PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2220, 25 October 1907, Page 1

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(.bpuclul to limes.) UiaU.\tii'U.\, Oct. 24,

BANKS A.\a jyic-UJiis xAa. Xcsiontay aitornbon Air. oiiii as’keil the I'remier wiiecner no is aware that Uio live banks trading in I\ew Zealand aro not assessed lor income tax m tlio samo way as other trading companies, and if eo will tne Government introduce legislation this session placing banks on tlio samo tooting as other trading companies in respect of tho payment of income tax. The reply was as follows: “lies, I ani aware of tho existing law. It is not intended to introduce legislation this session.” THE PRICE OF BREAD. Mr. Arnold asked the Premier whether ho had seen a statement made by a Dunedin baker that since the lirico of broad was raised to 7ld tlio 41b loaf tho falling away in its consumption had been enormous already, making a difference of a thousand loaves a week to his firm alone. Presuming that all other bakers arc being affected in proportion, had the Government considered to what extent the poorer classes throughout tho Dominion are being deprived of the staff of life? If so would they at. once bring down tlioir proposed legislation dealing with tho subject ? The Premier replied: “Yes. Tho importance of the whole subject is fully recognised. As the lion, gentleman doubtless is aware, the world’s wheat market is abnormally high, and is the governing factor at present in the regrettablo high prices that aro ruling for bread. Legislation as promised by mo will be brought down at an early date.”

THE PURITY OF CHLOROF.ORM. The Minister for Public Health, in answer to a question, states that some time ago careful analyses of various samples of chloroform were made, because of some accidents, but nothing definite was found. He is not awaro that there has been an unusual mortality from the administration of chloroform. It has to bo remembered that as a rule tho person subjected to anaesthetization is not in tlio best of health, and therefore accidents are more likely to happen. The question of deterioration in crossing the equator has been gone into, but no clear evidence was produced to show that an actual change did take place. Special attention was given to this question in tho drafting of tlio Sale of Food and Drugs Bill. As soon as this Bill becomes law better control will be set lip.

NARROW GAUGE RAILWAYS. The Premier, in answer to Mr. McKenzie, said in regard to narrow gaugo railways, “I do not think anything would bo gained by asking tlie High Commissioner to make any further investigations. Tho present New Zealand railways are narrow gauge ones. The standard gaugo of tho world is 4ft BJin, .and many important systems are wider than that. Tho New Zealand gauge is 3ft Gin, and in England, America, and the Continent of Europe this would bo looked upon as a narrow gauge. I am awaro that there aro a few systems on still narrower gauge, but a narrower gauge than 3ft Gin is not adapted to New Zealand. In the first place any change in tlie gauge involves the break of amigo trouble, against which every railway engineer and manager declaims. It means, of course, that all traffic coming off the narrow gauge line has to be handled afresh in being transferred to tlie wider gauge. This means great delay, great expense, risk of broakago and damage. Moreover, cheaply constructed ‘light railways’ can be built in 3ft Gin gauge at only a trilling advance on the cost of 2ft giuge lines. The difference in cost is nrectcd very much more by tho style of construction adopted than by the breadth of tho gauge. The matter of construction of ‘light railways’ is one that has been under the consideration of the Government for some'timo past, hut expert opinion is altogether against reducing tho gauge.”