PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

I HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. , REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. ®y Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 7.30 p.m. Mr. K. S. Williams, tlie new member for Bay of Plenty, Feing present was sworn iu, his sponsors being Mr. R. F. Bollard (Raglan) and Mr, V. H. Reed (Bay of Islands). Replying to Mr. Reed, the Hon. C. J. Parr said he would favorably consider the question of reprinting in pamphlet form the articles on the care of children now appearing from time to time in the Press.

Replying to Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston North), the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said it was the policy of the Government to import fencing wire and galvanised iron for ex-soldiers at the cheapest possible rate, and this had been done in the past to tiie advantage of soldiers, but it would not be possible for the ' Government to import these in large quantities, and the best that could be done had been done. He expected a shipment from Australia at an early date, but he was not in a position to say what the price would be.

NEW RATING BILL. Dr. H. T. Thacker (Christchurch East) introduced the Rating Act Amendment Bill, which was read a first time. He explained that the principle of the Bill was to secure a revaluation of city properties. Several members supported an immediate revaluation of cities and boroughs for rating purposes. STATEMENT CORRECTED. The Hon. J. G. Coates corrected a statement regarding the Waikaremoana hydro-electric scheme which he made a few days ago, namely, that certain tenders had been accepted. He now desired, to gay that though the tenders had closed, none had been accepted. He had decided to call fresli tenders.

VARIOUS QUESTIONS. REPLIES OF MINISTERS. Replying to other questions, Ministers gave the following answers:— That the capital of the couutry at the present time is required for more urgent purposes than the establishing of StateoWned woollen and worsted mills. In any fcase it is just as well to remember that the experience of State-owned enterprises has not been uniformly successful. That it is now anticipated that sufficient shipping space will be made available to lift the coining season's clip. That correspondence is at present passing between the Imperial and New Zealand Governments on the subject of Imperial relations, on which the Premier will Bhortly make a statement. _ That inquiry from the High Commissioner that dried and condensed milk, rice, dripping, children's foods, and new and second-hand clothes would be acceptable to the "Save the Children Fund Committee, London." The High Commissioner reports that the, state of transport in Europe is such as to make tTie distribution of meat impossible. Collecting committees will, of course, have to make their own arrangements in regard to shipping and freight. That it is not considered advisable that the Government should go in for State trawling, especially as it is understood that several trawlers for flsliin" by private enterprise are being pro"cured. One large and up-to-date vessel has recently arrived in New Zealand. Thut the question of a remission of duty on nets and netting suitable for fishermen's use will be considered when the tariff is being revised during the recess.

That inquiries have been made as to the suitability of the Chatham Islands for soldier settlement, ajid at present some discharged soldiers are in treaty for the purchase of property there. The Marine Department reports that not a great deal is being done at present in the sale of fish, largely owing to shipping difficulties, but it is ho pod that more will be accomplished shortly. That the Department's officers are actively dealing with the whole question of ticks in the infested areas, especially in enforcing the provisions of the regulators regarding the movement of cattle, which includes inspection ag to freedom from tick infestation. That it is regretted that a concession cannot be granted to Friendly Societies in the matter of postage rates. It is not the case that correspondence of the National Provident Fund is franked; postage on such correspondence is paid at the ordinary rates. Tiiat inquiries have been made by the Board of Trade into the landed costs and wholesale and retail prices of dried and preserved fruits. Although the present prices are high compared with pre-war prices, the increases are in every instance due to causes beyond the control of merchants and retailers in the Dominion. The .Board found generally that only a small margin of profit is being made by traders on these goods. .That the question of increasing tho allowances paid to holders of national scholarships, university scholarships and bursaries, agricultural and domestic science bursaries, and of other scholarships and bursaries provided by the Government, has been under consideration for some time, but, owing to the large increase of expenditure involved, it is regretted that the matter lias lia'd to be postponed for this year. That when the .Motor' Traffic Act is being amended it is proposed to make provision requiring motor-drivers to -ret satisfactory proofs that they are competent before licensee are issued to them. That, the bodies of New Zealand soldiers who died in Germany have not ebeen removed, for re-burial, but a report has been received that English' graves in Germany are being well cared for in accordance with the 'Peace Treaty. The House rose at 12.£5 a.m.