HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 26, 30 July 1924, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House1 of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m.

Mr. F. N. Bartram (Grey Lynn) gave notice to ask whether the Minister of Railways would extend the area, within which suburban railway concession fares are available.

Mr. H. Atmore (Nelson) announced that he would ask whether, when the Civil Service "cuts" were restored, steps would bo taken to restore the salaries of secondary school teachers?

The Minister of Health (the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare), replying to Mr. P. A. de la Perrelle (Awarua),, stated that in ■■the case of the outbreak of measles on the Athenic the ueual precautions were taken. There was not a serious menace to the public of New Zealand as one would suppose, so long as measles were looked after. 1 properly. .It was not such a serious disease as smallpox, or as the Spanish type of influenza, which we had some time ago. Every precaution was being taken to safeguard the public health.

With regard to school attendance, the Minister of Education (the Hon. C. J. Parr) informed Mr. L. M'llvride (Napier), that there was a misapprehension about school attendances. It was not the case that the Department had issued a regulation requiring children to go to school every afternoon.- The Act of 1877 required a minimum attendance at primary schools daily of two hours in the forenoon and two in the afternoon— that was any time after 12 o'clock. The .Department must see that the Act was observed. The. requirement of the Act was that schools should be open 400 half days m the year. (Left Sitting.)