Questions And Answers

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 6, 30 September 1937, Page 3

Questions And Answers

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RURAL H0USING Mr. Jordan's Speech at Geneva DAIRY GUARANTEJE FUNDS 1

1 K7 '«A ' I,

, WELLINGTON, Last Night. ] The House of Eepresentatives resumed at 2.30 p.m. Mr R. A. Wright (Opposition — Wellington Suburbs) ■ gave notice to ask the Minister of Housing if a ballot had been held to determine who should occupy Stgte houses, and if so, were any of the. applieations included in the ballot and, if not, what were the conditions necessary for inclusion. The House then proceeded to deal with qu'estions asked by members earlier in the session axid Ministerial replies. The Minister of Finance (Hon W. Nash), replying to a question by Mr 0. H. Burnett (Govt. — Tauranga) regard- , ing the building of houses for married j farm workers, -said the matter of rural housing was reeeiving the attention of the Government and the suggestion that j the State should provide money at low I xates of interest for such a purpose | would also be considered. j Mr Nash, replying to a question by | Mr W. J. Poison (Opposition — Stratford) whether he intended to lay on the table of the House reports of the special committee which advised the Government in regard to the guaranteed prices for dairy produce, said the prices had been determined by the Government on information supplied by the Government Statistician, the Primary Products Marketing Department and others interested in the dairy industry. Ihe information desired would be supplied in the report of the Primary Products Marketing Department. Answering a question by Mr H. S'. S. Kyle (Opposition — Riccarton) whether the Government would bring down early legislation to give relief to xatepayers who had the 10 per cent. penalty added to their rates, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. W. E. Parry, saidt the Government did- not intend to re-enact the legislation for the imposition of the lb per cent. ^penalty, and the matter was entirely one for local bodies theinselves. . Another Commercial Station?, The Postmaster-General, Hon. P. JonesA replying to a query by Mr A. G. Hultqiiist (Govt. — Bay of Plenty), whether the Government intended to instal a commercial radio station in Gisborne on account of tho difficulty of listeners in Poverty Bay in listening to commercial stations in Auckland and Wellington, stated that Poverty Bay could not be regarded as coming within the normal coverage of the stations mentioned. However, the Government was considering the question of a slight alteration in tho wavelengths of these stations with the objec't of rfiducing interference. The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. W. Lee Martin, said a fuil report was bcing prepared for the consideration of Cabinet on the question of the lifting of the embargo on the importation of stud stock from Britaiu, in answer to a question to that effect by Mr Kyle. I ln answer to a 'question by Hon. Adam Hamilton (Opposition — Wallace) whether an Administrator was to" be appointed to Western .Samoa, the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, stated that circumstjihccs in 'Samoa were quite satisfaetory at present, and the Government would consider the question of a permanent appointment at the earliest convchient date. * Answering a question on the matter by Mr A. 0'. A. Sexton (Independent — Jj'ranklin) Rt. Hon M. J. Savage stated that the head3 of Government Departmehts were enjoined to afford every' en- ! couragement to members of their staffs I to enlist in the Territorial Forces. I Tho Minister of Finance, Hon. W. ' ITash, replying to a question by Mr K. J". Holyoake (Opposition — Motueka) as to whether the Government proposed to increasc the tarriff protection to New Uealand tobacco growers, said the whole question would receive consideration after the present investigations had been completed. Hon. W. Nash also replied to Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opposition — Oentral Otago) that the Government was not prepared to introduce legislation granting English mijiing companies operating in New Zealand exemp'tion from the gold expo'rt tax. Mr Lefcaux's London Visit The rcason of thc vlsit of ihe govornor of the lleserye Bank to London, Mr Nash stated in reply to a question by Mr Sexton was to discuss m'atters of geueral interest to central banks in 'tho Commonwealth with a view to enabling them to exereise their fu-^-tions as efficiently as possible and thus be of maximum assistanco to the rfespective Governments and Dominions. Replying to a question by Mr S. G. Holland (Opposition — Christchurch N.), Hon. W. Nash said the Government at present was considering steps to safeguard the interest^ of those engaged ih economic New ZealancL industries. Asked by Dr D. G. McMillan (Government — Dunedin West) what steps the Government intended to tako in connec'tion with the introduction of the cash order system into the Dominion, Hon. W. Nash replied that, should the necessity arise, the Government would not hesifcate to introduce legislation to ensurc adcquate protection for tho public from any anti-social practices which might deveiop. In answer to another question by Mr. Sexton whether Hon. W. Nash would ascertain from tho Governor of the Reservo Bank where the bank obtained the money to advknce on the dairy industry account, Mr. Nash replied that tho extent of the proceeds of the sale . of dairy produce was sufficient to liquidate tlie payhients .Auuile bjr ihe GovernmeaL Tit* «v«r-

