PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 209, 1 September 1920, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

. NOTES FROM THE GAIXERT. (Bj Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. AUCKLAND MUSEUM SUBSIDY. Has a subsidy been promised to the Auckland Museum, and if bo, of what amount? was a question raised by Mr. Veiteh this afternoon. MAIN TRUNK STOP. The Minister of Railways has been asked whether in view of the importance of Te Awamutu as a natural ewt'.ei for an enormous area of back country, and that it iw a terminal of the local district railway now under construction from Putaruru, he will jeeognise the necessity for and nuthoriy the North Inland Main Trunk second express to stop at Te Awamutu railway station? A goods shed is also advocated for C'laudlands railway station. I HITCH IN SOLDIERS' LOANS." I In reply to a complaint raised on jj behalf of the rctuPhed soldiers of a. hitch \in the Discharged Soldiers Settlement I Act relative to advances for building purposes, the Hon.' D. H. Guthrie said that all loans applied for up to the end of July had been cleared off. He did not understand why the loan referred to wae not one of them. The Department was not considering the purchase of houses, because that had no real effect in relieving the position, but on the contrary raised prices and the rente of houses to the general public. The Department, 'however, was encouraging the building «>f houses, and had refused no application for a loan to build, provided, ot course, that it was in reason. If the hon. member would give him particulars of the case he would have it inquired into. * THE "OTHER PLACE" ACTIVE. In moving that the amendments to the Arms Bill suggested by the Legislative Council be agreed to, Mr, Massey stated that the machinery of the meaeure had been considerably remodelled' by the "other place," but he thought the revised bill was an improvement. Mr. Witty (Riccarton) was the only member to voice any comment expressing surprise at the inroads made upon Government measures by the Council. It appeared a 5 if ill-digested measures were being left to other people to remedy. "Was it the fault of the law draughtsman?" lie inquired. Mr. Massey: It ehowe that our friends are active. .' Mr. Witty: Sometimes their amendments arc an improvement; at others Hhey have- a bad effect. Mr- Wilford: They are doing something, be it good or evil. REFORMING CRIMINALS. The functions of the Prison Board were exercised in 701 cases during the year 1011), during which the Board found that the habitual criminals were more prone to offend again than prisoners who had been dealt with under the system of reformative detention. The point is emphasised that of the total' number of habitual criminals released on probation, 40 per cent were returned to durance vile, either for non-compliance with conditions or for further offences. Of the remaining 51 per cent, seven died. 21 returned to their former place of residence, one was committed to a mental hospital, and 38 were still under tho surveillance of the probation officers. The statistics relating $o reformative prisoners furnishes proof of the benefit of the system. The fact that 70 per cent of the total number released have i not further offended is, in the opinion I of the Board, a matter for considerable ■ satisfaction. This success is attributed to a degree to the beneficial effects of open. ; air life and useful work on prison farms, and in conclusion the report stresses the advisability of treating petty offenders with reformative treatment. MASSEUkS BILL. In the Houso of Representatives this evening tho Minister of Public Health, Hon. C. J. Parr, moved that the amendments made by the Legislative Council in ; the Masseurs Bill be airreed to, with the exception of 12a, under which unregistered masseurs are not to collect fees. During discussion exception was taken to the amendment made by the Council Sn clause 12, preventing unregistered pereons from describing themselves as! "masseurs* , or "massage experts." j The Minister moved that this amendment be agreed to. On a division the amendment was agreed to by 39 votes to 23. The amendment iiiude in clause 12a was disagreed with on the voices, and Dr. Newman and Messrs. Isitt and Parr were appointed managers to confer with managers of the Legislative Council. I