ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 874, 21 July 1910, Page 6

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

After Leaving School. Answers to .questions were distributed in tho House yesterday. The Prime Minister, replying to Mr. 1 Luke (Wellington..Suburbs), 'doubts'if it would help Parliament to appoint N a commission to consider the trend of our youths after leaving school, whe'ther sufficient inducements are offered them by the country's industries, what effect recent legislation lias had on industrial •concerns, and ' whether protective tariffs should be increased. Guaranteed Advances.The., question of amending the State Guaranteed Advances Act to give preference to Crown tenants is under consideration. Palmerston Railway Station, Alterations are to be made by the Railway Department to ,the Palmerston North Station. When these are completed' the bookstall will be made a receiving-office for telegrams. Chemists and Analysts. The total fees collected for chemical analyses made for the general pub'lic for tho whole of New Zealand average only i about .£l5O per annum, and . the . interference of 'State chemists with private analysts is therefore considered to be. negligible. The fees charged' are considered reasonable, and,-so far as tho Government can learn, do not differ materially from those charged by tho'majority of private analysts. School Reserves. ' Mr. Bnchanan (Wairarapa) asked tho Minister for Education-whether he would introduce legislation to provide that the various education reserves "should be made accessible by road communication. The Hon. G. Fowlds replies that it does not appear that it would be wise to extend the powers already granted to school commissioners. ' Sly Grog. Every effort has been made by the Justice Department to cope with the illicit sale of liquor on .the, Strntford-Ongaruc railway works. While it is undeniable (states the Minister to Mr. Hine) that illicit sales .take place, a good deal "of the drunkenness is due to the importation of liquor in quantities, and. its division among the purchasers. This cannot be prevented. ■ The police are severely handicapped by the fact that they are closely watched, and that the general public will ■ not assist them. Under'these circumstances it is very difficult to* secure sufficient' evidence to warrant a conviction. No effort will 'be spared to. cope with the illegal traffic. A New Coalfield. Authority has been taken 'to do some prospecting in connection with the coal discovery at Waimarino, and work will be put in hand without delay. This will require somo time to carry out, and to examine the whole of the country thoroughly,'- with a view to obtaining complete information as to the extent and quality ol'. this coal-field. Gordon Highlanders' Trophy, In view of . recent Government expenditure for the improvement of the Trentham Rifle" Range, it is not intended to send a rifle shooting team to Australia or England this year. . The expense of sending a team to Australia for this one event is hardly'.warranted-.'(according-to Sir Joseph Ward); but. next year, when the- Empire Match 'will also bo competed for, the matter will receive every consideration. ■ . Mr. Field (Otaki) to whom this answer was given vesterdhy- stated that the-Gov-ernment's'decision-would be very much regretted bv shooting men, and was not likely to improve the prospects- of marksmanship in New. Zealand. It was now five years since a New Zealand team .went to Bisley, and it distinguished itself greatly. Land for Settlement. An offer -of the Waitetuma No. 1A Block, t'f ~12,000 acres,, in the Wairarapa, has been made to the Native'. Land Purchase Board' for purchase, and is under consideration .by the Government. Co-operative Workers. In regard to. statements made by Mr. A. Schmitt at the Farmers' Union Conference as to the cost of work under the co-operative system, the Prime Minister states that no contracts have been let for clearing ti-tree on the Hauraki Plains. There have, however, been contracts let for forming drains, involving the clearing of the 1 ti-tree from the surface of tho drain; but payment for such work is only made at the rate of «E1 per acre. With reference to the statement that co-operative workers did not get up until mid-day, this is considered highly, improbable; but, in .any case, the men fin co-operative works are paid by results, and in'such a case as that mentioned it , would be a matter of no work no pay. On public works' satisfactory results aw obtained under tho co-operative, system, and, consequently, it is not proposed to set up a Royal Commission to inquire into that system.' Other Matters. Legislation will probably be introduced to enable borough to contribute to tho cost and undertake the control, of, subways • un ; ler railway lines. Tho construction of the new Picton wharf is to be pushed on as speedily as possible. '." ' - 'An amendment of the patents law is under consideration. Tho erection of the post office at Whangamomona will Oie considered in connection with the public works estimates. Art amount of .£3OOO has been placed on tho* estimates this session for subsidies to public libraries. The provision of further Departmental accommodation at Blenheim will bo considered as soon as the means available permit. It.' is not intended this session to introduce any legislation ,for tho repeal of the law protecting stoats, weasels, and ferrets.