QUESTIONS AND REPLIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1555, 26 September 1912, Page 6

QUESTIONS AND REPLIES.

TAXES ON TREES. PROVISION FOR EXEMPTION. Mr. G. M. Thomson (Dundin North) asked the Prime Minister whether, in order to encourage tree-planting on private property, he will take into consideration the question of exempting from taxation for a certain term of years all plantations of forest trees. The Hon. \V. F. Massey (Prime Jfinister) replied: Plantations of forest trees are partially exempted from taxation under the existing law. Provision has been made, however, in the Valuation of Land Bill now before the House for the adequate exemption from taxation of improvements including plantations of forest trees. LAND BOARDS. CROWN TENANTS' REPRESENTATIVES. e Mr. H. J. H, Okey (Taranaki) askcil the Minister for Lands whether his attention has been called to the anomaly in* tho Land Act that debars Crown tenants from being represented on Crown Land Boards for two months in every two years; and whether he will amend tho . Act so that the Crown tenants' representative shall hold office until his successor has been elected. Under the present conditions, ho explained, the Crown ten- , ants elect a representative every two years, the Act stating that he must retire at the end of his term; no stops can be taken to fill tho vacancy until the vacancy actually occurs. The Crown tenants' representative retired by effluxion of lime on May 30, nominations do not close until the end ot June, and the election takes pluco at tlio end of July, .so tlmt tho tenants aro not represented during June und July every two years. The Hon. W. F. Jlassey (Minister for Lands) replied: The suggestion of the . honourable'member will receive immedi- i ata attention. FOR.DAIRY FARMERS. ' RAIL CARRIAGE OF CREAJI. j Mr. J. A. Young (Waikato) asked the i Jlinister for Railways whether he will provide cream-shelters at the country flag ! stations where desired by settlers shipping | crcam. Shelters for cream are provided at railway stations in some of the Australian States, he stated. The class and extent of shelter required is merely an overhead protection against the direct I rays of the sun, and could bo erected at a cost of under i£s each. The Hon. W. H. Herries (Jlinister for Railways) replied: While I am desirous ' of providing nil reasonable facilities required for satisfactorily dealing with railway traffic, I regret that owing to the large number of works that have already ( , been put in kind, having for their object ' I tho improvement of the existing facili- z j ties, there will be no funds available at £ the present time for the erection of cream- 1 I shelters. I have, however, carefully not- < | ed the representations and will bo glad i 1,0 give them further consideration when ) j A suitable opportunity occurs. j 1 i NEED FOR ROADS. J NATIONAL POLICY SUGGESTED. t Jlr. J. A. Y'oung (Waikato) asked tho | -Minister for Public Works: Whether tho f Government will consider the advisability , of undertaking the roading of the Do- , minion, and of carrying on a great for- ] ward roading policy on national lines? t 1 He addod in explanation that in many f parts of the Dominion the existing roads f were practically impassable to vehicles t except during the summer, and many ( parts were closed to settlement, or only k settled unprnf'itably because for lark of " roads, the produce of the land could not lie economically carried to market. Thd general prosperity of the Stale, and the I progress of the Dominion depend upon < the productive use of the land: and it t wd? little enough to nsk that,the farmer r ehould he given roads «t tho coat of th» b EmcU to yiich ha coatrkU

billed so largely, both directly and indirectly. ) The' Hon. W. Eraser (Jlinister for Public Works) replied: Whilst fully impressed with the supreme importance of completing the roading system ot , tho Dominion, tile .Government ennnot see its way to do more at present than to assist the local bodies to perform those functions for which they were specially created—viz.. to make and maintain tho roads within their respective boundaries. This assislance cost the Government last vear over half a million. I'