PARLIAMENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 239, 27 September 1930, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ESTIMATES DEALT WITH. N.Z. BORSTAL SYSTEM. ’ Wellington, Sept. 26. The House of Representatives continued in Committee of Supply in the afternoon, dealing with the Estimates.. When the estimates of £90,000 for the Prisons Department was under consideration. Mr E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South), complained that the Bostal Institution at Invercargill was not being conducted as the name should imply. Mr Howard said ho did not wish it to bo thought that he was complaining against the superintendent or anyone connected with the adnunistratio of the institution. What he regretted was that there had been a departure from the original ideal of the Borstal system. Ho did not know who was to blame for that. Possibly it was Parliament itself. The Rt. Hon J. G. Coates (Leader of the Opposition) stated that the New Zealand Borstal system compared favourably with any institution of the kind in the world. He thought Mr Howard would agree that it was essential to maintain discipline. He contended that the treatment of boys at Invercargill was on the right footing. He admitted that the type of building was not perfect, but it would be wise to hesitate before expending a large sum on alterations at the present time. Mr D. McDougall (United, Mataura) said the boys in the institution were quite contented, and mentioned that they had ono of the best football teams in Invercargill. Mr Howard repeated that it was the prison atmosphere attached to the institution to which he objected. The Minister, replying, said, the department regarded the Invercargill Borstal as one of its great successes. The boys wore taught farming and attended classes in agriculture and physcial and social education, as well as lectures in economics and other subjects. Besides a good football team, there was also a fine cricket eleven. He added that of the boys who had gone through the institution less than ten per cent ever appeared before the court again, compared with 35 per cent in England. The vote, was passed. POLICE DEPARTMENT. The estimate of £450,000 for the Police Department was submitted. Mr Wright asked the Minister what was the position in regard to bookmaking. There should be some final ity ono way or the other. Either bookmakers should be suppressed or they should bo placed on a proper legal footing. Mr Kyle said ho hoped the new Commissioner would endeavour to stimulate the police with a view to getting more convictions of bookmakers.

Mr Cobbe said that the number of convictions last year indicated that tho police were fully active in dealing with bookmakers.

Mr F. Waite (Ref., Clutha) said he was glad to bo able to say that valuable progress had been made in the endeavour to eliminate sly grog-sell-ing Southland. He hoped tho new comissioner would keep up tho pressure in this direction. An estimate of £165,000 for tho Pensions Department teas considered next. Mr W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central) moved that the vote should be reduced by £1 as an indication that the House desired an increase in old rge and blind pensions. Mr Wright said that widows were allowed to earn only £7B a year, and he considered that they should be allowed to earn at least £lOO a year in conjunction with the pension. Mr A. M. Samuel (Ref., Thames) asked if the Minister would agree to make amendments to the Pension Act to bring miners’ pensions into line with others. Mr. Cobbe said that he knew there were anomalies in the Pension Act. Tire Government was sympathetic, hut another £1,000,000 would be required to put them right. Pensions were costing the country £2,809,598. The increases asked for would cost a further £1,011,000, and that was impossible at present. He was prepared to give miners favourable consideration.

Mr. Howard supported the amendment, and said he believed that the country could aford to pay old ago pensioners £1 a week. Mr. O’Brien (Lab. Westland) objected to old age pensioners being examined by constables in uniform. Mr. J. A. Nash (Ref. Palmerston) said he had been assured that constables would conduct their inquiries in plain clothes, and he was disappointed that that had not been adhered to.

Mr. Cobbe said that he would issue instructions that constables must conduct inquiries in plain clothes. Mr. Coates asked if the Minister would state when the soldiers rehabiliation report would be taken. There were many urgent cases to be considered. Mr. Cobbe said that an opportunity woud be given to discuss the report. His department had been negotiating with the R.S.A. and had practically come to an understanding which, he believed would please all returned soldiers. The amendment was defeated bv 40 to 22 and the vote was passed. DEFENCE DEPARTMENT. An estimate of £275,000 for the Defence Department was submitted. Mr. Waite asked whether adequate supplies of small arm ammunition were being maintained. Mr. J. A. Nash asked for details as to officers placed on superannuation and those transferred to India. Mr. Coates said many people were concerned owing to the undefined attitude of the Government towards defence. He asked what form military training would take in future. Mr. Cobbe said that 000 officers and n.c.o.’s and 2000 men would be kept ill training this year, also secondary school cadets. In reply to Mr Waite, tho Minister said tho ammunition retained would an amount sufficient for a war reserve. He was not in a position at the moment to answer the question asked by Mr Nash.

Mr. W. J. Jordan (Lab.. Manukan) urged that facilities should be given for men to go into camp if they desired to do so. It seemed to him that the pendulum had swung right over from compulsory military training to the other extreme. Progress was then reported and the House rose at 5.30 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. ou Monday*