PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1923, Page 1

PARLIAMENT

| MV IT.I.KCItAI'U —PEll I’IIKSB ASSOCIATION.]

THE HOUSE. WELLINGTON', July 19. The House met at 2.30 p.tn. The afternoon was taken up with formal business and with a discussion by members on answers given by Ministers to questions. At the evening sitting the second reading debate on the State Advances Amendment Bill was resumed, the Bill being agreed to on the voices. The House rose at 12.30 a.m. till 2.30 p.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Ministers gave the following among other replies, to questions on the Ordei Paper : That the hanks are well forward will; a scheme, in the interests of public health, for the issue of ten shillings and one pound notes ol similar size re speetively. and, so far as possible, only clean notes will be in circulation. That the Government have no intention of asking Parliament for any reduction in the wages or salaries of State employees, either before or afte: the proposed reduction in the land and income-tax. That there is no intention to discontinue the publication of the "Agricultural Journal,’’ which is serving a very useful purpose. That the Public Works Department U at present considering the question of issuing Dominion licenses as against local licenses for electrical wirenien. That the provision of free school books to school children would involve s„ large an expenditure that the Government could not undertake it at present. That the question of amending hospital subsidies so that the average subsidy will not be less than Cl for L'l is now under the consideration ol the Government. Thai provision was made in the Motor Bill introduced in 1021 giving power to Magistrates in eases of rookies* motor driving to make orders prevent mg persons from driving their cars for a. definite period, and it is proposed to reintroduce the measure at the earliest possible moment, though it might not he possible u, deal with it during the present session.

That, legislation is in course of preparation dealing with the issue of ox--tra totalisator permits. That a Gaming Bill will ho introduced this session, which will enable the House to consider the repeal of the clause which prevents the publication of totalisator dividends.