Members' Questions

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 September 1915, Page 2

Members' Questions

HANK XOT'KS. .Mr J .sin to ask tin; .VLinister of I'inance. Whether Jio will arrange lor tlio New Zealand banks lo follow the example oi the Commonwealth Hank and give to New Zealand visitors to Great Hritain the privilagc oi negotiating their notes in Jiritain without coinniissK;!i to the ox lout ui £20 per individual 'i (Note. - The Commonwealth Governnient liave arranged tor such facility .■■oing given to Australia visitors tu 13ritai 11 by tiie 'Commonwealth Bank. tiui.N .saving the export of gold from the eon 11 try.) The Hight lion. Sir J. G.AYard replied, The Government will consider the matter and confer with the banks as to the possibility of giving effect to the suggestion. PLC ITU*; PfLALS. Mr Oki-.v to ;isk the .Minister of finance. Whether. in view i 1 the enormous profits thai are being made from pic-tuiv-thcairos, lie •„ ill consider the inclusion in his 1 5 in I get oi a tax on all cinematograph lil.is->l J (Nots. —ll igh profits ;;i-.-.ir. in - immv of an>: it is only lair that tliooc iuxurie.s should bear a lair share of taxation at the.se times.) The Right Hon. Sir -J. G. Ward replied/ Cinematograph and picture companies ;;re ; >-e.s.~ed lor income-tax. and as the assessments made are based oil the actual profits derived they are considered to be more otpii table than assessments on the films used. .MILITAIiY lilvilvCTiS. ALr "Wright to a.sk the .Minister of Defence, What compensation is to be given to young men who have been passed for the Expeditionary Forces oy the Department s modical olhcers but who later have been rejected by the (dlicrs at Treniham on tne grounds of deficient chest-measurement and other delects? (Not*. There are cases where young men have been placed by lie local medical men, and in consequence have resigned their appointments. but. ultimately have boon reject;i by the doctors at the camp.) - Tiie Hon. Air. Allen replied. I am unable to give any general undertaking to pay compensation under the cireiiin.siauc'. -, but would be willing to inquire into eases where distinct hard>liip is inilicied. The point is that i a man ceneeals his disabilities and niakeis misleading statements ie. ;hi■ examining medical oilieer; couse'll:<• ntiy. llk so disabilities only appear ■.i i'• r i raining or active service. TAil.Gir.s ASSISTANCE. Mr i'"aylie (Grey Lynn) to arsk the :. i■ ister of Defence, Whether he mL'..'ii(i> to do anything in connection with lie ii o'l the be.spoke tailis throughout the .Dominion to be .u.ven a share oi the work in connection with the supply of unitornis, and so nelp 111e>e tailoi.s. who are very short o! work consequent on the disturbed slate I trade under tiie war conditions:' Tiie Jloii. .Mr. Allen replied. The .'hole i: i; i< t, ■ r i- ;i ipiostioii of supply oi material. If the bespoke tailors (.•an obtain materia!, the .Defence .Department is prepared to accept the completed garments at the contract price and conditions, I !AiJJj;i{ "SHORTS" .'.ii Vtctiij i,viv}j Ll ask tiie Alnuster ui .Kan i\ a t >,-, Wiiat are being lakcn oy tno Kail way JJepai Linen l to 111cel tne rupu.si oi tin.: saiinill-ou ncrs liiiuiig.-eut tiic Dominion to have a re- ■ iik-Lioii made in the carriage of dockings or spoils:" (~\uts. —'iiiiri matter is oi iiiaieri.il importance to the sawuiiiiing industry. At present thousands of feet oi good saleable timber i.s being (leisiioyed weekly, which could be solil to advantage ii the Raiyway .Department would reduce the rates on tills eiass oi timber.,)

The Eon. Mr. Herries. Minister ot Kaiiuay.-. replied. In the present cirLMlllJnlalUV.s 01 llle DolllllUOU it is 111piaciicable to reduce freights tor conveyance oi goods over the railway. On ihe contiary, it lots, as indicated m tin' Budget, been considered dosir-abto to increa.se certain rates lo meet the jioi-.it 1011 resulting troiii tlie war. Timber rates are being left undisturbed ill view ol ike conditions of the industry, i regret, therelore, ihat.no suggestion Jor reduction in the timber rates can bj entertained at tlie present juncture. RAILWAY SEJIVANTS. .Mr VeiLcli to ask tile .Minister for J vail ways. Whether, seeing the Priniu .Mininter lias slated that tlie linancial position oi the country was never more satistaciory, and in view of the serious increase in tlie cost ol living, lie nill iavoiirably consider tins session Iho application ot the Amalgamated .Society of llailnay (Servants lor an increase oi jiiiy to members of the itaii•ivay service. more iJarticularly to Jgoodshod casuals who are in reoeipt of is i id per hour lor intermittent employment^ The lion. Mr IJerriets replied. While it is true isuit the general prosperity ol the country is good, txie revenue of the Railway Department is being affected by the war fn which the Empire is now engaged, and under the Circumstances. it is inadvisable to 11creafie the expenditure ot the" denartn.eat at the present juncture.