PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 8 December 1932, Page 7

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

INSURANCE PREMIUM RATES DRASTIC REDUCTIONS URGED ABOLITION OF COLLEGES. COMMITTEE REPORT PRESENTED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Dec. S. The House of Representatives met at 10.'30 this morning. Mr C. H. Olinkard (Rotorua) asked Whether, in view of the prevailing conditions, the Government would take into consideration the necessity for a drastic reduction in all insurance premiums. He ‘.said that, according to the official Year Book, during the years 1920 to 1929 f'ortyriwo separate companies doing fire insurance business in New Zealand had received m premiums £18,401,000 and. their fire Josses had been £9,491,000. During the period. 1921 tp 1930 the State Fire Office had. added £526.000 to its assets. The Hon. Sir A. Ngata said the ■only office in recent years to show results justifying a. reduction in premiums was the State Fire Office. The results achieved by other offices throughout New, Zealand did not como ■up to those of this office. The average of profits of private companies on dwelling risks was a little over 8 per cent., "and the profits of the State Office were a little better than that. In regard, to trade risks there was no margin to justify reduced premiums, hut it was liis intention to get the figures in detail and submit them to the Cabinet. Replying to Mr A. - Harris (Waitemata), the Hon. J. G. Ctobbe (Minister of Marine) said that with a view to taking such steps ais might he necessary, investigation would be made into the suggestion that the speed of overseas vessels on the Auckland Harbour should be regulated to eliminate danger to ferry boats, small craft and bathers. Mr W. A. Bodkin (Central Otago) presented the report of the Education Committee on. the Otago Education Board’s petition that the four training colleges be retained. 1 The committee expressed ill© opinion j that there should be greater co-opera-tion on the part of education organisations in relation to training of teachers, so as to avoid as far as possible ai duplication of staffs and courses, and there should be closer co-opera-tion between the Education Department, Education Boards and the University Colleges. Directing attention to the recommendation of the 1930 Parliamentary committee on education that training colleges and staff® be handed' over to the control of the university authorities, and that general lecturers so handed over be utilised to reduce the size of classes in university arts, and science departments, the committee recommended the report to the Government for favourable consideration.

“GRAVE INJUSTICE” Mr H. Atmore (Nelson) said the committee’s recommendation had been ai unanimous one. He said it would not be economy to close two of the training college's, and evidence placed before 'the committee showed! that isucli a course would inflict a grave injustice on the young people of Wellington and Dunedin. Allowances had been reduced and the children of poorer families would not he able to afford to attend the training colleges ;in other centres. Evidence had also been presented to show that a great [number of the Dominion’s most successful teachers had come from poorer homes.

Mr At-more described the. committee’s recommendation as being _ most satisfactory, and said he hoped it was not yet too late for the Government to retrace its steps and rescind the decision to close the colleges mentioned. The Rev. C. Carr (Timaru) supported the committee’s recommendation. He said! that great advantage' could he obtained bv training teach-1 ers in a university atmosphere and ini association with those at the top of the educational tree. Alessrs Wright, Jones, Atunro and 'Alacpherson also expressed apprecia-, tion of the committee’s recommendation. Mr Jones drew attention to a suggestion from the Otago Education Board involving a scheme to retain the four colleges, and at the same time save £1.7,000 annually, whereas closing two colleges would result in a saving of only £14,000. Air S. G. Smith said there were 700 unemployed! teachers 1 at present-, and 581 would pass out of the training colleges this year, with the result that at the beginning of next' vear there would he 1200 trained (teachers without anv occupation. Air P. Fraser (Wellington Central) said the position in respect to unemployed teachers had been accentuated as the result of raising the school admission age. He pointed out that the reduction in the size of classes, which I had long been recommended, would assist the position. i Several other members spoke in support of the committee’s recommendation. The House agreed to amendments made bv the Legislative • Council in the Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill. The House adjourned at 1 p.m. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 11.30 a.m.

The Hon. Air Fagan asked the Government whether, in view of the satisfactory manner in which gold prospecting was responding as, a branch of unemployment relief, it would immediately take advantage of the- summer months by sending out a number of parties under competent supervision to prospect for reefs on auriferous areas known to exist on the west coast of the South Island. The Hon. R-. Masters said that a .large number of prospectors were al- ' ready engaged, with the aid of financial assistance from the Unemployment Board and the Mine® Department, in prospecting many of these areas, and further measures in the direction of more systematic prospecting were now being discussed. The Eire Brigades’ Amendment Bill was put through the remaining stages and passed. Speaking on the second reading of the Native Land Amendment Bill, Sir Francis Bell deplored the fact that the Council did not leave sufficient

time to study the measure adequately. There was no suggestion that it was urgent. “If its passage had been delayed until January we. might have been able to study the Bill and suggest to even so wise a Government something out ok our ignorance’ that might be worthy of its temporary consideration..” “We are not_ being I given a chance of even exposing our

ignorance,” he added. Apparently the Council was willing to accept anything without consideration. The procedure being adopted was bringing the character of the Council into conteThe' Hon. Mr Masters said that, as the Bill had been sent to .the Native Affairs Committee at Sir Francis Bell’s recmest, it was hardly fair to say the Council was prepared to accept the measure without consideration. The principles of the Bill were based on the finding of the National Expenditure Commission, which had j gone thoroughly into the question, lhe I measure was a step forward in native I administration. ! The Bill was put through the rei maining stages ..and passed. The Property Law. Amendment. Bui was also put through the remaining stages and passed and the Council adjourned at 1 p.m.