PARLIAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 23 July 1925, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

QUESTION TIME.

SHEARERS’ ACCOMMODATION.. OTHER BILLS. (BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Jury 22. The House of Kepresentatives mot at 2.30 p.m. iUimsters gave the following answers to questions asked during the week:— Xuat regulations;governing -the erection and use of electric lines are now being revised. It is proposed. :to lay dawn instructions therein .to ensure the safety of painters and others working on buildings and to provide for their protection from . contact with service wires.

That the electoral law provides for a prosecution if there is unlawful default . apply for registration. Those who nave so far. not registered may rest assured that if they can give any .reasonable excuse for such failure their application, if in order, will be accepted. That the suggestion that a central jrganisation should be formed for the after care of prisoners has had the department’s attention, but- in view of the fine work carried on by prisoners’ aid societies and the Salvation Army (both subsidised by the Government) and probation officers, it is considered that the existing arrangements should .hot for the present be disturbed. That it is proposed to. Gazette regulations under the provisions. of the Health Act regarding the use oh white lead in paint. That it is not proposed to.prohibit night work in bakeries.

That it is proposed to introduce a Bill taking into account the recommendations of the committee on mental defectives. The permanent heads of the health and mental hospitals’ departments and Sir Donald McGavin, a member of the committee, who are now in England, have been asked to inquire specially into this problem, with a view to ensuring that legislation wilj be in a form likely to prove practically workable and effective.

That the High Commissioner., is in direct touch with M. Spahlinger, * and reports all fresh information received • him in connection, with the Spahlinger treatment. He has, however, been again asked to make am. inquiry and forward information in this connection. “According to tlie last .advice, Spahlinger was not in a. position to give supplies of hi s preparations. • • Mr F. Langstone (Waimarino) moved > the second reading of the Shearers’ Accommodation Amendment Bill, which he explained sought to improve the living conditions of shearers. The Bill provides that dining-rooms where shearers are given their meals shall be ade-.’ quately provided with tables and seating accommodation. Under no circumstances shal] anyone sleep in a diningroom. Proper washing and bathing facilities shal 1 be provided, including an ample supply of hot and .cold-water, including the washhouse 'copper. Under no circumstances shall the hiding pen be less than three hundred yards from the dining and sleeping quarters. Killing pens shall have concrete floors and shall be provided with an adequate water supply and flypreof safes. The Minister for Lands said he did not intend to object to the provisions >f the Bill. If any undesirable conditions existed it was time they were remedied, but if they existed some inspectors must be responsible.' Therefore be felt there were sufficient, powers unIct the present laws to bring about all the improvements asked fork' Mr W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) said that if there, .whs not a very real need for the Bill it would hot be before the House now., c.

The Minister for Lands pointed-out that in many eases accommodation for shearers was only needed for a week or two per year. Most of the large stations, however, had quite as good accommodation as anyone cou 1 d desire in such circumstances. The Bill would have the fullest consideration, from the Agricultural. Committee if it went before them. * l ' ' *

Mr H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labour Party) .said ; the • information viipplied to Labour' members, showed that the improvements asked for in the Bill were needed. There were authentic cases, for instance, of men being required to sleep in dining-rooms. In others men had to sleep in . kitchens, and there were cases, particularly in native districts, where rid ; provision was made for the separation of the’ sexes. - ,

The Bill was' read a second. time on the voices and referred to the Agricultural Committee.

The Hon. Sir M. Pomare moved the second reading of the. Cook Islands Amendment Bill, providing for the transfer of lepers from the Cook ‘group to the leper station in Fiji.. The second reading was carried without- discussion:

In moving the second reading of the Nurses’ and Midwives’ Registration Bill. Sir M. Pomare said it was mostly of a consolidating nature. New provisions were for the setting up 'of a registration board for special facilities being given for training maternity nurses. The Bill was read a second time.

The Massey Burial Ground Bill (constituting Point Halswell a s a burying ■mound for the late Prime Minister), moved by the Hon. J. G. Coates, was read a second time. In supporting the motion, the Leader of the' Opposition U T. M. Wilford) suggested that the opportunity should be taken to make a

in/ning with recording the work of Prime Ministers byrhaving:( their oil naintings hung in the precincts of Parliament. Mr Coates agreed with the suggestion, which he said the Government would be glad to consider fully. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill (Hon. G. J. Anderson) was read a second time pro fprrua. and referred to the Local Bill s Committee. The Weights and Measures Bill (Hon. J. Andersoft) was nut through its final stages, read a third- time and oassed. ...

The second reading of the Local ’ '''dslation Bill "'as agreed to, and the Bill was referred to the Standing Orders Committee. . . .. .. .. „ The House-rose at 12.5 aim. tf11t.2,30 o.m. - - 'I