QUESTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1929, Page 2

QUESTIONS

REPLIES BY: MINISTERS. WELLINGTON, October 17. ■ The following replies were given by Ministers to questions asked in tin House of Representatives:— LONDON BORROWING. The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), repling to Mr H. G. R. Mason (Lab., Auckland Suburbs), stated he proposed 'shortly to make a further statement to the House in regard to the assertion that he had been precluded from borrowing on London lor eighteen months. TOBACCO-GROWING. Replying to Mr H. 51. Rushworth (C.P., Bay of Islands), Hon Mj Forbes, Minister for Agriculture, stated that the information at present available regarding overseas market-' was not sufficient to enable an authoritive statement to be made as to the prospects of the tobacco industry in New Zealand. Experience during the past two or three years suggested that really good leaf could be grown in different parts of the country, but only a relatively small quantity had yet been marketed overseas, and whether such leaf was suitable to the British trade, nr whether being suitable it. would, in view of the heavy supplies of leaf imported into Great Britain from various parts of the world, return a payable price to the producer was not yet known, nor was it likely to be denfinitely known un 1.1 after reasonably large quantifies of leaf had been made, available to that market. The Department of Agriculture would as far as practicable furnish expert advice and assistance in the raising and curing of tobacco leaf to those settlers who desired to embark in this industry. . WRESTLING CONTESTS.

The Hon Mr Wilford (Minister f or Justice), iii reply to Mr H, G. R. Mason '(Lab., , Auckland Suburbs), said that all wrestling contests were the subject of a permit issued by an Inspector of Police, and were conducted under police supervision to ensure that cruelty was. not permitted. Where pain was caused in the course of : a wrestling exhibition a contestant had only to give a submission signal, and if necessary the. police and other officials present would at once intervene. .... .... ' •, ;. | A USTRALIAN TARIFF., In replies to questions submitted by Mr' W. J: Poison (ifnd., Stratford),, and Mr D. Jones (R., . Mid-Canter-burv) in reference to' the- suggested increases in. the duty on bacon, ham, and pork, and on onions imported into the Commonwealth, the’ Hon Mr Taven.ef ’(Minister for Customs) ■ stated it .was Hot considered-that the present was an opoortume time for making representations to, .the Australian Tariff Board, : He added: “In the event of ,the duty, being increased six months’ notice must be given before the amended rates can affect New Zealand products, and the question can then be considered whether anv. and if so, what actipn should be taken.’’

G ARE ATT LOCOMOTIVES. The Minister for Railways (the Hon. Mr Taverner), replying to Mr J. S Fletcher (U., Grey Lynn), stated that the, preliminary trials for the Garratt locomotives had, been completed, and the engines had been placed in traffic, Tlje trials indicated that the engines w.ere mechanically capable of doing their work. Their economic value could only be ti'ied out in traffic, and this would necessarily take a period of time. MISSING KOBENHAVN.. Mr E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South) asked the Minister for Murine (the Hon. Mr Cobbe) how long was it since a ship visited cur •islands to the south of New Zealand, and whether in view of the loss of the Kobenha.vn it was our’ duty to have those islands searched? , Mr Cobbe replied:—“The southern islands -of /New Zealand were last visited as follows:—Bounty and Antipodes in April, 1927 ; and Auckland end Snares' in January and February 1929, by the Government lighthouse tender. The Campbell Islands were visited in August by the s.s. Awarua. As to the Danish ship Kobenhavn an extensive search was made for her by a special vessel right across the Southern Ocean from Buenos Ayres to the western coast of Tasmania at the instigation of the Danish Government and was then abandoned. Other vessels in the waters where she might likely be were also 'instructed to keep a sharp look-out. Her wireless was not heal'd later than a week out from Buenos Ayres.”

EMPIRE MARKETING BOARD. Replying to Mr W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napierl, the Hon. Mr Cobbe, Minister for Industries and Commerce* said the Government was taking full advantage of the assistance to be obtained from the Empire Marketing Board, both in the field of research and in the general development of inter-Empire trade. In regard to research. the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in New Zealand was kept in close touch with the activities of the Board through its liaison officer attached to t'j;e High Commmissioner’s Office in London, and in connexion with trade and commerce full co-operation had been established between the Board and the High Commissioner’s Office. At exhibitions of Empire products made by the Empire Marketing Board throughout the United Kingdom full

opportunity hud been afforded the High Commissioner to display New Zealand’s leading products, and the practical results achieved had been most satisfactory.” COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE. In lbs reply to a question asked by Mr H. S 'S. Kyle (R., Riecarton) the Hon. Mr Atmore, Minister for Education, stated that it was not intended at present to raise the compulsory. school age to fifteen. WHALIN’:; IN ANTARCTICA. Replying to Mr W. J. Broadfoot ('ll,, Wuitomo), the Hon. Mr Cobbe, Minister for Marine, sahd it was not possible for New Zealand to obtain an international agreement to ensure nroper control or regulation of whaling in the Antarctic, but representations had already been made to the Imperial Government urging that steps should be taken .to that end. It was understood that the matter was engaging the Imperial Government’s attention.

MESSAGE TO MR MACDONALD. In answer to Mr C. H. Chapman (Lain. Wellington North!, the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) stated that the Government had sent a message to Mr Ramsay MacDonald conveying best wishes for the success of his mission to' tho United States. TOTALISATOR PERMITS, |ifr Broadfoot asked the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon Mr do La . Perrelle). whether he would take' steus to eliminate the two floating racing permits by allocating them to the one-day dubs most entitled to them.

Mr de la Perrelle, replied that the suggestion that the two floating oneday totalisator licenses be permanently 'allocated was at present under consideration.

; LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS. Mr W. J. Poison asked the Minister of Internal Affairs whether during the recess lie would have legislation governing the election of hesjj'tcl, harbour, and elect A.c power boards carefully scrutinised, and provide fpr amending . legislation giving rural voters a more equitable basis of voting. The Hon. Mr de la Perrelle replied that the matter had been the subject of conferences • between the Internal Affairs, Publio Works, Marine, and Health Departments. It was proposed to ! go more fully into the question during the recess.