Question Day in the House

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 114, 4 August 1927, Page 11

Question Day in the House

(THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Question day in the House—the second this session—produced a multiplicity of subjects for short discussion by members. Given below in tabloid form are some of the replies: * * * Standardised and scientific land valuation by experts and standardised and stabilised unimproved value, were •ought by Col. A. Bell, Bay of Islands. Replying to-day, the Minister of Lands, Hon. A. D. McLeod, said that it was not a. function of the Valuation Department to supply valuations for private borrowers and private lenders, and it was not intended to incur the large increase in expenditure which such an extension of its duties would necessitate. There was no practical direction in which steps could be taken for the stabilisation of land values. No undertaking can be given that the Government will pay rates remaining unpaid by certain soldier and other Crown tenants, said the Minister of Lands, Hon. A. D. McLeod, when replying to a request by Col. A. Bell, Ray of Islands, that in view of the grave financial disability placed upon many county councils, the Government would reconsider the request that the unpaid rates should be paid by the Crown. The Minister added that ample powers with respect to the recovery of unpaid rates were conferred on local by the Rating Act, 1925. Tn the case of Crown leaseholds, which cannot be sold for non-payment of rates, local authorities could apply to the land boards for redress. “County councils are receiving all the assistance they can reasonably expect,” said the Minister of Public 'Vorks, Hon. K. S. Williams, when replying to a request by Sir George Hunter, Waipawa. for legislation providing for an equitable distribution of the cost of maintaining the main highways. The Minister explained that last a * n Highways Board was üble, by utilising accumulated funds, to increase, temporarily at any rate, tne rate of subsidy to 30s for £l. This rate of subsidy involved the board in expenditure greater than its receipts Irom taxation of motor vehicles. The Government is giving considerfoiij to the Question cf extending to public and secondarv- * cnool boys to take up land on their ucc °unt,” said the Prime Minister, roght Hon. J. G. Coates, in reply to hi kinklater, Manawatu, who drew att ? nti on to the scheme for assistsuitable British boys to take up land in Canada. At the Imperial Conference, said the nme Minister, the Overseas SettleCommittee adopted a draft ycnerae to provide assistance under the »Jo P i re Settle nient Act to enable mixrra. % generally to take up land in Zealand, and the possibilities of ••t* B - eme were being explored, rt is not considered that the expense , 1 sending delegates from New Zeaftro t 0 the Interr *ational Labour Conran.n®e„at Geneva, is at present wared, said the Prime Minister, Right °n. J. g. Coates, in the House of «epresenatives to-day, in reply to a nf ?u 10n by Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader th* the ® PPosition. “Were it not for w,i S i. COnsideration « the Government b6 .. slad to arra nge for repre-