THE ESTIMATES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 227, 8 July 1942, Page 5

THE ESTIMATES

DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. WIDE FIELD TRAVERSED. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 7. A proposal to co-ordinate the National and Commercial Broadcasting Services was still under consideration, said the Prime Minister the (Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), when the Broadcasting Account was under discussion in the House of Representatives in Committee on the Estimates to-day. Engineers and technicians would be put to much greater use if the services were co-ordinated, he said. It was impossible, however, to amalgamate the commerical and non-commercial services, but. a great deal could be done in the way of reorganisation ana co-ordination. Replying to Mrs Dreaver, Mr Eraser said the suggestion she had made that E.P.S. talks should he given over the radio to encourage the personnel of those units and give them a fuller understanding of their duties was worthy of consideration. Mr J. A. Leo said that greater encouragement should be given through the broadcasting services to the development of dramatic and musical talent among young people. Mr Fraser said everyone would agree that this was desirable, but he emphasised the fact that already a great deal had been done in the development ot orchestral music in the Dominion, and even prominent musicians had been amazed at the amount, of talent available in New Zealand. Mrs Arthur Grigg asked that more episodes from overseas men should take the place of “We work for victory” propaganda, Mr Fraser agreeing that such episodes could figure more prominently in future programmes. The Hon. P. C. Webb eulogised the purpose of the “Me work for victory’ broadcasts which, he said, promoted a better understanding among tho public and greater good-will among workers. Replying to the proposal by Mr E. L. Cullen, who suggested that the broadcasting unit with the N.Z.E.F. should go further afield and record messages from men who were only given leave every six months, Mr Fraser said the men to broadcast were selected by the Army by lot, and he thought .a. verjgood cross-section was selected. Coal Consumption. A spirited defence of the miners in the Dominion was made by Mr Webb when the Mines Department Estimate Was being considered. He said that the New. Zealand miners were actually producing a record amount of coal at the present time, but tho demand Lan also increased greatly. For instance, the Railway Department qlone required an additional 250,000 tons of coal this year. Three hundred more miners were required, and ho had approached the military authorities to release men for mining. This country had been remarkably free from industrial trouble in the mines, but the mining companies must follow the example of the Government and provide decent housing conditions for their employees!. Some of tho little old hovels provided for miners were a disgrace to New Zealand. We must improvo the amenities for the men; then there would he no difficulty in securing the necessary labour for the mines. A total of eight classes of Estimates was passed during the evening aggregating £1,073,883. They were: Government Insurance Account £151,658, Public Service Superannuation Fund Account £9556, State Fire Insurance £83,366; Government Accident Insurance £46,870, War Damage Fund £10,200, Broadcasting Account £307,970, Labour Department £367,500, Mines Department. £96,768, The State Goal Minos Account of £814,189 was under consideration when the House rose at 10.30 p.m.