Information Given

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 June 1916, Page 3

Information Given

TO CURIOUS M s.Jf. ADDRik&ED TO THE HON. Mil. MR ALLEN. Mr Payne (Grey Lynn) to ask the Milliliter of Defence, Whether he will inquire into tho case "of \v llbelin Kiimmer, of Masterton, a man alleged* to be a German, and who is said to have been allowed to go awa.y with our Expeditionary Forces; and. whether he will bring thd» man back if he finds that Rummer is an undesirable, and especially undesirable on JUrenoli soil? The Hon. 'Mr Allen replied: Harold Horace Rummer, oi Masterton, accompanied. the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He is a native of New Zealand, a man of sterling character, and wfiose loyalty is undoubted. ADDRESSED IX) THE HON MR HER.RIES. Air V r oitch (Wanganui) to ask the Minister of Railways, What has been done to meet trie pressing necessity for drastic readjustment for railway charges in order to overcome the in- j equity of the existing differential . schedule of <sharg<* H The Hon. Mr Jderries 1-epHed: The tariff is ait present undier review, Jind I hope to be able to gazette ait an early date certain alterations, having for their object the adjustment oJ differential dharges which are included in the present tariff. N Mr Poole (Auckland West) to oak the Minister of Railways), Whether he is aware that an alleged German is at present being employed in the Auckland: • Raiilway Worshops as carpenter; and, if so, what steps will he take to put this man in a safe place. (Note: It is stated that every reportedl German success furnishes this individual with good .reason for rejoicing). The Hon. Mr iHerries replied : l am not aware of amy alleged German being fl.t present employed in the Auckland Railway Workshops as a carpenter. My investigations have failed to elicit anything to justify the statement that any of the carpenters nave shown a disposition to sympathise with German interests. ADDRESSED TO THE HON. MR RTJSSBLL. Mr McCallum (Woirau) to aak the Government, Whether they will cause the' superannuation of all civil ■ ervarok to be deferred until the conclusion 'oi the wax, and, if necessary, during this session have legislation enacted enforcing thiis policy on the Public Service Commissioners!' The Hon. Mr itussell (Minister ot Internal Affairs) replied: it is not con. Bidared necessary to interfere with the working of t'Ke Public Sei-vice Act in the direction indicated.

ADDRESSED TO THE HON MR. MacDONALJJ. Mr W- .H. Field (Otaki) to "&sk the Minister of Agriculture, Whether, m view of the pressing needi for ths treatment with lime of large areas ot the land in the Dominion, the (ioverniment is taking, or proposes to take, any tsteps to acquire amy quarry of the Limestone deposits which, are so abundant in many districts and supply snme to farmers requiring it afc a reasonable price P The Hon Mr MlacDonald (Minister of Agriculture) replied: The Government considers this to be a matter for co-operative enterprise among the farmers concerned. Mr Bollard (Raglan) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Whether he will make provision for returned soldiers at the Government Btate Farms to receive free instruction in farming, it they ho desire, beifore taking up land? The Hon. Mr iViaeDonald (Minis*/?, of Agriculture) replied: It th nobi%». : w>rrin time ago thalt, if des l **- this wouM ibe diane to a limited extent, bp to the present no applications havo lioen reoeivid. ADDRESSED TO THit. HON. MR. HAM AN. Mr IXcJsi© (Selwyn) to a&k the Minister c<f -Education, Wha/t steps does he intend to take in order that the Htate may get more efficient educational work and better-value tor the money expended on free places at high schools'( The Hon. Mr. Hanan (Minister of Education) replied/, 1 have for ' .ome time had this question under consideration with a view to the improvement of the existing conditions in xegard to the standard of entrance,, the best means of providing tor the different needs of free placo pupils, and tho means of securing in each case an adequate period of attendance. The question in dealifc with by me in the annual report which will shortly be laid on the table of the House. "