ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 10 July 1913, Page 4

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

tatives. • 7*- ; : ■'■■'" (By Teleipaph-t'ress Association.) •> Last,Night. , In reply to ujiestioiisin the Mouse. of Representatives -this ' - Ministers stated that ah amendment ■ of the Local Elections Polls Act, dealing, among other things, 'with the -*" conduct of elections,, will £:• introduc- .. Ed this Sv«.iion, t The first Civil Service classification, list will be against -which - officers will bt) allowed "to : This will prbbably'be ready about the." , end of this month. The final list can.notbe.propar.d until air appeals are settled, waich will, take from jone l -to two. months; after the issue of the= provisional list; : ~ ~ ;.."".. ;■./•■■ The matter~of tlie WwkJ «»o» o«» ■" r*.~ —■-*-•••'I"':-•-■■•- f»*. t*c yumpensation Act to inciuue n**!? era* complaint was under the consideration of the- -Government, '"*" " '-' * ''■'" repealing.of the mortgage tax and --the. taxing of incomes was under wnSideraiion. 4 No doubt the hydrographical conditions of jPicton rendered it a suitable harbour for the sheltering of ships and naval merchantmen; 'but, there are many more important considerations to be taken into account, in the selection of a naval base for • the Dominion. ...In' selecting a naval' base for Zealand, the Admiralty would be consulted. The question- of increasing teachers' salaries was under consideration butJt was doubtful if any legislation;' could be introduced this'"Sessioff/~ It was not the intention to cancel the circular issued by the Education Department, bj which the advantage of free places and scholarships are withdrawn from boys wl»o fail to early out the obWations imimsed under the Defence Act. Applications wore «ot invited for the appointniont of Pterin,! Instructor iu public selumls. but everv care was taken to the roost suit- ■ Prosecutions under the Defence '"*-' have been instituted •«: sec- •* ' in Chnstchurch in th* Jrt tt timtf to register on J ' .. case "of refusal* when eve- v „ 0 0 f a few,e?l .* jjpWftVfoinitv had been givthem to comply with" s%&< *\ and after a r*Wi>nnnbl? lapse. of 'ftV&e. It is not the' intention of the Department that ar-y person" should be allowed to evsuls their re--sponsibilities under the Act. Despite' every effort, a few may succeed in' evading detection, hut as. soon, as" thev can be traced they wfil.be dealt" with..

There was no - objection to local au= thorities making arrangement? with, their bank to accept any surplus moneys on deposit, and so derive interest for such amounts. Sometimes,' > also, in cases where one account vvas in credit and others in debit,' aiv .. ranirements could be made' tyi'tH :banks *sp -.that the uiterest' djrt the' , overdraft would only applyto the: net amount' overdrawn';.-, but it wSS hot' considered advisable to a lift? money that had been.borrowed'for special purposes by a local bodv to be.transferred temporarily to the credit of its general account. The question of devising warningbells or other signals at level crossings is engaging attention. It h the intention to go fully into the question of Ihe rates charged on the New Zealand railways, with-the new General Manager, on his arrival. In the meantime it is not proposed to make any alterations of the tariff charges. The question of raising the age of .protection for a\v\s to 18 years at least, was receiving consideration ' It was not proposed to raise the marnanre ajro from 12 to sav 16 or 1R vea»s. thoujfh tJi« matter was one requiring very serious consideration Tt was mi.fi. b ho regretted that tne arrival of New Zealand mails, in- • ™ n was "wnsionnllv delaved during May. A series of mishaos interfered with t)i rt regular deliver of the wails m London. The Makura was delayed by heaw wo*+her nwl a firo in hj- mail room. The mails arrived m Vntirouvor two davs Into »«d WKssod the London connection.' Tim Warrmmo J.or connection at Sydnev. and hpr mails "were six davs late in- arriving J n London. § A siim would hp nWed on +h«> osAtw *°d f0! roui ' nen£,;ltion +0 Captain