R.S.A. NEWS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3540, 30 July 1920, Page 6

R.S.A. NEWS

QUESTIONS £x< PARLIAMENT. (No. 4.) Mr Witty asked tlie Gc-verumcut •whether they will repeal die regulation which, compels people of the Dominion. who wish to leave for Great Britain to obtain a permit to do so. •Note: Many people wish to visit the graves -i t'ht.r sons who gave their lives for Vi.c empire, 'but have to beg for a permit do so. The riou. Mr Anderson replied that it was presumed the hen. member referred to the issue of passports. These were essential for the reason that no person ceuid enter Great Britain with-j out a passport, and a person could not j enter France wiahout such passport J being vised by the French Consular , Officer. j

Mr Witty asked the Minister of Railways whether he will give instruction that in futures all tarpaulins which are not fit for use on'the railways shall be offered for sale to tanners and ethers instead ox destroying them as at

present. The Rt. Hon. Mr Massey replied that there were serious objections to the sale of railway tarpaulins under any circumstances. His investigations on the subject showed that the best parts of condemned tarpaulins were used for xepair work, and such portions as icmained were quite unsound and unfit for use. In the earlier days when a limited number of whole (tarpaulins •was disposed of, the very greatest- difficulty was experienced in preventing good tarpaulins being improperly icmoved from railway premises, and converted to private use. For this reason it was decided as a matter of policy Jto scrap eorfdewcd tarpaulins. and only dispose of scrap material to- paper mills for paper making. Mr Glenn asked the Government w r hether, in view r of the fact that arrangements were being made to biing out numbers of ex-service men and women to the Dominion, they will increase the poll tax on Chinese, also that the education test on Hindus be made more stringent.

Mr Kellett asked the Minister of Customs what arc the details of the educational and other qualifications required from 'Chinese and Indians entering- the Dominion. The Hon. Sir W. Homes replied that it was undesirable that the details of the education test prescribed for Hindus should be published. Such a proceeding would give to those interested all the various forms which have been prescribed and which a Hindu might have placed before him. and, although there are blanks to be filled in in these fom s and questions to be answered, the Hindu'could learn the answers to the questions beforehand. Chinese are required to pay a poll-tax of £IOO and it-o pass an educat'on test Consisting of ability to read a hundred words in the English language -selected by the Coblector of Customs. The standard

agreed upon was reading matter equivalent to the fourth standard in the schools. Both Chinese and' Hindus must be in good hea:th and abm to ■pass the doctor. ilr Burnett asked the Minister of Hands whether in order to perpetuate the memory of the great fights that the New Zealand Division took part in in the great war. he will allow the different estates acquired under the soldiers settlement policy to carry the names of those famous battles, such titles to bo selected by vote of the 'soldier settlers concerned. The Hon. Mr Guthrie replied that the suggestion seemed a good one, and would receive his immediate consideration. It Was,;- absolutely necessary for the mo me to be given immediately after the purchase of the prtpAty, and it would not be possible to wait uTrtil the settlement was selected. » »

The - Hoiv Mr Hannan naked the Prime Minister whether he would set up a committee to consider and ie- , port this session on the questions sub- j mitted by the N.Zi H.«A. to I’arua- j mentary candidates at the iast goner- j al election The Et. Hon. Mr .Massey replied. : that the setting up of a committee of the House as suggested was not at , present deemed necessary. Mr T. E. Hamilton asked the Gov- j eminent whether they will take into cons’ deration tile removing of the war | TCgulations relating to the letting of houses as it is having a. detrimental | effect on the building of new houses for letting purposes. The Hon. Sir "W. Herries replied that it was not intended to remove »shpse -regulations ah present. It migh: be- pointed out that the restriction of rent to 8 per cent, on the capital value did not apply to -new houses. Mr Poland asked the • Government whether they will, this year, amend the miners’ pr/thisis act to provide that the pension shall not. be cancelled h? tcasois of 'the recipient, visiting Australia for the benefit of his health. (Note: By the present law, a pensioner under the'Miners’ Phthsis Act loses his pension if he leaves N.Z., and as a- result several pensioners who have

Luma ordered uy their doctor to go to Australia have been unable to do so as 'they cannot leave their wives and children penniless. This provision is a brutal , one, and should be abolished at

once). The Hon. Sir W. Herries replied that 1 the question, of allowing miners pen- | sions to be paid during the temporary 1 absence of the pensioner from New | Zealand would be considered in coni' ncetion with any amending legislation ' submitted this session. Mr Kitchener asked the Minister of Lunds whether he will state what steps he has taken or proposes to take to acquire for soldier settlement the Hakataramca Estate consisting of some (50.000 to 70,000 acres which is owned bv the N.Z. and Australian Land Company as absentee. (Nore: The member for Waikato has been assured by a rc- ( turned soldier, a q/ra-etica? farmer, that the subdivision of this estate would provide homes for at least 50 men).

The Hon. Mr Gutlrue replied that the acquisition "cf this property had been under consideration on several occasions during past years.- The report showed that it was liable to heavy falls of snow; consequently, sub-divi-sion into comparatively small areas would be a very risky proceeding. The Government was at present dealing with the adjoining country, and the quest‘on cf acquiring Akataramea was also being considered. Mr Hockley asked the Postmaster General whether, taking into consideration the present shortage of material for the erection of country telephone linos, he will, when material becomes available, give preference to returned soldier settlers. The Hon. Mr Coates replied that the Department was already giving preference to returned sb’diers in the matter of materal for private lines and it would continue to do so. (To be continued).