QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1922, Page 5

QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT.

MANY TOPICS DEALT WITH. HELPING THE UNEMPLOYED', REMOVING TAX ON A. & P. SHOWS hr Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The evening sitting of the House tonight, was given up to answers by Ministers to members’ questions. Amongst others Ministers gave the following answers: That the law does not permit of the remission of stamp duty in respect to the dissolution of partnership between soldier's who acquired land under the provisions of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act.

That the Government has already made special provision to meet unemployment during the current year, and is maintaining its public works at the highest possible standard in order to keep as many men as possible employed. It will not be possible to provide further funds in connection with this matter.

That the Government will carefully consider the proposal that war pensions be excluded from taxable incomes under the Land and InAome Tax Act. That, the Government is at present going into the matter of the appointment of an expert officer with a good knowledge of both London and Now Zealand business methods as an inspector of New Zealand dairy products in the United Kingdom. His duties will be to report on the quality and condition of this produce. That there is no intension to aznftnd the- Pensions Act this session. Pensions for the blind will be considered when the finances of the Dominion permit. MOTOR TRAFFIC PROBLEM. That it is realised that it is desirable that there should be uniformity in dealing more particularly with motoi traffic, and the Motor Bill introduced last session contained full power to make regulations dealing with motor traffic, which regulations would, when made, be general and apply to all loeal bodies. That it is not proposed to reduce the duty on sporting goods, as it is highly improbable that any spoyte bodies will curtail their purchases on account of the duties in force at present, or that a reduction of these duties would resirft in such largely increased purchases that more revenue would result. That it is not proposed <to amend the Land Agents Act to provide that fees under that Act should be paid to hospital boards as previously. That legislation will be introduced during the present session providing for the exemption from the amusements tax on the price of admission to Agricultural and Pastoral Associations* shows, both in regard to members’ tickets and the ordinary charge made for admission. It is not proposed to exempt public entertainments which are overloaded with payments of fees to performers and other assistants. The occupiers of houses built by the State have been granted most generous terms, and no alterations in rentals are proposed. That the Government ia prepared to continue to assist local bodies to arrange loans required to meet their antecedent liabilities by granting them permission to raise loans at a reason* able rate of interest. FUEL FOR RAILWAYS. That it is not considered desirable fd incur the large expenditure involved, in converting locomotives and providing the necessary machinery for pulverising and storing fuel until such time as the experiments being made established beyond doubt the fact that pulverised fuel can be used in everyday railway operations with the same success as ordinary coal. That the Main Highways Bill is not yet complete. That the prices of commodities in New Zealand as compared with those in other countries are not excessive when the costs of production and distribution are taken into consideration. If there are items for which it is considered unreasonably high prices are charged a complaint will be investigated and effective action taken if the result warrants it. That instructions have already been gix-en to inspectors to pay special attention to the installation of first-aid appliances in factories and sawmills, and to see that the regulations in this respect are complied with. That the question of the removal of statutory preference to unionists will have consideration this session. VALUATION REVISION. That a general revision of the existing valuation rolls will be made when the market prices of agricultural and pastoral products have been stabilised so as to form a more or less reliable basis for the ascertainment of land values. Under existing conditions it would be impossible to make satisfactory revaluations. That the Government is advised that the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board is engaged in negotiations which will ha V n the effect of stimulating the dema tor -New Zealand meat in Canada and +>.a United States of America. That is intended to provide a car for ladies °nly on the express trains as soon as citable rolling stock is available. That the \ nu°stion of dealing with blackberry in the beet practicable manner is being gone into, and in this connection th> framing of amending legislation is under consideration. That merchants are free to import sugar without restriction. That it is premature to express an opinion as to whether or not the pig iron produced by the Onaka-ka Iron and Steel Company can be sold in the Dominion at a price equal to the cost of imported iron of a similar quality.