FATALITIES IN FLATS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29891, 3 August 1962, Page 10

FATALITIES IN FLATS

Question Asked In House (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 2. A former Minister , of works. Mr H. R. i Watt (Opposition, Onehunga). said today he believed there was some uncertainty about who was responsible for the Freeman's Bay, Auckland Pensioner Flats, in which three fatal gas accidents have occured since 1955. He asked the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) to have the Gas Council report on where responsibility lay Mr Holyoake said he would make inquiries He had earlier told Mr N V Douglas (Opposition Auckland Central) during question time in the House of Representatives that the Auckland City Council had sole responsibility for the flats. Newspaper reports had stated that the council had instructed the director of works to seek safety measures in conju-’ction with the Auckland Gas Company. Sworn In The new Labour member for Tiinaru, Sir Basil Arthur, took the oath of allegiance today. He was sponsored by the two Opposition whips, Mr H. L. J. May and Mr R. Macdonald. The Speaker (Mr Algie) shook hands and said “Welcome, Sir Basil.” after the short swearing-in. Destitute Persons A Destitute Persons Amendment Bill, a technical measure which consolidates and amends the Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act. 1921, was introduced. It seeks to remedy defects and anomalies in the earlier legislation in the registration and enforcement in New Zealand of maintenance orders made in other Commonwealth countries and vice versa. Pharmacy Board The representation on the Pharmacy Board of persons employed in pharmacies is varied by a Pharmacy Amendment Bill introduced today The representatives will be chemists, not being proprietors or managers of pharmacies, elected by members of the Pharmaceutical Society who themselves are neither proprietors nor managers. Housing Tenders The Minister of Housing (Mr Rae) said that unsuccessful tenderers for State housing contracts were advised that their tenders were declined immediately the Ministry of Works Tender Board's recommendations became known—without waiting for formal approval to be given to the successful tender. Mr A. J. Faulkner (Opposition —Roskill) had asked whether unsuccessful tenderers. when advised, could be told the price of the successful tender. The Master Builders’ Federation had accepted the present system, Mr Rae said. If they would prefer the alteri native —waiting until the price could be given—he would concur.