PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. G. Witty the Hon. J. G. Coates said the turbine that broke down at the Lake Coleridge power works was of Swiss make ar.d was not of British make. It was a well-known make and similar turbines were in use in all parts of the world. Replying to Mr. V. H. Potter (Robkill), the Hon. J. G. Coates said the reason the privilege of selling stamps by private individuals was taken away was that the department was anxious to save the one and a half per cent, commission. The Premier remarked that the commission amounted to about £30,000 per annum. Replying to Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East), the Hon. C. J. Parr said that if everyone did his duty there was every reason to hope bubonic plague w r ouid be kept out of New Zealand, but if it did enter the Health Department had sufficient serum to treat from three to four hundred cases, and he thought that sufficient.

Replying to Mr. J. A. Young (Waikato). the Hon. G. J. Anderson said the question of abolishing preference to unionists was under consideration by the Government.

Replying to Mr. O. Hawken (Egmont), the Hon. W. Nosworbhy said he would set inquiries on foot to see whether or not there was a market at Home or abroad for New Zealand second-class meat.

Replying to Mr. F. N. Bartram (Grey Lynn), the Hon. C. J. Parr said he had no power to regulate the working hours of nurses in private hospitals. So far he had not considered it necessary to take action, but he would refer the question to the Inspector-General. The working hours of nurses in public hospitals had been considerably reduced during recent years. Replying to Dr. H. T. Thacker (Christchurch East), Mr. Massey said the Government was considering the question of enabling local bodies having a credit in one account at the bank setting off that credit against the debit in another account. He would make a statement on the subject before the session ended.