POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 18717, 20 August 1924, Page 2

POLITICAL POINTS

[From Ouu Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 19. P.cplying to Mr Savage in the House today, Mr Massey said the Public Accounts Committee would have to decide the question of the evidence to lie taken regarding (ho Moratorium Final .Extension Bill. IfYll and sundry were allowed to come forward, the committee might not get through the work in time, and the moratorium might end without any amendment. He would bring the matter before the committee, but ho thought it- should only take evidence from representative men. » * ■* * IMPROVING TOURIST RESORTS. Plans have been prepared for large extensions to the present building at. Waitomo, and these should, if the necessary funds arc provided, meet requirements there for many years. The provision of tennis courts, bowling greens,, and possibly golf links at Waitomo is also being considered by the Tourist Department. Arrangements have been made with the Public Works Department for lighting of the hostel and caves by electric power. Provision is being made that stalactite and other formations in the caves arc protected from injury by the wiring. Plans have also been prepared for extensive alterations and additions to Waikannnonna Accommodation-house and To Anau Hotel, and provision has been made for improvements to the tracks and huts in the Fran/. Josef find Fox Glacier districts. *' * * ANGLERS’ CLUBS. In consequence of improvement in the game and fishing obtainable in the district, the practice has grown up among the land owners, mostly Natives, in the Taupe and Tokaanu localities of charging anglers a fee for the right to go on their property to fish. 'At Ruatoki, in the Urewora Country, the Natives have formed an anglers’ dub of their own, and any outsider wishing to fish in this locality'is compelled to join tlio club and pay a 5s membership fee before ho is allowed to fish. These practices are a source of great annoyance and irritation to anglers, especially those from overseas, who complain very strongly of the imposition. In consequence _of receiving numerous complaints, a conference will be held between the Nati_ves_ and the departments interested, and it is hoped that some settlement- of this very irritating question will be arrived at before next fishing season. ♦ 'A' * * A DEMOCRATIC MINISTER-. While respect to Parliament is being enforced by orders to remove one’s hat. on entering ita draughty corridors, Sir Maui Pornare showed an amused House to-day that ho does not insist on his full dignities when associating with fellow members. He was complaining of those who make public statements about his departments instead of the more amenable person who approaches him privately on these lines: ‘‘Look here, ‘Pom,’ So-and-so is wrong; will you look into it?” and replies “Right 01” (Loud laughter.) * * # DESTRUCTION OF THE EEA. During the past year th-o subsidy of 5» per beak was continued for the destruction of keas, and 4,023 beaks were paid for. Since the subsidy was raised to os in October, 1920, 16.641 keas have been paid for (states the Minister of Agriculture). * * » SUPPORTED A HALFWAY HOUSE. During the discussion on mental hospitals in the House, various references were made to delusions. Mr Holland remarked that many insane people had delusions about a single subject or a single word. The same applied to sane people, however, for he observed that one member always endeavored to drag in the word “extreme” whenever he spoke. (Laughter.) However, Mr Holland did not think anybody would wish that member committed to a mental hospital because of that delusion; much better to put him in a halfway house. (Laughter.) GIRLS AND COOKING. There is no chef at Seacliff Mental Hospital, and, according to Mr Mnnro, all the cooking is done by the girl probationers, assisted by some of the patients. Whether the effect of the fond is good or bad on the patients he did not know, but the attendants were certainly complaining of the bad conking; and it was difficult to retain members on the staff. Indeed, bad it not been for the large string of immigrant women who had come to New Zealand, and who had been compelled to take positions in mental institutions, there would not have been enough probationer nurses for any of the institutions. He urged the Minister to got a chef for Seacliff, in order to improve matters there. * * * STATE INSURANCE RESULTS. Tho Government accident insurance branch last year obtained a gross premium income of £55,560. Claims were £22,402, an increase of £2,072 ns compared with the previous year. Owing largely to the increase effected bv recentlegislation in bAudits under the Workers’ Compensation Act, for which no increase has been made in premiums, the ratio of claims to premiums is higher than usual—--65.5 per cent. In etlect (his gratuitous increase of benefits is equivalent to a substantial rebate of premiums. The net premium income of the State Eire Office was £154,164. Losses, £46,1 18, were practically the same as for 1922. It, is perhaps "not generally recognised (states the report) that- New Zealand lias an exceptionally high lire loss ratio among civilised countries, and that if any substantial reduction in fire waste could be brought about the saving would be of national economic importance. A largo number of fires arise from causes which it should ho possible to eliminate by education. There is a wide field in New Zealand for work along the lines successfully adopted by tho lire prevention societies in Great Britain and America. It is suggested that the payment of unwarranted commissions and allowances is a marked ovil in (ho insurance business, and this evil can only bo effectively controlled by legislation.