PARLIAMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 August 1924, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. QUESTIONS ANSWERED. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) 'WELLINGTON, Aug. 14. The House of Representatives uiet M 2.30 p.m. to-day. Alblisters gave, amongst others, the following answers to questions:— That instruction in bacon-curing for export does net form a. feature of the Department’s activities, it being considered desirable that for the purpose? cf any export trade bacon-curing be carried out in properly equipped and inspected factories, where facilities exist for turning out a product of as good and uniform a quality as possible.

That if specific instances are given where it is possible to enforce the eradication of noxious weeds on native lands the necessary action will be taken, but there are few cases in which the applicable clauses of the Act can be utilised.

That the proposed /railway commission will not be concerned with the question of the construction of fresh railway lines.

That arrangements have already been made to set up a special committee of scientific men to fully investigate the existing system of observation and record in regard to both meter-ology and hydrology, and the question of what additional apparatus should be obtained feir the Dominion will be included iiv the scope of the committee’s inquiries. The whole matter will receive attention on the receipt of the report of the committee.

'That the question of amending the constitution of tlx? Arbitration Court in the direction of doing away with permanent assessors has been considered, and it has not been deemed advisable to amend the law as suggested.

That the problem of cancer and its causation are essentially the same in New Zealand as in other parts of the world, and for this reason the Health Department is undertaking no investigation into the subject of its own, but is keeping in close touch with various organisations overseas which have been specially equipped to study the disease. That the results of the. working ofthe recently established iu country districts are ireported to be most encouraging. That the Government has, on more than one occasion, intimated that it would be prepared to make a. substantial payment to anyone discovering an effective destroyer of blackberry v.liich would be economically satisfactory. That the Health ’Department quite appreciates the necessity for dental treatment at primary schools, and the treatment of all school children both in town and country districts is the end at which the Department aims. This is being done as rapidly as possible, but i.t will be some years before sufficient service is available to meet the needs of the whole Dominion. In the course of the discussion on the answers to questions, the Hon. G. J. Anderson said the Government- had decided that the fullest inquiry would be held into the loss of the steamer Ripple. In the absence cf Mr W. A. Veitch (Wanganui), Mr S. G. Smith (Taranaki) moved the second reading of the Dominion State Bank Bill. The Speaker held that this measure was an ap-. propriation Bill, and ruled it out of order. On behalf of Mr Veitcli, Mr Smith also moved the second reading of the Painters’ and Decorators’ Health Protection Bill. This wes agreed to, and the Bill was referred. to the Labour Bills Committee, which will take evidence. The House rose at 9.35 p.m. til! 2.30 p.m. to-morrow. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at o 30 p.m. to-day. The Rights of Fishing Bill 1924, wars rend a. first time. ijie Trustee. Amendment Bill was read a. third time, and passed with inconsequential amendments. The committal of the Justices of the i face Amendment Bill was postponed until next week. Further opposition to the. Bills of Exchange Amendment Bill was expressed, hut the measure passed its third reading by 20 votes 'to 8, and was passed. adjourned at 3.25 n m uiuil 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday.