PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 86, 8 October 1935, Page 11

PARLIAMENT

TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS

V HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. today.

Mr. W. P. Endean (Government, -oi Fr.raoH) gave notice of his intention ''^' >.o a-ik for leave to introduce the Ratting .Amendment Bill. A VOTING QUEKY. In an urgent question to the Minister of internal Affairs (the Hon. Sir Alexander Young) the Rev. C. Can- (Labour, Timaru) asked whether adequate provision had been made for the enrolments for purposes of the General Election of New Zealand women, married to aliens, and what steps should such women take to secure enrolment. He had been informed that >-;r. some women had been recently rei>n fused enrolment by registrars. -■!"« The Minister said that necessary in"3B' structions had been issued to regisno trars that such women were eligible for y-i- registration on the electoral roll after rl complying with the requirements of 9"? the law. A New Zealand woman who !was:.a British subject prior to marriage with an alien, and who had acquired the nationality of the husband by reason of marriage, may make a declaration that she desired to retain, while in New Zealand, the rights of a British subject. A woman in this category should make application and if, remit the prescribed fee of 5s to the Department of Internal Affairs for the necessary forms and instructions to enable -her to make the declaration. When the declaration had been executed before a Magistrate and duly registered in the Department she was a: qualified to become • registered as an ,; s elector. .-"•'. Mr. J. A. Nash (Government, ' "• Falmerston) asked the Minister of f<r Public Works whether he would state Si', what arrangements were being made , v - in regard to wages paid to unemployed ~„.;." preparing landing grounds and aero- "'' dromes for commercial aviation. Mr. -'>'■'• Nash also asked whether the rates ---.■;■? would be increased. The Minister of Public Works (the ~ . Hon. J. Bitchener) said that the work £.' at Milson aerodrome was being carsi" r jed out on the same lines as all other Sin aerodromes where local registered un- , :rr employed labour was available. The men were paid on the basis of 12s per .day for rationed work. The whole ' ll\' of the wage, payments was provided "■•by the Unemployment Board, and the -" men were not restricted in their earn- ■ •'? ings, as evidenced at one aerodrome ":'| where at the last' pay-out the wages '•-'■■ averaged £3 14s per week for rationed "artime. ~ ... . ~ " "The basic rate on Public Works =.*" generally has just been increased by >- !l- the Government to 12s a day, and no -->'■* further increase is contemplated," w added- the Minister. "It is, however, ws=quite open to' local bodies or other t>i: bodies interested in aerodromes under •'-■ construction to augment the present on rate of wages by way of subsidy. I •pr am advised by the Unemployment ■a?/ Board that the financial' condition of ■Mi; the Unemployment Fund entirely preb'.i. eludes the payment of a wage rate Sf - in excess of 12s per day; but the board is at the moment endeavouring to so i'c arrange its programme of works to s;u convert all aerodrome jobs to at least y> five days per'■week. Where registered y<-;Mocal unemployed labour is not avail•eii able^ the men who are transferred ,3? from other localities are given full*;:>!.time employment based on 12s a day ir>; for married men. and 9s a day for single men." ■"'. ■ • .■ . • (Proceeding.) ■ .