IMPERIAL RELATIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 20, 19 October 1920, Page 8

IMPERIAL RELATIONS

MK. MASSEY TO MAKE A STATEL, MENT. Asked when the House would be given Itn opportunity of discussing the question of Imperial relations, the Prime Minister Teplied:—"lt is essential that the programme of Government work.for ' the remainder of the session should he dealt with before other questions aTe .nllowed to intervene. _ I may state that correspondence is passing at fcho .present time between the Imperial and New Zealand Governments, in >regard tx> which I propose to make a statement 'later'on." RETIRING ALLOWANCES OF LOCAL BODIES'SERVANTS ' WILL THEY~AFFECT OLD-AGE PENSIONS? . Mr. J. P. Luke (Wellington North) last' night asked the Prime Minister whether the Government in any ponsionilegislation it might introduce this tiesilion, would provide that there should be. no deductions from > the amount oi 'old-age pensions on account of money pai<l as retiring allowance by a local Minority. Mr. Luke said that the local Authorities, in framing their schemes foi payment of retiring allowances to their ■servants, had reckoned tho amounts as additional to the old-age pension, and, it the Government did not fall in with this view the effect on the local bodies arrangements might be serious. ■ Mr. Massey replied that the question Mr. Luke had asked was a very import ant one, and ono that he would be glad to look into. It would be brought be. tore Cabinet. MOUNT COOK AND CLYDE QUAY SCHOOLS STATEMENT BY HON. C. J. PARR, ' Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South) last night inquired of the Minister of Education what was being done in regard to the rebuilding of the Clyde Quay, Mount Cook, and Newtown Schools. The Hon.C J. Parr replied that the Education Department had secured a site fo- the erection of a new school at Clyde Quay, and'was making arrangements to proceed with the building on that site of a new block for * the infant school. It" could not go on with the work of replacing the whole of the present school nt once, but ultimately a block of buildings would 'be erected on the new sit" to xeplace altogether the buildings on thelresmt site. In regard to the Mount Cook' School, the Department was con- . fronted with considerable difficulties ccv casioned by the" need for replacing three separate blocks, with one. The Education Board had submitted a scheme thai, would run tho Department into the expenditure of .£25,000 to .£30,000 for the one site. He had asked for a modification of the plan, and that matter was being gone into. The Prime Minister had interested himself in the Mount Cook School, and that was a hopeful augury. He expected that within the next two or three weeks a decision would be arrived at. In the meantime it would be unwise for him,, to say any more. Mr. Parr did not refer to the Newtown School. NEW ZEALANDERS BURIED IN • GERMAN SOIL ' QUESTION OF REMOVAL. Mr E, A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) recently asked the Minister of Defence ■ whether all the bodies of New; Zealand soldiers buried in Germany had been removed to France or elsewhere for re- ' b 'sir R. H. Rhodes last night replied as follows:—"The bodies referred to have , not been removed for rebunal,_rat n report lias been received that English craves in Germany .are being well cared for in accordance- with the Pence Treaty, The question of the removal of, bodies of soldiers buried in: Germany is now vnder consideration by the Imperial.War, Graves Commission, but no decision has vet been received by the New, Zealand Government. The High Commissioner has been again communicated with on tins subject and has .teen MMil to press for an early decision." MEMBERSM&STIONS SOME ANSWERS FROM MINISTERS. The Prime "Minister, asked by Mr Wilford (Hutt) if he did not think that the time had arrived to establish .a State-owned woollen and worsted mill in New Zealand, saiid that the capital of the country was required at present for more urgent purposes. He added that it was just as well to'remember that experience of State-owned enterprises in Australia had not been uniformly success- ■ Mr. Hunter (Waipawa) suggested that the Government should make better provision for the comfort and convenience of invalids travelling by train Mr. Massey replied that as far as possible the Department provided for the comfort and convenience of invalids. A special car could be obtained where necessary by paying twelve first-class fares. • . Mr Massey slated that the Government desired to 'assist the smaller harbour boards by importing a Government dredge, but the present time was noi considered to be opportune, owing to the high cost of materials. ~,.,' Tho Minister of Education stated that his Depantment had considered the establishment of a central store in Wolling- ' ton for the supply of school stationery and requisites, 'but the present condition of the markets made the timo inopportune for anv scheme of the kind. He would discuss the matter with the edu-cation-boards during the recess. GOVERNMENT AND THE TRAWLING INDUSTRY - Mr. J. P. Luke (Wellington North) recently asked tho Minister of Manne whether'the Government intended to-obtain trawlers for fishing in New Zealand waters. . , . Sir William Hemes has •replied as follows:—"If the Fisheries Division ir formed it will, when properly organised and in working order, probably require a good vessel for exploration purposes; l>ut she will require to have special fittings and equipment?. It is not considered advisable that the .Government should go in for State trawling, especially as it is understood that severnl trawlers, for fishing, by private enterprise, are being procurod. Ono large and up-to-dato vessol has recently arrived in New Zealand. Tho exploration vessel would be employed in locating new fishing grounds in, the courso of her work, and would therefore be very useful to the industry."