TRUCK REPLACEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 March 1943, Page 4

TRUCK REPLACEMENT

GOVERNMENT CONSIDERATION TAXIS IN AUCKLAND CRITICISED BY MINISTER. ALLEGED VISITS TO SLY GROG ESTABLISHMENTS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Government was giving urgent attention to the matter of allowing the replacement of worn-out motdr trucks, said the Minister of Transport, Mr. J. O’Brien, replying to an urgent question by Mrs Stewart, when the House of Representatives met at 10.30 o’clock this morning.Dealing with the position of taxis, the Minister said this was not so satisfactory and a number of taxis in Auckland were found to be visiting sly grog establishments. If taxi owners thought they would get petrol, saved by the Government in other directions, for catering for sly groggers and joy riders, they were much mistaken. The House was continuing the discussion on the second reading of Ministry of Works Bill at noon; FIFTY-TWO WEEK WAGE. The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) said he had always stood for a 52-week wage for everyone, whatever might be the vicissitudes in a man’s family, and also for a minimum wage and sickness provisions. He hoped before the session ended that he might be able to bring down something to deal with these matters. PRIME MINISTER’S SUITE. Mr Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga) criticised the use of men and material and the expenditure of money at the present time in making additions to Parliament House, including the building of a suite for -the Prime Minister, which, according to rumour, was going to cost £lO,OOO, or a thousand pounds per room. Mr Fraser interjected he did not mind Mr Doidge mentioning the subject, but it might be open to misinterpretation. He referred to the difficulties under which the Prime Minister’s Department had been working through lack of accommodation, and said it was absolutely necessary that better conditions and more adequate accommodation should be provided The debate was interrupted by the luncheon adjournment.