TARANAKI MEMBERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1920, Page 8

TARANAKI MEMBERS.

QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. MAORI WAR PENSIONS. t 9 (By Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. Replying to Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki), Sir William Herries said the question of raising the pension payable to Maori War veterans will be considered in connection with the amendment to the Pensions Act proposed this session. THE HOUSING PROBLEM. Mr. R, Masters (Jltratford) Risked tlie Minister of Labor whether he will favorably consider the question of introducing legislation to amend part V, section 51 (f), of the Housing Act, 1919, in the direction of nuking provision will enable county councils (1) to purchase land to erect buildings thereon, and (2) to purchase land on which buildings have been erected? Sir William Herries replied that itwas proposed to introduce legislation to this effect shortly.

OHUEA COAL FIELD. Mr. Masters asked the Minister of Mines to arrange for a geological sujv J vey of the coalftelds in the Tangarakau district. Mr. Massey replied: "The staff of the .geological survey is fully occupied in making surveys of coalfields' in other parts of the Dominion, When such surveys are completed, and reports thereon are made, the question of making arrangements for .a geological, survey of the coalfields in the Tangarakau district will receive careful consideration. In the meantime, if deposits of coal are known to exist in tliat district, the owners of. the conl, or any licensee who holds a license, may apply to the Mines Department for the hire of one of .the Government's drills to prove i=uch coal by boring. The drills are loaned by the Mines 'Department upon most resasonI able terms and conditions. • CREDIT CURTAILMENT. /

Mr. W. D. Powdvell (Patea) asked if, in view of the associated banl's' decision to la«gely curtail future credit to dairy and other companies intending to build or extend their operations, and seeing the importance at this time for the building of new works to manufacture our primary products in this country, the Government will consider the question of assisting such new schemes financially or otherwise if worthv of support? The" Hon. \V. H. Noswortliv replied:

Information as to the reasons actuat

ing the associated banks in deciding to largely curtail future credit to dairy companies is necessary before the Government can undertake to consider giving financial assistance where hanks will not do so. If the honorable member can furnish specified information 011 the matter it \yill be gone into. It ishould be noted that fresh legislation would have to be enacted before the Government could advance money to dairy companies.

BUTTER FAT LEVY REFUND. ' Mr. Nosworthy told Mr. Powdrell that the petition shortly to be presented to Parliament by the dairy-farm-ers of Ne\» Zealand, praying for a refund of the butter-fat levy,' would have careful consideration when the petition was being dealt with by the House.