REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1921, Page 1

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

WELLINGTON. October 20. In ike House of Representatives, Ministers tabled the Billowing replies to questions appearing on thp Order Paper:— That considerable interest had been taken by the Government in the woolscoiiriug industry. During the four years of Imperial Government purchase the Government arranged that, in addition to wool scoured op stations before appraisement. 417.770 bales should be set aside fur semiring in the Dominion equal to 20 per cent of the wool purchased. The saving in shipping spare effected by the scouring of this woyil amounted to so,4'Jd,!ldßUi, net weight and the amount paid to wool,scourers for treatment- of the wool was £747,400. During the same period the (Vntr.il Wool Committee, which was in charge of the arrangements for the purchase of Australian wool for the Imperial Government, set aside 12 per cent of the wool purchased in Australia for scouring in the the Commonwtaltb. To encourage the saving of wool fat for the preparation of hmoliiie and similar products tlia New Zealand Government arranged that residuals after scouring should lie-come the property df the wool scourers, and at most of ill,, up-to-date works full advantage was taken of this arrangement, and residuals were saved fur later purificat ion.

That the suggestion that land values should be adjusted at frequent intervals hv nil automatic process without actual inspection of properties in accordance with fluctuations in the eur-

ient< prees of stuck and produce, is quite impracticable. Inspection and reva'hiations of properties aru necessary in order that anomalies may lie corrected aiftl relative uniformity of unimproved values should be observed, otherwise one owner would be taxed and rated unfairly iu comparison with his neighbour.

That the Government Is of opinion (bat the additional revenue derived from the adoption of a sliding scale of stamp duty on receipts would not compensate I'm tlie variation and annoyance such a scale would cause the general public. That il has been the endeavour of the < divcriuiKMil. to keep down the rates of interest as much as possible. Any local authorities borrowing from (lie state Advances Off.ee call borrow at I tie rate of 4.{ per cent. There are no special conditions governing this rate or the rates charged by the Government Insurance Department, and I fte Public Trust Oflfiee. in the two In I let departments the rate is (I l, e i tent. In vises where local authorities wish to raise loans in New /"aland tin" Government empowers them to do so at a rate not exceeding 04 per cent. 'PHat the sterilisation of bank notes is a matter which comas entirely under the control of the banks. The matter ha- already beenUmefeired to the haul.mill one bank lias inhumed tho Government that dinting the hml tv-el-, e ,11,mills SI I .tilHt liutes have been cancelled. That a reduction in the cost to the t,'overiiineiit of Welsh coal had hern obtained ip consequence of a fall in t price. ; That legislation it already on the | Statute Book which would enable eomj pulsorv grading of export meat to he I established should such course lw eonI siih'iasl necessary. That an endeavour "ill he made to | secure lower freight rates for apples land pears dining the enqiing expint .season. Will’ll the period for shipping apples and pears approaches, tin High Commissioner will he requested to furnish Informal ion as to selling prices ip Great Britain. 4 hat 1 lie stall of flic Depai t ment of Agriculture includes a capable cnlonnilogiet, who is already going into the life history of tick in New Zealand. Thai a draft scheme of siiporaitniiu--1 ion for nurses is under consideration but as it involves a considerable espied iuni l ibation by the State, it is doubtful whether at the present time a |ii|| embodying a «vbetne will lie int i nduced. 'Eli’ii a Bill is being drafted for the purpose of increasing subsidies to the ..mallei- hospital hoards. When completed il will he considered hy Cahin i • t.

'llia t the 11 ucs L ion of wha I inst ruction in sexual hygiene slinnld be given in tlic schools has heen engaging I'm at jioit ion of educationists for some lime and tlu-re is no doubt- tint something must he done, loon among cnImsiiKSt ie Advocates of such instrileI inn | here is extreme divergence of opinion about Imw and by whom inst ruction should In- given. A rraii'genients are now well under way for a sten luruaid in this ditlieull mat ter and it is hoped .thereby materially lo assist young people in forming belter ideals ;,f lII',, and eonduet in Lin- directions mi ill iotied.

That it is regretted that it is not |>raet iealde to alford any special relic'l In soldiers in thr matter of extc'lisioll of deposits at call. That the question ol inUrodueing IcgislaJ ion permitting marriage betw uc -II a mail ami hi* deceased wiles nii'c-e will ho considered whun tlu 1 mar ringe laws of tin- Dominion are under review. Heplying to AD' Holland, the Hon. (1. Coates said lie was not prepared to say oll'band that Hie provisions o! t lit; Stone (.(merries Act should he made to apply To all public works, but be would if,insider the lion, gentleman - represent art ions on Vh’e subject.