MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1864, 25 September 1913, Page 4

MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

MINISTERS' REPLIES,

A BUDGET FOR TWO WEEKS,

No business was transacted by tlio Houso of Representatives yesterday. Some Government papers were tabled, and tho Ministerial replies to questions were circulated, but there was no discussion whatever on these. Owing to the fact that the House was in Committee last Wednesday, the budget for last week was not circulated, and both sets of replies were made available yesterday. Following aro some of tho moro important questions. j

THE NATIVE LAND PROBLEM. DIFFICULTIES ABOUT ADVANCES/ Mr. E. Newman, member for Rangi-' ' tikoi, asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will introduce legisla-' tionthis sossiou to amend tho sections dealing with limitation of area in tho Land Act and tho Nativo Land Act so as to enablo occupiers of these lands to borrow money at lowest current rates of interest, such legislation, at the samo time to continue tho present safeguards < against tiio aggregation of lands under the Acts mentioned. 'Tho Hon.' W. F. Massey (Prime Minister) replied: Clause 41 of the Laud Laws Amendment Bill now before Parliament deals with the limitation pro-; visions of the Land Act; A Nativo' Land Bill is now in course of preparation, and tho matter referred to by tho honourable member will have careful consideration in connection therewith. TONCOIO BLOOK. • ' SALE AT "PROFIT." Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier) is still sceptical about tho hard lot of the set" tiers on the Tongoio Block. He' recently asked the Prime Minister whether * the statement that is being made withl reference to tho sale of one of tliei Tongoio Block sections is correct. "It is reported," he declared, "that a Mr* Rudd, who leased Section No. 4, coiu taining 782 acres, at a rental of os/ lOd. per acre, has sold out at a profit) of £1350." Tho Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime MiiiJ ister) replied: Mr. Rudd applied to transfer Section 4, Block IV, Pukctapul Survey _ District, Tongoio containing 782J acres, as he found liinv 'self unablo to'finance his holding. Tlia transferee is a man of considerable/ farming experience, is able to financo the section, and was landless. I am informed that the greater part of tho( "profit" referred to ropresonts improvoJ mentß made by tho out-going tenant. '

THE NEW SYLLABUS. "REARRANGEMENT OF THE OLD.'*' Replying to a question by Mr., J. o<| Thomson, the Hon. James Alleii (Min-f ister of Education) , said: "Tho new]!, syllabus is mainly a rearrangement ofij the old, and nearly every point in ifa! on which thero is any room for difference of opinion has been discussed again' and again- at the annual conferences of the, New Zealand Educational Institute. The draft was fully considered ati tho Conference of the Inspectors of tho Boards in February last, and since then all.disputed,points have been (lis-4 cussed by tho exe'ciitivo of the* institute in consultation with the-officers-of the Department,' between whom practical agreement was arrived at. To refer it again to the institute would practically bo to begin the same process all over' again, and I am unable to see any advantage to bo derived from doing so.'' TOURIST TICKETS. •CHEAPER RATES IMPOSSIBLE. Mr. E. H. Clark (Chalmers) asked thd Minister of Railways whether, seeina. that tourist tickets are issued by the. Railway Department at £6 for the' North Island and £4 for the South Island, which entitle the holders to travel in first-class carriages, he will bring in fresh regulations by which 'tourist tickets'will be issued at a reduced rate for second-class passengers* The Hon. AV. H. Herries (Minister of Railways) replied: First-class tourist tickets aro issued at £10 for all lines available for seven weeks; £6 for North Island lines for four weeks; and £0 for South Island lines for four weeks. Thesa rates aro so low as to leave no margin for reduction. I cannot, therefore, seo my way in tho present state of the railway finances, to tourist, tickets for tho second-class, which would undoubtedly result in a loss. DISSATISFIED LAWYERS. THAT MEETING IN AUCKLAND. Mr. J. A. Young (Waikato) asked thd/j Minister of Justice "whether tho Gov*} eminent has had its attention drawnij to the resolution of' tho 117 members; of the legal profession at Auckland hav-; ing 'referenco to ccrtain unsatisfactory; matters in connection with the admin- . istration , 6f justice in the Sup ro.nio Court, and will he talra stops to cause, a thorough inquiry to bo made into tho same? • ' , „ r . . , Tho Hon. A. L. Herdman (Minister , of Justice) replied: Tho attention ofs the Government has been drawn to tho resolution mentioned, but nothing has transpired which would justify the Gov* ornment taking the stops suggested by ; the honourable member.

TYPHOID IN MAORIS. SHOULD THEY BE INOCULATED? The Hon. A. T. Ngata (Eastern Maori; District) asked tho Minister 'of Public Health whether, in view of tho fro* quent outbreaks of typhoid fever in. Maori settlements, and of tho great ex-< pense entailed upon tho Department); and itpou local bodios in combating tho disease, ho will tako stops to secure, wherever possible, tho. inoculation or tho Maori population. Tho Hon. 11. H. Bhodes (Minister of , I'ublic Health) replied: Much discussion,, is taking place with regard to the efficacy ot anti-typhoid inoculation, and medical evidence is now greatly in favour of tho procedure, so much so that two years ago Hospital Boards were circulated with regard to tho advisai hility of all nurses in our public instk tutions being subjected to this treat., ment, though so far this offer has notJ boen taken advantago of to any extent. The proposal that Natives and other persons in districts whero typhoid is endomic should have tho advantago <?F this protective treatment is an excellent, one, and the Department will bo only too glad ,to put it into operation provided Hospital Boards and other authorities will exercise their influence in this direction. A supplv of anti-typhoid serum is always available, and can bo forwarded to any district at compar.n tively shoit. notico.