POLITICAL NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 74, 24 September 1927, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES

DAY IN PARLIAMEMT Useful progress in the Honst of Representatives yeßterday oa important items of the Estimates brings that phase of' the wort of the session, appreciably nearer its close. The subject of unemployment was further threshed by members oa the Opposition benches in the course of consideration of the Labour Department estimates, the discussion oh thai class lasting all tho afternoon. Various questions were raised in the evening bearing upon the administratibn of the Health Department, and when the Defence estimates were reached the subject of payment of Territorial* while undergoing camp training was briefly traversed. The only other subject of real interest that was raited was ia connection with the order of reference of the Samoa Commission, while the External Affairs Department estimates; were before the Committee. Other classes of the Estimates that were approved were the Westport Harbour Account, the Mental Hospitals Department, Naval Defence, and Scientific and Industrial Research. Progress was reported at 11.45 p.m., and the House thea rose. , * • ■• ' • B/NT RESTRICTION. The question of the Beat Restriction. Bill, which was defeated by the Legislative Council earlier in the session, was raised in the House yesterday by Mr. R. M'Keen (Wellington South), who asked if the Minister of \Labour proposed to give tenants . rirdteCtibii pending an improvement in the housing situation. The Minister of Labour (the Hon. G. J. /Jtiderson) said that it vu not possible to reintroduce the Bill into the House of BepresentativeiL So far as the Legislative Council was concerned, he understood that the Standing Orders enabled the Bill to be brought np again, but whether that should be done of Sot was a matter for consideration, Jtr. Anderson advised Mi. M'Keen to eon« fer with the Leader of the LegMativ*; Council in the matter. * ' • ; • WEATHER PBEDICTIONS. Brief reference to the Meteorological Office was made in the House of Representatives last evening when the estimates of the Department of Sfiieiitifie and Industrial Besearch Department were under consideration. Replying to a question, the Prim* Minister (the Eight^Hdh. j. G. Coates) said that Dr. Kidson had been appointed to take charge of the office. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. IS. Holland): "What haß happened to Mr. BatesT" Mr. Coates: "He hag retired." Mr. Holland: "On a decent arrangement?" Mr. Coates: "Oh, yes." Dr. Kidion, Baid Mr. Coates, was trained in London, and held high diplomas, being » Doctor of Sciences. He had made A life study of meteorological matters. ' . ■ •• • »' ■ DAY OPT POE KXJESEB. The opinion was expressed by Mr* J. Mason (Napier) in the House of Representatives last night that it was tim« the Health Department insisted upoa •all hospitals granting at least one day, per week off to nurses in their employ. Mr. Mason pointed out that the nurses* work was arduous ,and their duties Constant, and he considered it would be a good thing f> m the economical viewpoint if they had one day off per week. The Minister of Health (the Hon. J. A. Young)'said that the matter was entirely under the control of the hoSDital boards. • * m^vP^'S 61"1 (weUi*gto& South):' "Could the House express an opiaio* npon it!" ; "The House can do what it likes,"! said Mr. Young. Mr. M'Keen: "It may have n. influence on the boards." The Minister did not think it would. • • • •' . THE PLUNXET SOOTBTT. i A tribute to the work being carried out by the Plunket Society was paid by the Minister of Health (the Hon. J. a! Young) in the House of Representative* last night. The society, he gaid,- -#*a a. purely voluntary organisation carried on by a number of hard-w6rking and self-sacrificing women. The Government paid a subsidy of £125 towards the salary of each fully-qualified nurse. The Minister also indicated that an extra grant of £4465 towards the society would' appear in the Supplementary Estimates.