitd Unsuitable for locomotive cylinders and' and would neither be. economical nor efficient for the prevention of wear and tear of valuable machinery. The oil used. for axle's on ■• the . New. Zealand railways is one.the Department has had twenty years' oxperienco in, , and.it meets all requirements! Highrpressure filtered valye'oiland darkmine-' ral axle .oils' were..obtained through the High .Umimissioncr,' from the Anglo American Oil Company, London, on the recommendation of the : consulting engineers in- London after they had all the lenders. ■'• It is not the practice ....6i-.\ the. Department,- :when.'• ordering ; oils .through the- High .Commissioner,, to .specify, the name of;any:manufacturer or p'ro[.ducer, but"merely U ..order' an , oil'.that will i comply with the- conditions of the Department s specification.'..: It is .known-that British oil , merchants and blenders obtain their prini cipal iupplies. of ".raw. oils from .either America or, Russia,;, and , ,, so-'long as this practice is to be followed it appears obvious that the companiesi wlio supply .oil-blenders-' with' the crude material will bo .in a Jjetter position, to- tender for. oil in accordance with the 'specification and- at a lower rate than can be- quoted by the ■ >;■:•;,■" .■ . . |

; MEDICAL INSPECTION. OF SCHOOLS.';: Tho .establishment of .a complete., system , ">br medical'aad-.dental'.inspection, of children attending .the. -publiq schools would bo an ' ex•tremoly espensive matter,\not at all comparable \V)th.tho.expense of .ft: similar system in closely-' populated countries ■ such vas- -England 'and , Germany. Tho ■'. matter, however, is being seriously : considered -.with-a view; tot ascertaining what it may. be,possible.-to do, having duo. consideration, to the, many hrgent claims upon the public purse. ■■• •'■ ;'■,-.,:,- :';:■' ';■-:■;■ ■'■''■] .-,■■;';. ::: '. ■ "fAGsT-.,•/ ["'. -i..'.':'!'-:;, , :• Nothing' has- recently been done to 'enfor.cev sttict observauco and removal.by. local bodies «f. its' tags on 'their balance-sheets, and •' the ' Audit 7 Office staff is not'strong enough tb do anything in tho matter ■■ beyond; taking the exceptions.;- ' x-':' , '. '■ ■ .' .' ':: ■ •'■•'■ r' ;;: ■-•'• ;■;■ miscellaneous;' ■.' '' -i the Lands for Settlement Bill is before the.; House; opportunity will be given fot the question.of '.workers'-. homes .to ;bo- fully discussed. ~;,,.,; ~' .- ,-'-.. - ...--, . . . The circumstances-' attoriding the trip -of No. 1 Company,: Auckland Garrison i; Artillery, ■Wellington on Octolwr 29 are at present being Inquired into' by' the' Officer Commanding the Auckland district.;. ..-. ■■:: .■■■'■'■ '.-',;./. The suitability' of Queen : - Charlotte Sound for a.naval base is to'be brought under'tha notice, of his' Excellency, the .Admiral. :.,■:'■ •"'-. ■A ■ discussion on 'the' report' of '.the Timber Coniinission- is to take place when a suitable opportunity-offers.,''..', ~,. "...'■. A Bill dealing with the qneetion of .libel has been prepared,-.but-when'' it may be introduced ■will depend upon'-circumstancea'as to the position of the business of; Parliament.-. : . ■-.. '-.•'■ , There is. no statutory whereby'the control of the Native lands in ,the vicinity of Porangahau can be taken from .Hie Native owners, but the law requires the Maori Laud Board,.before which,any,alienation,.mustcome; for, confirmation tosatisfy, itself • that no undue aggregation ,of area has taken :place, ; ."'.-':

■ : -v>;.v; NEW BILLS. \x V;;,'.-MINING ACT.AMENDMENTi : ' : The Mining Act Amendment Bill, which was circulated last'night, contains , a number of new provisions. - Prospect warrants and licenses niay,' with', the.consent. .of the. trustees!, .be granted in respect of public endowments and reserves.. .Where; gold .is.associated with other metals or minerals, a special claim may bo granted for mining the- same. -If a- mine ia worked, for more than : three days without a properly-appointed, and" notified manager, the mine-owner shall be liable to a fine not exceeding J250. .It shall not be lawful for the owner or .manager of/anym'ine or,for any perßon'in charge of a mine to require any person, over the ageof eighteen-years who-is employed in the mine, or applying to, be-so emiployed, to-be medically, examined, or to: produce a medical certificate' that he is in' a 'good'or state of health- Provision ie made for the right of registered miners'; unions to appoint inspectors to inspect mines on their behaß,' copies of the of-such, inspectors to be * furnished' to the-owners or managers-of the mines. The miners are also given power/to appoint ohedt weighmen when they are paid according to the' weight of material gotten, by them.. A similar provision is made in, regara to measuring and gauging, the' payment "of these officials to , be a charge on miners employed in the ".mines. Wardens shall have power when granting any license, either in respect of. Crown or, private lands, to impose such .conditions, terms, or reservations as shall tend.to obviate the destruction of the surface of pastoral or agricultural land.the subject of the license. ; .-■ , . •

DESIGNATION OF DISTRICTS. The Designation of Districts Bill (the Hon. D. Buddo) was circulated yesterday. It provides that the Governor-in-Council; at-the request or with the consent of the local authority of , , any'borough, county, road district, or town district, may .by proclamation alterxits name. ■ ■'•'■ ■ "/ ■■ ■:..■■ '■' • .. "■' '; .. ' ■ 'V; The Hon. J. .A. Millar -has given notice to introduce : the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Amendment Bill and Industrial Coni ciliatibn and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill to-day.-;. '■■ • '•'•■'' ; "' •;..-•; •' '';;■■';