HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11692, 19 September 1903, Page 9

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fridat, September 18. THE STANDING ORDERS. After the Telegraph Office closed at 2 a.m., further consideration was given to the proposed new Standing Orders. The PREMIER moved a new clause providing that Ministers shall give written replies to all questions on each Wednesday afternoon, the answers to be printed in "Hansard." This was objected to by Mr MASSEY as limiting the right of members to ask questions, but after considerable discussion it was carried bv 34 votes to 20. On the motion ot" Sir W. J. STEWARD Friday was fixed as the day on which the House can go into Committee of Supply, without preliminary debate. Mr J. W. THOMSON moved that the quorum of the House be 30 instead of 20. This was lost on the voices. A proposal by Mr J. ALLEN to make the quorum 25 was rejected by 26 votes to 25. This finished the Standing Orders, and the House rose at 3.50 a.m.

AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30. THE ESTIMATES. Li Committee of Supply further consideration of the Estimates the first class taken was that of the Lunacy and Charitable Aid Department. Sir WILLIAM RUSSELL said the annual report of the Department should have been presented to the House long ago. Mr HALL-JONES said the report had not yet been brought down because he intended to include in it. some indication of the lines on which he proposed to effect improvement in asylum administration. The maximum salary of married atu-iidunt.s should be increased, arid warders should be encouraged to remain in tiie service by giving better hours of labour and separate reside;.cos. As rcgards classification, he was determined to have out of the asylums 374 persons suffering simply from old age and 143 imbeciles and idiots. He was also making provision which would more than obviate overcrowding and give, better futilities for classification, and lie believed a greater percentage of recoveries. ' Mr ELL moved a reduction of the item "Inspector of Lunatic Asylums, £I2OO/' by £3OO.

Mr HALL-JONES sa'id he was endeavouring to make the relatives of a certain class of people now in asylums take a full share of their responsibilities. _ He was also making enquiries for a building iu which the two classes ho had previously na'ntioned could be removed without waiting for a new building. He believed in a series of smeller detached buildings, hi which classification could lie carried out. One portion of the building should be devoted exclusively to the reception of new patients, and there should also bo wards at hospitals to which patients could be sent before being drafted to the various asylums. Toe term '•lunatic asylums would be abolished, and the institution styled "hospitals for mental diseases." Ho intended to try the experiment of women doctors in the female wards of these hospitals, and he would have careful inquiry made into the cause of the increase in lunacv. . , Several members drew attention to the emphatic la'nguage which the Inspector of Asylums had used in connection with the existins' state of things. After two and a half hours' discussion the vote for lunatic asylums passed without alteration, and the House rose at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. THE ESTIMATES. In Committee of Supply on the Lunacy and Charitable Aid Department Estimates, at the vote for the Charitable Department Mr WOOD moved the excision of the item "Inspector of Hospitals and Charitable Institutions (also Lunatic Asylums, £1000), £2000." He did not think the colony could afford to pay such large salaries.

After some discussion the motion was lost, and the vote for the whole Department passed unaltered. The Department of Labour Estimates were next considered. Mr VILE moved a reduction of the first item by £l. He objected to the first clerk and the deputy clerk inspector of this Department being used by the Government for political purposes. Mr SEDDON said Mr Mackay had no strong political bias. Mr R. McKENZIE said the Civil servants should have special representation in Parliament.

Mr Vilo's motion was negatived, and the total vote was agreed Jo unaltered. At the vote for the Mines Department, Mr ALLEN said that a well paid and thoroughly competent Government geologist should be appointed. IL' McGOWAN said the Government was only waiting the passing of a measure to so adjust matters that a thoroughly competent geologist should be appointed, and the divided control of the geological survey removed. Mr T. MACKENZIE moved that the first vote be reduced by £1 as an indication that a report be obtained by the Mines Department on the question of the destruction of valuable agricultural and pastoral lands by mining. 110 pointed out the serious effect of dredging operations on some of the rich land in Otago. The motion was lo3t, and the total vote passed unaltered. The next class was the Department of Agriculture. 'Mr LETHBRIDGE suggested that the Government veterinary surgeons should attend private cases, and charge fees.

It was also urged that veterinary surgeons should be trained hi tlte colony.

Mr HARDING moved that the item "Viticuiiuri.st," £3OO, be reduced by £1 as an indication to the Government that the House does not approve of the establishment of the wine industry in New Zealand. The end of the drink traffic was within measureable distance.

'line motion was rejected. Mr DAVEY moved that the total vote bo reduced by £5, as an indication that the salaries of veterinary surgeons should be increased, that their conditions of service bo improved, their certificates given recognition, and their services made available to the public generally. This was lo,st.

In reference to the item, "Compensation for loss through anthrax, £250," Mr DUNCAN said compensation was paid for cattle destroyed on account of anthrax and low from shutting up paddocks. The work of erecting plant for sterilising imported bones was going on as quickly as possible. Mr MASSEY urged that the fair market value should be paid for animals destroyed under the Stock Act, instead of the value of the animals as diseased, which led to outbreaks of disease being concealed. 'Mr HARDING moved to reduce the item "oempeiisation" by £l, as indication that the beasts shouid be appraised at their fair market value.

Mr SEDDON said that sinoe the passing of the Stock Act the Government had paid £27,526 to owners of diseased cattle destroyed by order of the Inspectors. Mr Harding's motion was lost. Tiie whole vote for the Department of Agriculture passed unaltered. The next class was the Railways Department, which Opposition members objected to entering upon at. that hour. Mr Ell's motion to report progress was under discus.-'ion at 2 a.m., when the telegraph office closed.