PARLIAMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 18 November 1927, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

GOAL MINES AMENDMENT BILL

(.BY Tl/LDQUAPH jPItESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 17.7

In the House of Representatives, in moving the committal of tlie Goal Manes Amendment Bill, the Minister said it ■provided, inter alia, for the protection of miners’ wages, which would be made the first charge on plant, etc. This was the result of a promise made to the Kaitangata miners, who recently found themselves in a bad position. Another provision was for the proper distribution of air throughout mine workings. ■ Mr H. E. Holland, in commenting upon the Bill, expressed surprise that tlie Dobson Company was not prosecuted, a 3 reports showed it had not complied with the regulations regarding coal dust. That, however, was a past matter, and he hoped in future no company would be exempt from prosecution if there ‘should unfortunately arise similar conditions at another mine. CHILD WELFARE. In moving the committal of the Child Welfare Amendment Bill, the Minister said various amendments had been ■made to meet objections raised in different centres. He thought tlie measure, which provided for additional supervision and inspection, was now free of anything of a contentious nature. Tlie Minister said good work was being done by the Child Welfare Department, the development of which must in later years prove of great value to the country by reducing the proportion of pauperism and wrong-doing. He commended the work being done by the Y.M.C.A. and Big Brother movements in directing youth into honourable careers.

Mr W. J. Jordan considered that wel■faio work had grown to such ail extent as to warrant its being administered by a separate department instead of being included in the Education Department’s activities.

When the. House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr. W. J. Jordan contended that while it was all very well to encourage brilliant scholars at technical and other schools, a special effort should be made to encourage those who were less fortunately endowed and had less fortunate upbringings. Mr T. W. Rhodes agreed that the time had come when the scope of the Child Welfare braneh should be extended, but he did not agree it should be separated from the Education Department. Not one but several homes should be established in the North Island.

Mr 11. G. R. Mason thought it would be an economy to have tlie branch set up as a separate department. It would then attract more attention and excite greater patriotism. It was one of the greatest aids to nation building and was worthy of a greater effort than was the preparing for war.

Sir John Luke advocated the association of the branch with the Health ■Department and that there should be a', extravagance on palatial homes but that every home should have the comforts necessary to health.

The. 'Minister, in reply, deprecated Hi:' idea, of setting up a separate department. To do so would be neither more economical nor efficient as tlie same officers would be required. The Education Department was the 'natural body to look after such children, whose education had to be supervised. |flo admitted that many of the wayward children were the product of indifferent paternal training, and he thought it would not be a bad idea to have a home where some of the parents could be trained. He favoured putting the children in private homes where there was a mother but not too large a family, and thought that policy was better than establishing institutions in the North Island.

The Bill was read a second time, and the House went into committee on the Coal Mines Amendment Bill. Both Bills were reported without amendment, read a third time and passed. By Governor-General’s message the Public Service Amendment Bill and the Railway Amendment Bill were introduced and read a first time. In connection with the former Bill the Prime Minister said lie w'ould not press the committee stage until the Public Service Association had had an opportunitv of considering the clauses of the Bill.

The Prime Minister also stated that the Railway Bill was similar to the Post and Telegraph Bill and was an endeavour to bring all the branches of the Public Service into line, which would be a very good thing. The Railways Bill was then read a second time pro forma and referred to the Railway Committee. The House rose at midnight until 2.30 p.m.