HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1928, Page 11

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The . House, of Representatives met at 2.30. p.m. • '■" ''- ;;/ Mr. H. Holland (Christehurch North] gave notice to. ask the Minister of Lab-, our if,±e will introduce legislation/this session exempting employers from paying full,.wages to employees while they are absent from work undergoing militoy.'training. ■.. :.. .•:,:■■■..■-■.;.■■■■ ; /.-Mw :J.-. ; a. Lee (Auckland., East) gayo. notice to ask the Minister.,of' Health. }vjiat .influence has caused Trim'to, "perv ,;init .bacon^curers to use boracieV.acid.', for, a ■ further -.term,. as .'a .preservative when fmany curers prefer an, article. free from preservatives. ' .',-■,-'--■'" -: '■*>•" ' • '-'■■■ . Mr, ■J. B. Hamilton (Awariia) gave notice to ask the Minister of Lands if ■ jt;-was- his intention to. give further consideration to the holders of education endowment leases, either by giving them the right to freehold, or by affording them further protection. :.'.'..', '■ ;Mr. H. G.E. Mason/(Eden) is 'to ask the Minister of Justice if he /vrould give consideration to the, question of providing further accommodation at the .various Borstal institutions. .■' ' ' ■'. . Mr. W- L. Martin (Raglan) asked the. Prime Minister whether he considered^ in.:. Tf-iew •of the prevailing unemployment, the Highway Board should have unexpended surpluses of £922,000. : My. Coates said that assuming the statement was correct, the surpluses this year would be absorbed by' the ,work: the; board had in hand. .'■' The Department had co'-opeYated^with' the Highways Board in the endeavour to, employ as many men as possible.'Much of the board's work was not so much, construction as surfacing, and the board did co-operate with other Departments in endeavouring to relieve unemployment. J,. ... ■• ■ . ■ ■ . Mr. J. A. Lee is asking for a return showing the income and expenditure, in connection with the TeWera estate and the amount of \ land tax that would have ■ accrued from the property if it had been, in private hands. "Mr. H. M.yCampbeil (Hawkes Bay) asked-the Minister of Agrictulture whether- ho would take steps to see that bulbs and plants from Holland would.be carefully examined for.signs of foot and mouth disease. The Hon. 0. J.Hawkeu replied that ho was instructed that there was no risk of. the disease being imported into this country .from-Holland. ;. : . ..;-,-. •- In reply to , Mr. H. T. : Armstrong (Christchurch East), the Minister' 'in ; Charge of the ■ Electoral Department (the, Hon. A. D.M'Leod) said that the electoral rolls would be prepared, and supplied to interested parties :.with as little 'delay: as: possibly. '/:■' '. ]..:'. ■ ," , Sir Maui ; Pomare replie^.: "In reply to the "Honourable member I have ito say' that, the Government has', definitely • decided, to;,give':.every opportunity ;to Island.seaman: to, man-^he Maui.Poinare '4-: chiefly forTtho're'asbn that the v.essel hasjbeexi •provided mainly in the 'iiiter.e.sfs.of the Island:territories. :lt .13 proposed,to ,place ithe crew .oil a footing asjiearly as,' possible on a' level with that ..now. obtaining in New Zealand, "and, as they become fully; qualified,; to pay'them wages on a scale whifch, to-' gother with, the' advantages to/be oV tamed as.members of tho New Zealand •Public, Service, will- mean thatV their conditions, taken, as; a*whole, will com-. pare favourably: with those.under which men employed, under the various imari.tipie. agreements are now working. The plans .for the .living and slefeping quarters.on the vessel.were.approved by thd Nmv Zealand. Marino; Department and arq 'in .'accordance." with the regiila- • tioris"."" ..'-.' ;'..■;.:■■■':'■■■ •'■•• , ■■-■... .-:;••-' :• CONDITIONS ON ISLAND STEAMEE. ; ' Mr. Pi Praser (Wellingtou ■ Central) asked'the Minister in Charge: of CooTc Islands': (1) ■Whether, ho is prepared to reconsider his decision to employ only, native-subjects from the Cook Islands, who not usually follow seafaring occupations for their livelihood, as -dock hands, greasers, and members of the crew generally apart from officers arid on the Maui Pomare, rather than; New Zealand seamen, many of whom are unemployed at the present time? (2) Whether ho will state how tho wages, hours, and conditions for seamen On th© Maui Pomare compare with tho wages, hours, and conditions specified in the awards in operation on New Zealand ships? (3) Whether the j living and- sleeping conditions on the Maui Pomaro are up to the standard of those on New Zealand ships; and whether they satisfy the requirements of the Marine Department and the Health authorities in regard to air space and hygiene. (4) Whether the Minister. will agree to establish as a minimum at least the same award wages and hours on tho Maui Pomaro as aro in operation on New Zealand ships, and also bring the sleeping and living accommodation up to tho New Zealand standard? ADDEESS-IN-EEPLY DEBATE. Eesuming Address-in-Reply Debate, the Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) referred with pleasure to the interest which His Excellency tho GovernorGeneral had sh*own in all parts of New Zealand. Dealing with Peace Treaties which had been signed in recent years, lie. said it was pleasing to know that efforts were being made lo renounce war and to settle international disputes in a peaceful-manner. New Zealand was ; still, feeling the effects of the war in niore directions than one,' and it was essential that tho Dominion, should as-, soeiate- itself. with tho efforts, 'which; were, being macie by tho countries of

the world. It was the duty of tho Government to do its very best to effect a "settlement of the troublo iv Samoa and to follow in the footsteps of Great Britain so far. as. the treatment of native races was concerned. Tho unrest in Samoa had probably been brought about by. the change which had taken place in the Government of the island. Ho desired to uttor a word of warning to those who talked so much about .agricultural education. They must recognise that practice and theory should bo carried out simultaneously. Theory, without the practice, would bo of little valuo. He thought that much of tho purely scientific theories should bo taken witli a pinch of salt, as it was tho practical knowledgo that counted. He felt that our credit in London would remain as good as ever it was, but the development of this country had been tremendously expensive. They could not do much without that expenditure; therefore they should not cavil at the cost of public works. There was need for an adequate sinking fund to meet the cost of our indebtedness. (Proceeding.)