draft on the dairy industry account .represented a tempoxary creation of credifc ,by the Reserve Bank (instead of ,by fhe trading banks as hitherto) to 'finance that produce from the time of Ishipment until its re-sale, ! "1 wish to state that inquiries have' jal ready been completed into the price lof cement and steps are now being taken to bring about a reduction in price," said the Minister of Industriea Commerce, Hon. D. G. SuIiiVan,, replying to a question if a reduction inj the price would be made, by Rev. A, H. Nordmeyer (Government — Oamaru). Shortage of Steel Mr. Sullivan further stated, in reply to a question by Dr. McMillan whethci the erection of buildings in the Dominion was being hampered by a shortage of supplies of steel, that the posi. j tion had been investigated by Mr. Nashj while ia England. "This is one of the major industries, which, if it can be established economically in New Zealand, will provide a great deal of de-| sirable employment," added the Minis-| , ter, "and I anticipate Jthat within aj relatively short period the Governmenti "will be in a position to make its de-j cision on this particular industry." ! The Minister of Justice, replying toj a question by Mr. W. J. Poison whether I he noticed an attack on one of tho1,, Supreme Couxt judges by the official1 organ of the New Zealand Labour: Party, The Standard, and whether thei article did not constitute a gross con. tempt. of Court, said he proposed ,to take no action upon it. Mr. Parry, replying to a question by Mr. S. G. Smith (Opposition— New I'lymouth) whether the Government proposed to make provision for the i licensing of bookmakers, said the Government did not propose fo deal with the Gaming Act until a full inquiry had been made into the various aspects of racing in the Dominion. Speech at Geneva Answering a recent question by Mr. Holyoake concerning a speech by the High Uommissioner, Mr. W. J. Jordan, at Geneva advocating placing Spain under a League of Nations mandate, tho Prime Minister said the New Zealand Government deplOTed the existing^ situation in Spain and approved any attempt to resolve the Spanish difficulties by a reference of the questions at issue to an unfettered decision of the Spanish people themselves. Mr. Jordan 's speech appeared to have been in accordance with .those principles. The High Commissioner took every opportunity for informal consultations with other representatives of the British Oommonvv ealth upon matters of impottance on the League agenda, and the Government had no reason to believe his custom was departed from in tho case of the speech mentioned by Mr,' j Holyoake. ; Dealing with a question regardiiig I" the failing birthrate iu the Dominion I by Mr. T. H. McCoombs (Governn.ent— ; Lyttelton), the Prime Minister stated the Government was concerned as lo the causes of the conditions which inight have such an effeet upon tha population of New Zealand, and its policy was being organised to rernova the menace. The existing maternity - services were being examined with a view to providing the most efficient service to mothcrs, and a re-organisa-tion of the economic system was being proceeded with to remove the fear of poverty and ensure xeasonablo family incomes. Sroadcasting Speeches Mr. Savage, replying to a question by Colonel J. Hargest (Opposition— Awarua) t whether two broadcasting stations, 2YA and 2ZB, were oompelled to sacrifico their ordinaTy programmes on Saturday, September 13, to a broadcast of political speeches by the Ministcrs on the oecasion of the occupation of the first State-built eottages at Miramar, said arrangements in connection with the broadcast xeferred to were completed under the direction oi the Minister in Charge of. Broadcasting after a consultation with tho directors and the Controller of Broadcasting. Questioned by Mr. Kyle whether tha Government would bring down legislation to extend tho incopie limit for a 95 per cent. State Advances loan, Mr. Nash stated that the existing legislation gave the Minister all the powers necessary to vary the amount of loans or income qualifications and the subiect was now under consideration. Mr. Nash also stated, in reply to a question by Mr.- Holland asking whether he was aware a stafement had been broadcast from the Empiro station at Daventry that there was n pessibility of the Government assuming complete control of banking in tho Dominion, that he was not aware the statement had been broadcast f'ronj, Daventry, and he would normally imagine that the British Broadcasting Corporation would verify the "correctness of rumours xegarding a Dominion Government 's policy before broadcasting it. The banking polidy of tha Government had been announced on sever.al occasions by Mr. Savage an had been set out in the Budget. The House adjourned at 5.30. ' "•?