PARLIAMENT AT WORK

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 September 1930, Page 5

PARLIAMENT AT WORK

PUBLIC WORKS DISMISSALS

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

HOSPITAL JTRAILVINO SCHOOLS.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 9

The examiners on the petitions lor private Bills reported in the House of Representatives to-day that m their opinion the London and New Zealand Bank Amendment Bill should not be allowed to proceed on account, of informalities, notably the inadequate time of notification in the “Gazette. ’ The Bill was referred to the committee on standing orders on private Bills.

The acting-Prime Minister (Hon. E. A. Ransom) gave notice of his inten-J tion to introduce the Incorporated So-,, cieties Amendment Bill. : Mr. \V. E. Barnard asked the Minister of Public Works whether he was aware that, contrary to a statement ot the acting-Prime Minister, men were bein/gr discharged from standard Public Works jobs, and whether lie would put a stop to these dismissals and-reinstate any men who had received notices of discharge since August 29, when the statement referred to was made. . Hon. W. B. Taverner replied that a few men were discharged on August 29. but instructions had been given for their re-engagement on other available work in the same district. The leader of the Opposition asked the Minister of Railways if it was a fact that a large number of girls employed in the Railway Department were being discharged. Hon. W. A. Veitch replied that he would like to know where it was alleged they were being discharged. The general manager of railways had informed him that there was no • inten- [ tion of dispensing with the services of any number of girls.

RECOGNITION OF BRAVERY

The leader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland) asked the actingPrime Minister whether the Government would suitably recognise the action of It. Taylor, the sole survivor of the recent blasting accident on the West Coast, in. going to the assistance of liis comrades in spite of his injuries. Mr. Ransom replied that when the reports came to hand 'lie would be glad to take, the matter into serious consideration,

Mr. Holland asked the Minister of Internal Affairs whether he would recommend to the Royal Humane Society that Taylor’s action receive suitable recognition. Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle said it would give him great pleasure to communicate with the Royal Humane (Society, and lie was sure the society would favourably consider the request. The Minister of Railways said there seemed to be an impression abroad that the Railway Department had purchased between 40,000 and 50,000 tons of coal, and that the department was importing large quantities of coal. This was not so. The last consignment of Australian coal arrived on July 17, and there were no outstanding orders. Mr. E. J. Howard: Has the department bought any imported coal in New Zealand ?

Mr. Veitch said the department had bought only a small quantity to oblige a gas company which desired to obtain imported coal, but could not use the whole shipment. TRAINING OF NURSES.

The Nux-ses and Midwives Registration Amendment Bill was reported from the Health Committee with amendments. Mr. C. H. Clinkard said the committee liad amended the Bill to provide that a public hospital might be approved as a limited training school, but that no private hospital should be so approved. A private hospital might be approved only as a complete training school for nurses. In addition, no private hospital .should be so approved unless provision was made in it for not fewer than 40 beds to be available at all times for patients receiving nursing and hospital service without charge, or for an inadequate charge. Further alterations were that the Nurses and Mid wives Registration Board should not approve of any private hospital as a training school until it was satisfied that the standard or training and instruction in theoretical and practical nursing to be given would not be lower in any respect than the standard afforded at those public hospitals already approved as complete training schools.

The committee also recommended that approval of any private hospital as a training school should be revoked if the daily - average number of occupied beds *of the public class in any period of 12 months fell below 30. These two provisions were in+ended to safeguard the reciprocal arrangement between Britain and New Zealand in regard to the registration of nurses. The committee bad. added a. new clause providing the right of appeal from the decisions of the board. Air H. T. Armstrong suggested that if the Bill were to insist on 40 beds free of charge in private hospitals ther.-j would be not more than one or two recognised under the legislation. Replying to Mr. A. Harris, Hon. A. J. Stal'lworthy said provision was made for training in infectious disease cases. Mr M. J. Savage declared that hospital ’ boards, which were responsible for the training of 90 per cent, of nurses, should be represented on the registration board. The report was tabled. The Bay of Islands Harbour Amendment Bill was reported from the Local Bills Committee with amendments.