PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 22807, 16 November 1937, Page 14

PARLIAMENT

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS DISCUSSED MR PARRY'S SPORTS BILL [Pee United Press Association,] WELLINGTON, November 15. The House met at 2.30 p.m., when an urgent question was asked the Minister of Industries and Commerce' by Mr Howard on behalf of several Hawke’s Bay members. The question urged that the Minister should make an early pronouncement on the proposed establishment of fertiliser works in Napier. Mr Sullivan, in reply, said the question was not one only for Hawke’s Bay. There were also proposals to establish similar works at Hastings and Whangarei. In fact, the question was one of national Importance. He mentioned that a special committee had investigated the proposals, and he hoped soon to' be able to publish a statement on the whole question. Eight days’ leave of absence was granted Mr Neilson on account of .illness, while seven days were granted Mr Denham, three days to Mr Coulter, and one day to Dr M'Millan on account of urgent public business. MENTAL HOSPITALS. The -House proceeded to discuss a number of departmental reports. Discussing the report of the Director-, General of Mental Hospitals, Mr Kyle drew attention to legal injustices which were sometimes inflicted on patients who were discharged from mental institutions bn probation. He thought the position‘might bo inquired into by the Minister with a view to rectification. Mr Wright supported Mr Kyle’s view that some inquiry should be mad© into the matter. He also referred to the question of the alleged ill-treatment of a patient at a mental institution when a female patient suffered two black eyes, which she stated had been inflicted by a female attendant. The Minister of Health (Mr Fraser): If the hen. member will give me the names and circumstances an inquiry will be made. . . , Mr Wright; - I believe an inquiry has already beon made, and it was stated that the injury had been caused by a fall. Ho added, that he knew statements of this nature by patients should be treated with a good deal of caution. However, h© promised to .give the Minister the names and details of the case he mentioned privately. The report was referred to the Government for consideration, as were several other reports. WELFARE AND RECREATION BILL. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, moving the second reading of the, Physical Welfare and Recreation Bill, referred to the importance of health to the community to-day. He took three diseases and quoted the deaths which occurred from them throughout the Dominion in the last five years; from cancer, 1,472 people died in 1932, and 1,762 in 1936, and the total deaths for five years were 8,513. Maoris’ deaths from the same cases were 35 in 1932, and 45 in 1936, 'a total of 162 in five years. Tuberculosis deaths were: 1932, 615; and 1936, 680; Maoris —1932 291,, and 1936 320. Heart diseases: 1932, 2,935; and 1936, 3,646. Maoris: 1932, 73; and 1936, 103. The total deaths for the last five years from all three causes were 28,885. He thanked sporting organisations, the Press, and departmental officials for the support and assistance they had given in the preparation and support of the Bill, and he contended that one of the best wo could hand down to future generations was a healthy physique. The debate (reported under separate headings) was interrupted by the. adjournment at 10.30, when the House rose. ’