PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 216, 12 September 1925, Page 15

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. COAL FOR THE RAH.WAY. REPORT OF COMMISSION. (By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. "Can the Prime Minister give any idea as to whether the report of the committee inquiring into the uses of New Zealand coal Will be presented to the House this session?" inquired Mr. H. E. Holland of the Prime Minister to-night. _ j '•Yes" replied Mr. Coates. "I understand most of the trials in the North I=land have been carried out. though some remain to be concluded in the South Island, and I expect the committee very shortly to be able to make recommendations. There are just a few final trialeto he completed in the South Island." Housing in Wellington. Urging the need, of further provisions for housing the people, Mr. McKeen narrated several "instances of overcrowding and Jiigh rentals. One Wellington case had been brought under his notice in -which a man and his wife and three children were living in one poor room, for -which they paid £1 a week. This was ■in a sevenroomed house, wherein dwelt 16 other people. Wise or Otherwise. As the session draws to a conclusion an increasing tendency to levity, even flippancy, is apparent on the part of many members, of which the following excerpt from a discussion on the Estimates in committee is so far the choicest sample. Mr. Lye (relating the.hardships of the heavily mortgaged farmer): And te is the father of seventeen children. Members: How many? Mr. Lye: Seventeen. This is a case for " Member on Government cross benches: The half-way house. (Laughter.) Contractor's Misfortune. William John Worth and William Irvine, Kaitaia, contractors for the erection of a echoolhouse at Waikeri, Herekino, were rafting materials to the site in January last, when the raft was caught in a current and swept to sea. Before rafting they tried to take out a marine insurance policy, but were refused, in consequence of which, the loss of materials valued at £450 fell on them. j Mr. Allan Bell has presented a petition !to Parliament praying for relief Tor the partners. Plunket Nurses. J Ihiring consideration of the Health Department's report on the Estimates toj night. Mr. Holland remarked that al- | though the amount voted to the Plunket Nursing Association was substantial, it could be larger, because of the great value of the work. The infantile death rate in New Zealand was the lowest in the worid; a great testimony to what the Plunket Society was doing. ; Sir M. Pomare agreed that good work was being done. In addition to the £20,000 on the Estimates there would be 'another £10;000 on the Supplementary Estimates, making a total of £9000 in , excess of last'year. Doctors and Hospital Service. i "Medical men talk as though their i work in hospitals conferred great benefit 'on the public, as though the benefit was j all on one side," observed Mr. Fraser, : discussing the Health Department esti- ' mates in the House of Representatives to-night, "but a man occupying a very important position informs mc that onu of the evils of stipendiary medical j officers in hospitals would be the pro- | bable shutting out of private practii tioners, who would thus lose the experi- ! ence that is absolutely necessary for them to keep abreast of modern developi mente. Also if barred from hospitals these doctors would not have +he use of expensive laboratory and other equipment. It seems therefore as if there is a mutual benefit." j Reparation Money for New Zealand. ! Replying to the Leader of the Opposition this afternoon the Minister of Finance stated that New Zealand had . received the sum of £103,669 reparation ' from Germany, representing payments ! covering the period from September 15, ' 192 Ato May 31, 1925. The German railways, he explained, formed part of the security for reparation and were administered by an international committee. Prisons Board Vacancy. "In appointing a person to the J vacancy on the Prisons Board, will the j Government select one who has an expert knowledge of psychology and criminology?" asked Mr. Jordan. By the ! death of Dr. Hay, replied the Minister of Justice, the board had lost a most valuable member, and the appointment of his successor wa3 now being I considered. When a conclusion had j been arrived at, full information would be supplied the questioner. Spahlinger Treatment. Mr. Armstrong, talking on a petition concerning the Spahlinger treatment for tuberculosis, declared that there was ! evidence of marvellous results, even in i the slums of London, from the use of j this serum, and that the treatment j should be given better consideration by I the Governments of the Empire. It : had been favourably reported on by a House of Commons Committee, but according to New Zealand medical authorities supplies of the serum were not available for this country even if advisable. Hundreds of victims in the sanatoriums had been looking forward jto this treatment as their only hope. Mr. McKay said there had been evidence of many cures by the Spahlinger treatment, and he hoped not a moment would be lost in obtaining supplies of serum. Motherhood. ! The member for Avon (Mr. Sullivan) ito-nisht complained to the Minister of '.Health of the long hours worked by 'probationers at St. Helens Hospitals, j and asked that they be brought in line 'regarding the hours of duty of probai tioners in general hospitals. Some I weeks, he said, these girls had to arise !at five o'clock in the mornings. I "Well, as to that," replied the Minis- ! ter. "birth does not go by the clock, j unfortunately." (Laughter.") Sir Maui Pomare added that young women training at St. Helens had only one year to pass, whilst the general nurse had to 1 pass three to four years before qualifyi incr. However, he would consult the : Departmental officers regarding the : hours of these young women.