PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. - OIL DIVINERS WELCOME. i [ By TelegrajJi.—Press Association. i Wellington, Last Night. I The House of Representatives met at 7.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. J. Edie (Bruce), Mr. Massey said he would be very glad if the oil diviners (whom the hon gentlemen referred to, and on whose behalf he asked for a subsidy) would set to work and find oil in the Dominion. The House knew of tho good work done by water diviners, and he would be very glad if oil diviners would go and do likewise. Later, Mr. Massey promised he. would send an officer of .the geological department to Otago to give the diviners' efforts a fair trial. • DANGEROUS GOODS. The Hon. 0. J. Anderson moved the second reading of the 'Explosives and Dangerous Goods Amendment Bill, dealing with the storage and inspection of petrol and other explosive goods. The Bill was taken as read, and passed through committee with one formal amendment. The Bill was then read a third time and passed

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. VARIOUS TOPICS DEALT WITH. The House then proceeded to discuss printed answers given by Ministers to 'members' questions. Ministers gave amongst others the following answers: — That it is not proposed to introduce an amendment to the Rating Act in regard to European rating this session, and in anj r case it is not desirable to take out of the hands of the ratepayers, power to say whether or not they shall be rated on a system of unimproved value.

That the question of establishing a New Zealand board of science and industry, as proposed by the Industries Committee, will be taken into consideration during tne recess. That the proposals of the Government regarding the payment of •» bonus to superannuated civil servants, includes provision for their widows and children. That the Labor Department allots houses to respective towns in proportion to the number of applications received. This has always been the practice, and is considered to be the best method of meeting requirements. It is hoped 'to begin the erection of a hundred additional houses' in Auckland shortly. That it is not likely time will permit legislation being introduced this session which will bring the Post and Telegraph Department again under the direct control of the Public Service Commissioner.

. That the military censorship automatically censed when the War Regulations Continuance Act, 11)20, became operative on October fi. That an amending Pensions Bill to be introduced .this session will provide for an increase in the amount of income exempted for old age pension purposes, and it will not be possible to provide for 'he exemption of payments received by way of retiring allowance granted from local bodies beyond tiie statutory limits proposed

That in view, of the heavy increase in the cost of material and administration in connection with school buildings the Government is considering the granting of an increase to Education Boards for the maintenance of schools.

That legislation in connrai'.vi with the maintenance and administration of main roads is now in course of preparation, and will be circulated at as early a date as possible. The House rose at 0.30 p.m.