MINISTERS QUESTIONED.

Shannon News, 22 July 1924, Page 3

MINISTERS QUESTIONED.

In tile House this week Mr W. li. Field, M.P., addressed the following questions to Ministers. : To the Minister of Hail ways, whether toe proposal wiiicii lias .been before the public for about forty years for the construction qf a deviation of the Main Trunk Line from Levin by way of Foxton to Marton, comes v in tlie order of reference’ of the Commission recently appointed to consider i °. ur „ policy and administration? (Note. —The construction of this deviation would, among other advaii- ( tages, save a number of steep grades between Palmerston North and Marton, reduce the distance between Wellington add {Auckland by about 17 miles, open nip to railway communication a large area of agricultural and Pastoral land not at present served by a railway, and will go a long way towards Attaining ithe m(ucW-desired object of establishing a daylight service during the summer months between Wellington md Auckland. To the Minister of Agriculture— (1) Whether it is true that the services of zealous scientific officers in his Department, who are doing very valuable, research work, are likely to-be lost to this country by reason of inadequacy of pa.y, insufficiency oi equipment, and lack of encouragement generally? (2) Whether one such officer has not already left New Zealand to take up a more lucrative position in -another country? (3) Whether, in view of the urgent need for combating insect, fungoid, and other pests, which are already seriously embnrassing the producers of the Dominion, the- Government will follow the example hot the Governments of other enlightened., countries j and see that all officers doing valuable work as above mentioned are encouraged to remain in the Public Service of their own country? The Hon. Mr Nos worthy (Minister of Agriculture) replied—(l) It is most unlikely that the services of zealous scientific officers will be lost to this country for the reasons given. I am not aware that one such officer has left New Zealand to take a more lucrative position in another country. (?) Everv encouragement is given to officers doing valuable work to remain in the Public Service.

To the Minister of Health—Whether he will this session introduce more stringent legislatioh than now exists to .prevent the pollution of rivers, streams, and waterways throughout the Dominion?

The Hion. Sir M. Pomare (Minister of Health) replied, the attention r the honourable member is drawn m section 132- (1) (a), (c), of the Health Act. 1920, where power is given to make regulations dealing with the matter. The question of issuing such regulations is under consideration. Mr Field (Otaki) to ask the Minister of. Agriculture, whether he will, without further delay, and before it is too late to save much valuable land in the Dominion being taken possession of by noxious weeds, propound a new and., effective policy, and, if necessary, improved legislation, to deal effectively with, tbe serious and vital noxious-weed problem in this young country; and whether he .will take steps to see, that our- legislation in this connection is satisfactorily administered?

The Han.. Mr Nosworthy (Minister of Agriculture) replied: The question of dealing with’noxious weeds to the best advantage possible under existing conditions has been , receiving special consideration, and a special investigation is in progress regarding means of effectively dealing with blackberry in particular. It is satisfactory to note that oceuklers of land have of late done better work in coping with noxious weeds, and there has been better co-operation between them and the officers of the Department. The question of improved legislation will receive consideration as ■opportunity offers!, and meanwhile every effort will continue to he made to properly administer the present legislation.'