QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 892, 11 August 1910, Page 6

QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS.

MINISTERIAL REPLIES. In reply to Mr. T. E. Taylor, who asked whether official recognition would bo. given 'to. the Engine-drivers', Firemen, and Cleaners' Union, tko Minister lor Railways, states, that when the Railways -Commission.has ; dealt with the subject the House will, have an opportunity of expressing ■ its opinion ( in regard to the matter. ,■ '. . > ' ' 'Replying to a query.by Mr. Hogg,-with, reference, to the proposed new Courthouse ' at, Masterton,' tho Minister for Public Works states that plans and specifications are. now being, prepared, and when they are roady the question of' inviting tenders would be considered by the Government . To Mr. E. H. Taylor the Hon. D. Buddo replies that proposals will be submitted to Parliament in the form of legislation dealing with the much-vexed question of vaccination on practical lines. In regard In a question by Mr. T. E. Taylor as to whether the Government would abolish tho marriage fees—both for registration and officiating—now charged by registrars, the Minister for .Internal Affairs states that if these ' fees were abolished tho revenue would suffer to the extent of ,£IO,OOO .per annum. Our fees compare very favourably with those of other British countries for similar services. There are nearly ono hundred registrars of marriages paid by fees, and provision would.have to be made for re-.. munerating them in some ■ other way. Moreover, it is doubtful if' tho giving of. further facilities for marriage by civil contract would meet with general' approval. . .'. ' Mr. Okey is informed by the Minister for Agriculture . that facilities will be given to settlers throughout New Zealand to purchase of tho. progeny of pedigree cattlo at the experiment farms: Touching a question put by Air. Hogg, the. Hon. T. Mackenzie states that a resolution of the Otago ■ Agricultural and Pastoral Society was mainly due to tho fact that the dairy cattle the Government intends to import include Jerseys, a breed which some authorities do not consider the most suitable for Otago. Dairymen in Taranaki and other leading dairy districts arc, however, decidedly in favour of Jerseys, whereas tho Ayrshircs suggested in the question are unpopular in some parts of the Dominion. Previous purchases of locally-bred stud cattle by tho Department havo led to remonstrance against, the Government competing with settlers who desired to'.purchase such animals, and, moreover, new strains of blood are highly desirable. . Replying to a question by Mr. Dive as to whether the law will be amended to provide that a voter's permit shall allow tho voter to' exercise'his vote at both tho first and,second ballots, if absent, the Prime Minister states' that ho proposes to deal with the anomaly. Questioned by 'Sir Wm. Steward-'on the subject, the Minister for Public Works 'states that there fs nothing discreditable in the condition of the surroundings of the present General Assembly Library buildings, and in view of the urgent necessities of.the backblock settlers in the shape of roads and bridges, it is not, proposed to do anything at present in. the. way of clearing the' debris, etc., especially as it will probably be found necessary to erect buildings on the portion of the grounds alluded to. •