MEMBERS' QUESTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1810, 24 July 1913, Page 8

MEMBERS' QUESTIONS.

NAVAL BASE. THE CLAIMS OP AUCKLAND. Mr. A. M. luyers (Auckland East) asked the Prune Minister whether in view of tlio fact that live cruisers have been commissioned by the Admiralty for the New Zealand Station he will inform the House if it is the intention of the Government to establish, a naval base at Auckland, that port having been accepted by Sir Joseph iVard's Government—and presumably by the Admiralty also—as tho most suitable location for a naval baso in New Zealand.

The Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister) replied: Tho Government have no official information with regard to five cruisers being commissioned by tho Admiralty for the New Zealand Station, and have no intention of interfering with any arrangements made by the Admiralty in tho selection of Auckland as a naval base.

ADULTERATED LIQUOR. IS THE SUPERVISION ADEQUATE. Mr. H. M. Campbell (Hawke's Bay) aslced tlie Government whether they will at once put on inspectors -to see that no liquor ot an adulterated or inferior character is offered for sale. The Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister) replied: The regulations under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act have been laid upon the table of tho House, and it is tho intention of the Government to see that inspection will be efficient. Mr. Caiupwll said that he believed the inspection was carried on now, but only the best hotels were visited, and those easy of access. The hotels that needed inspection were those which were really drinking shops.

Mr. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) said he was glad to hear that the law was to be rigidly' enforced, and he hoped tho penalties imposed by magistrates would be substantial. Unfortunately offences of adulteration were dealt with much too leniently. Especially was this so in cases of men charged with adulterating milk. Mr. L. M. Isitt (C'hristchurch North) said the idea of inspecting liquor .and detecting inferior stutr was absurd. Ho had excellent authority for saying that it was impossible even tor an expert to distinguish good liquor from bad. It seemed to him that the Government proposed to spend a great deal more money to protect men who had not enough sense to protect themselves.

CARRIAGES FOR WOMEN. NO DEMAND FOR THEM. Mr. H. J. H. Okey (Taranaki) asked the Minister for Railways whether he will, in the interests of women travelling with children on the_ New Zealand railways, consider tho advisability of placing on all mail-trains a carriage in, which women travelling with children will have preference. The Hon. W. H. Herries (Minister for Railways) replied: The experience in New Zealand in respcct to carriages provided for special purposes is that tliey are seldom used to any extent, and the consequence is : that additional cars have to be run on trains, and not infrequently a second engine has to bo attached merely on account of tho additional weight of tho special car. The experience in this country has been that ladies travelling alono or with children prefer as a rule to ride in tho ordinary carriages. For several years tho experiment of running a car for ladies only was tried on tho express between Dunedin'and Christcliurcli, but wiis ultimately discontinued because it was found that the cars were not patronised to any extent. They were, in fact, invariably empty. The modern, railway cars, witli up-to-date equipment, provido reasonable accommodation for the wants of all passengers. Ido not think the time has yet arrived when • tho provision of special cars for ladies would be moro successful than they were some years ago, while from tho point of view of expense they form a material item in the'cost of working trains. If ladies showed a predisposition to travel together in the samo car, the Department would be- only too glad to give ' them tho necessary accommodation.

LEAVE OF RAILWAY NTEN. Mr. 6. Hunter (Waipawa) asked the Minister for Railways whether he will consider tho advisability of- amending tho regulation which provides that railway employees in tho second division who are absent on sick-leavc for a period of within fourteen days have the time they are so incapacitated deducted from the term of their annual leave. The Hon. W. 11. Ilerries (Minister for Railways) replied: Members of the Second Division of tho Railway Service who are absent from duty from any cause except accident incurred in the discharge of their duties are not paid for tho time off. If absent through accident, they receive lialf-pay under the Workers' Compensation Act. The regulations are now under consideration, and the suggestion will receive consideration.

THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. The Hon. J. Allen, Minister for Defence, had a little to say about the expeditionary force proposal in answering a question by Mr. Buddo. He referred Mr. Buddo to Section 2G of the Defence Act, 1909, which deals with" volunteers for special services outside New Zealand. "I am afraid the honourable member is under a misapprehension as to what is actually proposed," Mr. Allen added. "Sen-ice in an expeditionary force will bo purely voluntary, but, in order that any help offered may. be effective, I am suro the honourable member will agree with mo that every detail should be thoroughly worked out and every possiblo preparation made beforehand; and this is all that is suggested in the paragraph. When tho scheme has been finally coufyleted, the fullest possible information 'regarding it -will be laid before Parliament."

JOTTINGS. "I regret that I cannot'hold out any hope of funds being available to make any alterations at i'eilding in the near future," .said the Minister for Railways yesterday, in reply to a request for better faoilities for the public at Hie Feilding Railway Station. The l'rimo Minister stated yesterday that it is not intended to reinstate the sheep tax., The Government promise to give consideration in drafting their Land Bill to the proposal to give settlers, who already liavo the option of securing the freehold, the opportunity of paying the capital value of the kind in instalments. Arrangements are being made to appoint a • New Zealand trade representative for Canada. The Government propose to introduce legislation this session dealing with the pea-riflo danger. Tho Government - do not propose to interfere with th'e long-standing custom of debating the Address-in-Reply, as Mr. G. SI. Thomson, member for Dunedin North, recently suggested they should. .The Hon. I). Biuldo is to ask the Prime Minister whether, when preparing the amendment of the Counties Act, he will provide authority for a county to charge for electrical power and lighting, also provision to enable a county to take advantage of the Accident Insurance Fund. Mr.' H. Poland is asking the Minister in Charge of Pensions whether lie will, this session, amend the Military Pensions Act so as to provide for the payment of Hie pension to the widows of the holders of the New Zealand War .Medal.