Points From Parliament

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32010, 10 June 1969, Page 18

Points From Parliament

SHIPPING BILL All passenger vessels working round the coast Of New Zealand should carry lifejackets which could be worn by both adults and children, Mr R. L. Bailey (Lab., Heretaunga) said during the second reading debate of the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill. The bill was introduced last session and has been considered by the Parliamentary Labour and Mining Committee.

If ships did not carry lifejackets designed for use by both adults and children they should at least carry enough children’s lifejackets, said Mr Bailey. It had been proved that adult lifejackets were positively dangerous to children.

The bill amends and repeals miscellaneous sections of the original bill, and Increases the fines for offences in relation to certificates of survey or certification of crews of vessels operating in New Zealand waters. The Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) said a number of Pacific vessels worked with uncertificated crewmen, and there had been loss of ships in New Zealand waters because they were inadequately mannedCLUTHA WATERS Mr J. H. George (Nat., Central Otago) said In Parliament that he intended later in the session to introduce a private member's bill seeking the preservation of the water levels of the Clutha River, Never in his 15 years in Parliament had he found his electorate so upset over an issue as on the Electricity Department's plans to build high-level hydro-electric dams on the river. He hoped another way of

tapping the resources could be found, thus preserving Central Otago’s natural attractions.

STATE AID The Government should increase expenditure on education to allow better educational facilities in both State and private schools, said Mr P. Blanchfleld (Lab., Westland). “I am opposed to State aid for private schools if it means lowering the vote for education. But I am in favour of upping the education vote so that all children, whatever school they attend, receive the best facilities the country can offer.” Mr Blanchfleld said that parents who chose to send their children to private or church schools should be prepared to pay more than other parents did, but it was hypocrisy to say that children attending private schools should be denied full education because of the lack of funds.

SAVINGS DECREASE New Zealanders saved s9om more lost year than in the 1968 financial year, the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) said in Parliament. The deposit balances in New Zealand savings banks rose by this amount in the year ended March 31, 1969, he said in reply to Mr R. M. Barclay (Lab., New Plymouth). Provisional figures for April indicated that the trend was continuing, he said“TOO MUCH VIOLENCE” “There is too much violence in New Zealand at present," the Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) said- “Even very little Is too much, but the Incidence of serious violent crime in New Zealand compares quite favourably with that in other countries.”

Mr Hanan was asked by Mr P. Blanchfleld (Lab., Westland) how much the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board had paid out to victims since the act was passed. Mr Hanan said since January 1,1964, the total paid out was $35,819, with a little less than $12,000 paid out in the last financial year.

LOCAL EQUIPMENT The Post Office was using six times more local manufacture in its telecommunications requirements now than it had 10 years ago, the Postmaster - General (Mr Scott) said in reply to Mr H. V. Donald (Nat., Wairarapa). In 1958 the Post Office had spent slm in New Zealand, compared with s6m in 1968. EMERGENCY LIGHTS The Government is considering the installation of an emergency power source for lighting in Parliament Buildings, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said. It would be a battery-operated source for lighting in the chamber, corridors and stairways. Such a supply would run for several hours and would be more reliable and cheaper than a generator. Mrs E. E. McMillan (Lab., Dunedin North) had asked Mr Holyoake whether the installation of an emergency generator could be considered. Last week the main lights in the chamber failed, and business was conducted in darkness fOr almost an hour. On Tuesday night, during the dinner adjournment, the lights in the buildings failed for about 15 minutes. “BRAIN DRAIN”

If New Zealand was to keep up with the rest of the world it was imperative that a situation should be created where skilled people could remain

here, said Sir Basil Arthur (Lab., Timaru). He was speaking to his motion that “this House deplores the steady and continuous drain of thousands of young and skilled people from New Zealand and calls on the Government to take the necessary action to restore a situation that offers balanced job opportunities and ensures the restoration of faith in our own country.” In the year ended March 31, 30,000 New Zealanders had left the country. More than 800 farmers were included in this number. Sir Basil Arthur said.

Pay rates for technicians and professional workers in New Zealand were “uncomfortably” below those in Australia, said the Minister of Labour (Mr Shand). “We are concerned that so many professional people should be moving away from New Zealand to Australia — but the margins for responsibility here are substantially lower than in Australia,” he said. PATENT MEDICINES

A number of proprietary cough medicines had been withdrawn from the market since the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research had made its report on cough medicines, the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) said. Mr McKay was replying to a question by Mr P. Blanchfleld (Lab., Westland) on the result of the inquiries by the department Into cough medicine contents.

Mr McKay said the results had been published earlier this year. Some brands had been withdrawn, and other manufacturers had agreed to rectify faults jn labelling or composition.