PARLIAMENT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20026, 6 September 1930, Page 15

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ESTIMATES UNDER REVIEW. (ABRIDGED PBE3B ABSOCIATIOH EZPOBT.) WELLINGTON, September 5. The House of Representatives met at 10.30 a.m. Notice was given of intention to introduce the following Bills: Hawke's Bay Rivers Amendment Bill (Mr W. E. Barnard), Motor Cabs Bill (Mr H. G. R. Mason). The House went into Committee of Supply to deal with the Estimates.

Native Department. When a vote of £30,000 for the Native Department was under . consideration members drew attention to the reduction in sums for the destruction of rabbits on native lands and for clearing native lands of noxious weeds. Sir Ap'irana Ngata said the matter of dealing with rabbits was really ope for the Department of Agriculture, and full provision would be made for this - in the Supplementary Estimates. He said the Native Department was experimenting with sodium chlorate and the moth in combating ragwort, and blackberries were being cut down and burned. So far as the vote was concerned he said the previous vote of £SOO had been merely a drop in the ocean and he preferred nothing at all. He believed the best remedy for dealing with noxious weeds was land settlement. With regard to the model Native! village at Whakarcwarewa, he said he* had noticed, as other members had, that tacks, binding wire, and nails had been used in the construction, and he regretted that such incongruities had not been avoided in the original scheme. He thought the pa should be reconstructed, and, in particular, lie hoped to ask the House to pass legislation that would enable something to be done with the entrance to the pa, which at the present time was the most unsightly feature. It was also contemplated that the buildings might be reconstructed on Maori lines. This would cost about £SOOO, and it was proposed to ask the Natives to contribute one-third, the Arawa Trust Board one-third, and the Government to lend the remaining third. Referring to the conditions of Maoris employed by Chinese market gardeners, Sir Apirana Ngata said he did not think it would be possible to legislate against Maori girls mating with Chinese. The Lands Department had in view a scheme which had his approval and which provide for better living conditions generally being provided. It was not proposed to make the conditions restrictive to Chinese. The vote was passed.

Votes Passed. The estimate of £26,900 for the Cook Islands was*-next considered. The Cook Islands vote was passed and the estimates of £14,856 for the Native Trustees' Account, £.103,424 for the Government Insurance Account, and £40,564 for the State Fire Insurance Account, were approved practically without debate. The estimate of £207,874 for the Native Land Settlement Account was passed after a brief discussion on the development of' Native lands. The estimate of £20,245 for the Government Accident Insurance Account was. passed. " Mental Hospitals. i'ho vote of £310,000 for the Mental Hospitals Department was next considered. Mr K. A. Wright (R. } Wellington Suburbs) drew attention to the recent statement by a, member of the House regarding the possibility of sane people being incarcerated in mental institutions when tliey should be discharged. He did not think it likely that such was the case, but he suggested that the; Minister should make a statement with a view to allaying any public anxiety on the subject. Mr W. H. Field (8., Otaki) drew attention, to the fact that farming was already carried out by patients at Porirua. He suggested that in the event of a 1 new institution being provided in the Wellington district, it would be wise to investigate the possibility of extending the farming operations. The Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, replying, said there was not the slightest ground for the concerning the point raised-, by Mr Wright. Before any person, was admitted to a mental hospital there was a thorough examination before two medical men and a Magistrate, in . addition to a subsequent examination by the medical superintendent of the hospital. In .Tegard to . any .cases where there was a possibility. of the necessity, ceasing for a patient to remain, every -opportunity was - given for the fullest enquiry. Mr Fraser said instances had occurred, in spite of the Minister's having stated it was practically imr>ossible, where people had been wrongly committed, to mental hospitals. Two young people had recently , been sent to Porirua. In another instance a woman had been certified as insane, but to the credit of the superintendent he had refused her admission.' There was no doubt that vigilance was needed. Mr H. G. R. Mason (Lab., Auckland Suburbs) said that while every precaution should be taken to ensure that people were not wrongly committed, it was essential if a cure was'to be effected that they should be treated in the early stages of the malady. Replying to a further question from Mr Wright, the Minister said a,regular inspection was • made of" patients. As many as 'five hundred had been placed on probation last year. The vote was passed.

Health Department. Reply- to questions raised when the estimate of £240,000 for. the .Department of Health was under discussion, Mr Stallworthy said it was not 'contemplated tlip.re would be. any reductions m the staffs employed at the .various hospitals and certainly not any reductions "in wages. The slight decreases shown in these votes were only a result of closer budgeting. Haamer Hospital. Beplying to a reference to differential treatment at Hanmer Hospital, Mr Stallworthy said there was no differentiation in medical or nursing attention. Some people were prepared to pay more for, accommodation, and as there was already an annual loss of, £15,000 on this hospital, he had not felt, in view of the financial position, that he would be justified in putting an end to the system.. The only alternative would be to raise the minimum fee, and this was not desirable. The discussion ' was unfinished when the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

legislative council. (PKKM ASSOCIATION THJSMUIf.) WELLINGTON,-September 5. ; The Legislative Council met at 2.30 •p.m'. . The Kirkpatrick. Masonic Institute Empowering BiH, Martertoa Trot^^ftds

Amendment Bill, Dunedin City Corporation Empowering Amendment Bill, Wellington City Exhibition Grounds Amendment Bill, tfnd Invercargill City Fire and Accident Insurance Fund Empowering Bill were read a second time. The City of CJiristchurch Sinking Fund Commissioners Empowering Bill was defeated by 19 votes to 10 on the second reading. The Council adjourned at 3.55 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday.