THE ESTIMATES.

Evening Star, Issue 14688, 4 October 1911, Page 7

THE ESTIMATES.

SLOW PROGRESS. THE PRELIMINARIES. [Fbom Ora Piuvu.uiKJtTAiiT Ecroanni.] WELLINGTON, Ockiber 4. Air Reed’s amendment proposing submarina signals being installed on the coast of the Dominion was soon disposed ot yesterday afternoon. Besides the mover no ©no spoke on it, and it was ‘ anted pn the voices. It had served its l-nrpwo »» having kept out the amendm-m with whi-h VTr Feidman had prepared lumsell. and which the Opposition mighty have been ready to debate until further oiders. However? the Opposition kept np the obstruotion by speaking t.> the motion to go into SE Mr ly Atlexi led off. bis subject being tee failure' of the Government to supply returns ordered by the House.--Mr Wright followed, but there watt »udi a chatter in the Chamber that his subject remains an unknown quantity.—Minister. I Hons. Millar and R. ARKcrutie) rose- v- .a ivunte of order, but without success—Mr Lang made a thud Opposition me.mbw. and his opening made it apparent that he was following op something Air Vt right bad *aid about telephones. 'Their r.poecncn were mercifully short, and the Ilwc wont into committee on tho Estimates at about 3.30 p.m.

MENTAL HOSPITAL ATTENDANTS. Mental hospitals, in tho Department of Internal Affairs, was tho subject first discussed.

Air Field, in whose electorate Porirna. is situated, declared that the Dominion was mo,: fortunate in the class of people secure. 1 to look after tho mental Iy-afflicted. Ho advocated establishing a board cf appeal for the warders. Mr Witty, similarly circumstanced in respect of Snnnysidc. made similar suggestions.

?.Ir Field required a second speech to exhaust his subject. Mr Clark urged an increase of salaries to attendants, and a number of otaer members did likewise.

The Hon. D. Buddo, in reply, saw! the classification scheme would contain a scale which would meet the circumstances. Tt was now under consideration. Meanlime the Supplementary H.-timate' would provide enough for increases thu* year. The proposal to establish a large endr.-d asylum in. the North Island would not mean that the whole of the patients from other nif-ni.il hospitals would be dratted there. The new institution would bo additional to the existing one;;. He mentioned also Tin* plans and Rperirtewtioiiis had be« n approved for the mental hoepit.d at Avond.iir. and were well under w ay tor i he Tokonni Inetitntion. It was hoped so m to hove enough tin -uirmndation for roan time to rraru-. .-Vs to iicli lava it was OC*-. •! >■; allow attendants on,' dnv oaf in five. , well . 2'- dues' 'lop,lavs i". ' a. ’.'far. Ibis, he '■yplai'u’i', w;;.- so fa; inor ly " f.'-b'■math’." AT A . ' ‘ l;. ■ ; I T1 ■r t ha nos i‘i ail ' n r-.-nr:’ '. ■> I.v. V.o-v " vf" 1 ’ T r ‘- lo’ew • lilt iiwi vinos inn.sl I" 1 on :■ a.e er.'a 1 hn : ■!;■! ;h' iivoieiooi ■:n>. » ;. •>> . sd so 't’u>p!ep)et!terv K»! : 'ioi'i.- ■’: t ;■> s::"p y a bir 'pr la navi .he o-w:-;r - •' .-rod;;- ; •), ai-■'r-’a-’.-l -S;;P . . ! ‘ 1 rial a n‘ a, . r -dal ; 1 mean leryir film > ■■ at lend;::;’,.v m ■ [nation. ; !’"P r.’e recur o; -; - - : i a;.. ct v; ., a : o T;o"'. .-ed en'.o'ie ’.i rrn ’ nn-iniirrs of Pa ’ id, O’(’;i,. ih-;-r jmi dn.-f a v-Cn on Heath r :io:o f.,of k-i v tod a ro-io-.- ; : rd earloi-ed th.h-e H'”i ! -- n i's,’r lipnenr’lt of ve,-;on:itooii. ::” l he ; n::i 1 ’. ; ;• law- v.-iiTh i'-,i -or ■■■■. ’ ll - >-i.f .hoard 1 1* 1 tepeaied. .Pay ~ o-a. < ; A,;.':; 1 " . • mi irrn lioia in New ai-.r i I--- y. a vr 'v via oi aile i. ()’•- of the a rojv.v.- .’ upholders o* Hr •T'-i-.p.. r 1 M* d : se.v-’v wtj.v Hr T. I’.arrf iu. .vha ..-ai : in; vt '•ri’’ri! i-.r: -vir bis,a! oil r. .--and ; 1 1 1;t■ ■ prin. ipjr> ai d a- m •d :aa.t V y.o’s ia ton--.' ’riiii t i: not. and th.-v would ff’ wnu: iri'.a-e’rs smallpox marie in •or:i----11 !tV’...-!T V ..." M.l* son v. lia._ ',-£ d . AS'.: in N.>•.’• Zir.l.rad were becoming i.i;.;J>-«- !i-aa' , '..-.o there had been no .smallpox outbreak hero for tome time. He iemiivle.i members of what happened at l)u;i‘ I in when the ilra.chn< arrived with Muallpav hi beard. The Public Health Other in I'medm was b r, si. cod hv people anxiously seeking the proiec.iioa of vaccina i ion. .Messrs Isitt and Jenr.;ir_v disclosed themselves anti-vaccination. The former advised that we should wait until smallpox broke out among us. and then try the efficiency of vaccination. The Minister said there was no great, danger of smallpox breaking out among ns. as the Health authorities were ,-o careful, hut there was a danger of our people getting nut of touch with vaccination. Mr Witty informed the House that five of his children were vaccina fed and five were not, and he would not allow the other five to he vaccinated if he could help it. [This suggests at once a .Scripture parable and a. secular saying about law-makers and law-breakers.] Mr Laurenson declared that the law was a fiend letter, and that none of the last, four of his children had been vaccinated, uor were to he. U-a'KRS AND LIVK STOCK. Stock imported into North Canterbury has to undergo quarantine at Quail Island", in Lyttelton Harbor. This island is, however, a leper station also. Mr Forbes made a protest against the risk which importers had to run who wished to see how their stock was getting on in quarantine. He suggested that, the lepers could be shifted to some island in the Hauraki CiuJf. This brought up Mr I’oolo with a protest and a suggestion that, pome ipoiatctl spot on the mainland could be used a.' a leper station. There was no need to select an island, hut if an island were ntve.?«sary, whv not Kapil i Island, which was declared a sanctuary for birds. Its tion by a few lepers would ensure its remain log fairly secluded. The Minister admitted that, lie was not too firnnored of Quail Island, but he did not want the leper station to he too remote from medical attention. He saw no reason why it should not be on the mainland, provided a suitable and isolated jlace were found, THH PKIVATK HOSPITAL ORAZK. Jir .Stallworthy asked whether our public hospitals existed for the, benefit of the community at large, or were they becoming pauper institutions, where only those who could not afford to pay for treatment would be admitted. He said that them was a growing tendency among doctors to get their patients into their own private hospitals, instead of sending them to one of the public institutions. He himself considered that our hospitals had been established and wore maintained for the public, whether rich or poor, and the Minister eaicl he would be sorry to put anything as the way of local control. Ib was a ruugi,ter of discrimination as to who should pav for treatment and who should be admitted free. At present the hospital boards raised no bar to admission, but exercised the right of asking payment in cas’? wheto they thought it proper. The boards were in a much better position than the Health Department to exercise thus power. If free treatment were insisted on in all cases the rates would have to be raised. OBSTINACY ON BOTH SIDES. The cost of entertaining visitors to the Dominion and of official functions last rear was £213. For the current year a sum of £250 was asked. Before voting it several members asked for details. The Minister pooh-poohed this as paltry, which at once mad© the Opposition keener on the scent. Messrs Massey. Allen, Berries, and Malcolm represented between them that the Minister had given individual items host vear, and that Parliament had a light to know how the money voted was expended. ” How were they to know," asked Mr Berries, “ whether there had been any

visitors, and whether all the £213 bail not gone to official banquets, etc. V’ Mr Buddo remained obdurate. Mr A 1 Jon then moved to reduce the item by £5. The voting was oven—2B all—but Mr Colvin, of conn*?, gave his casting vote against reduction. Air Fisher then, resumed the pressure on Mr Buddo to give the information, but without success.

Mr Massey added his emphatic protest against the Minister's attitude. Ho could not understand how on earth any rnemix'r could vote against infiirmatton hoing given about expenditure when there was mystery. It bred suspicion. Mr lluddo knew that he was perfectly wrong, and that the Opposition were perfectly light. The coiuilry looked to Parliament to watch over tiw expenditure of the money. Mr Hardy then rose, and adopted the method of quoting specific instances for Mr Buddo to deny. Was any of tho money spent on tec Church mifrionors who recently passed through New Zealand ? Dining Mr Hardy’s y.peecb Air Buddo consulted eamertiy with Sr Janies Carroll and t!w party Whip, Air Ell. ’1 hen Air Buddo protested that tho debate was entirely irregular, a.s the. vote had been taken. This objection was at once overrules]. Ho then explained that he had not the details with him. Lost year they happened to bo on the list, but it was net so tills roar. “What class of entortaiamPTit was ii on?” asked Mr Fisher. Mr Buddo- said ho did not know. ” Then,” persisted Air Fisher. " would tho -Minister kindly rectify his ignonuuto of his own Estimates, and get -the information for the II onset” Mr Buddo indicated that he might. “When?” asked Air Fisher, with disconcerting bluntncus. At this stage Sir James Cavroß Intervened, and promised that the information would be tabled in .Parliament if not supplied on tho Estimates. DEER CULLING. " Grant for management of rod dorr in deer forests. £150.” was one of the. miscellaneous T-ms ~t tftio Department of Internal AP i : ■. Air Bvido. when asked what it meant, said that, £IOO of this was intended fer the Outgo Acclimatisation Society, who had proved equal to providing the best , or as good as the liest, sport in New Zealand, but who were finding the extent of their forests to lie getting beyond their control. For that reason it was thought advisable to cull the herds, and this grant was to assist the society in doing it. OTAGO HARBOR BOARD S NEW TUG. At midnight the Estimates of tho Internal Atfairs Department were passed after dis.- ussion covering many hours on Friday and yesterday. The next class (Defencej was not taken in the absence nf dir Joseph Ward, and a start was made on Customs, Marine, etc. Air Clark promptly revived the question of a rebate of duty on machinery parts and material for the tug for which the Otago Harbor Board had accepted a tender Tho Hon, 1!. ALKcnzic said that some of the patent pumps, etc., could not be made in New Zealand. The Government were anxious to encourage local industry, and v. would probably be done was that most of the imported machinery would be put on board the lug from the ship which brought it out. in which case it would pay no doty at all. Air Clark thanked the Minister, and P ante! out that the rebate would not L n.o;r the shipbuilder, but the Otago Har- '■ [teard. who. taking a broad view of •.I: • matter, had offered to pay the cr.ntraeabout £4.000 extra if the work were dm. locally. THE KODAK PROSECUTION.'!. Mr Denies asked for further particulars Mima the rcc.-ut prosecution of the Kodak C.ai-nanv in Wellington for Customs eva-,-e in The newspapers had stated that ei.m aliv there were two counts, involving £’■; :r;o each, vet the dennrtrnent compromise ! ter £6.000. To .Minister said the writs were issued for mounts totalling £20,045. Tho am. mm of duty evaded was less ithe ami was inaudihlei. Tins was an Australian company, and the Government, v inld not cufiirco judgment in Australia. !iv i .many might have disposed of their NV.v 7. -and stock, and under the circum--uiu. ■- o, was *thonght better to compromise f ■ I'd.COO. as recommended by the I’ORTiii- yi.i.o MARINE. HATCHERY. "Tie Miiv-t.r is very sympathetic, but is inclined f. think ivp are rather too scientific d - u there.” said Mr G. M. Thomson in regard to the I’ortobelio fish hatchery. Mr Thomson contended that in the long run this scientific work would prove extremely valuable, especially what was lining learnt about our native, fish. They now" knew the life history of nnr fiat fish. thanks to the research of the curator, an extraordiuvrilv able, naturalist ; also

they had found nut all about the blue end and the gurney That ranch-maligned fish the red rod was only an immature young Hsb. as specimens oft long taken off Blueskin Hay showed, for even these had probably not reached the spawning stage. Xotiiing had been found of the spawning of the groper, winch ceased in hire just- before spawning, and thus the mature fish were not taken on the line. They were evidently too swift. to be taken by (he trawl, for they were never netted. Mr Thomson went nn to deal with th" liberation of salmon fry and young lobsters from thee, hatchery, and &that probably the latter would not be span again for a couple oi years. He also reasons for the hopes entertained of bringing hr-iT-ng ova out from Hritain. not frozen, hut enclosed in ice. fie iiinted at the desirability of enabling the curator to take a trip Ffome. Tlie flon. .Mr Millar in reply, said he fully recognised the value of the .Fisheries Hoard. ! I” Dunlop advised from Britain that trial .shipments of herring ova. might now lie undertaken with reasonable hope <.f success. M ARIX V. SUPER!XTEXDKNTS. Mr Fis'r-r tv.kr-d whether it was correct Uiaf tho last two marine superintendent--had been appointed practically by th ■ I’nion (V/rnp.'uiv from thrir oxv n SfTviut' owing to their inability to pass the rum • panrs eve-dja. test.—Mr Millar replied that id! such .appointments were advertised. The lard two appointments had been from the Union Company's ranks, he; the company now imposed eyesight tee; a on men of 50 veins which men of 2o years would do well to pass. Those men's eyesightwas quite enough t.r, pass tho Hoard of Trade test. Furthermore, the duties of marine superintendent did not require opeeja! eyesight test. i.ABOR On the Labor Estimates, Mr Davey pleaded for more equity ;vnd less law in th--Arbitration Court, whom proceedings were often decided by technical and legal quibble?. Tic suggested that a strong common sense man would be more successful ;iv president than a Judge of tho Supremo Court. Mr Millar said that unless an alteration were made in the enrotitution of the Court we might have- to wipe out the Arbitration Court altogether bMo’-o long. As matters wen* now going, "there would soon he no work for it, 'because there would be onlv a few registered unions left, judging by tho rate or cancellation hiring resorted to by the union? recently. He had notification of another of the biggest unions seeking cancellation. Speaking _of Conciliation Councils, he said he wished to keep them distinct from the Arbitration Court. During the two years since their establishment, cult of 189 caß.ris .152 had been settled outright by conciliation, and onlv 20 cases had been, taken to arbitration. Mr MT-aren objected to men being taken from tho bench or the harrow to the_ court to be snubbed by the Judge on a point of law. He had fought against cancellation in several unions, but r. continuation of present conditions meant that- nothing would stem that movement. AH Fisher argued for wages hoards. Mr Millar said ihat there was not enough time to legislate this session on the alteration of the constitution of the Court. The Labor Depart mom's Estimates were passed at 2-50 a.m.. and the House rose. JOTTINGS. Mr Alien asked about the scheme of the District Health Officer at Dunedin for the local preparation of vaccine lymph, and inauired tie department’s intentions.—The

Minister said that the department manufactured the lymph in Wellington, it being more convenient to have the appliances there. When the extension scheme in regard to mental hospitals was being discussed Mr Isitt warned members that, as Prohibition would before long be in operation in New Zealand, half the accommodation of our asylums would not bo needed. The Hon. Mr Buddo informed Mr G. M. Thomson that the question of making a grant for the Kariiane Home was under consideration. He was asking the Government to put a grant for tire Plunket nurses on the Supplementary Estimates, the sum recommended being the same as last rear’s grant. " lire cost of each baby bom in St. Helens rautemitv hospitals is £l. ’ So states the lion. Mr lluddo.

“ The greatest cause of all is the cause of the working man who is trying to rear a family.” declared Air Poland. The Hon. Air Millar informed the House that a Rill is to be introduced to enable Can tain Attwood to have a fresh inquiry, it being discovered, that the Throe Kings, on which the Elingaraito struck, was wrongly charted.