HOLIDAYS FOR RELIEF WORKERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 9, 8 December 1932, Page 9

HOLIDAYS FOR RELIEF WORKERS.

ARRANGEMENTS EXPLAINED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 7. Replying in the House ol Representatives to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland), who asked whether men in relief camps under the supervision of the Public Works Department would receive payment during the Christmas period, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates said that the men ill the Public Works Department’s single men’s camps would be granted a lortnight’s holiday pay this Christmas, and the Unemployment Board had also agreed to pay Half the cost of return fares to their home town or to the town from which they were engaged, whichever was the nearer. These men would receive holiday pay or 10s a week before leaving camp. Those who did not wish to travel would be allowed to remain in camp and would receive 10s a week and their keep without being required to work. Relief workers under the department who worked full time, either at the rate of 10s a day or on a co-opera-tive contract based on that wage, were not being grunted any holidays on pay, but, as in previous years, they would have the option of taking the usual vacation without pay or remaining at work. Workmen employed by the department under the No. 5 scheme were to bo granted a fortnight’s holiday on pay, on the same conditions as the men employed by local bodies under this scheme.

The ordinary standard worker employed by the department would receive the usual, treatment, namely, payment for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, if he had over two months and less than two years’ continuous service. If he had over two years’ service he would receive payment for these three statutory holidays and, in addition, 12 days’ annual leave.

Replying to a further question by Air Holland, Hon. A. Hamilton said the Unemployment Board had arranged to pay half the return fare to their home towns, or to the towns from which they were recruited, in the cases of men employed in relief camps.

DISTURBANCE RECALLED.

DEBATE ON POLICE VOTE.

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Dec. 7. Tho supplementary vote for the Police Department occasioned numerous brisk exchanges in the House of Representatives to-night, as well as a reference to the disturbances in Wellington in Alay and also to remarks stated to have been made by a police officer at Napier. Air H. T. Armstrong asked the Alinister whether he had taken any action against Superintendent Cummings, who had made a speech at a meeting of the Rotary Club at Napier to the effect that the Christchurch tramway strike had been suppressed and that so far as Christchurch was concerned it was not likely that there would bo any more strikes. A number of Labour members declared that officers of tho police force should not be allowed to make partisan speeches. Hon. J. G. Cobbe said he was not aware that any speech of the kind had been made and he did not know whether any action could be taken in reference to a speech made at a Rotary Club. Air It. AlcKean alleged that the lackadaisical manner in which Air Coates had treated a deputation had precipitated the Wellington disturbances in Alay. Other Labour members, together with Air H. Atmore, declared that a lack of tact had been displayed in keeping the crowd waiting at Parliament gates so long. Mr Coates said tho deputation had left his room long before dark. Mr R. Semple submitted that the crowd, as citizens, should lmvo been admitted to Parliament grounds and the Minister should have heard their representations. He added that the window-breaking had not been dono by the crowd as a whole, but only by a few irresponsible youths.

MORTGAGE COMMISSIONS

APPOINTMENTS NOT POLITICAL

Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, Dec. 7. Discussing the vote in the Supplementary Estimates, presented to Parliament to-day, of an additional £SOOO to meet expenses in connection with Mortgagors’ Relief Commissions, Mr J. A. Lee asked how the appointments to the commissions were made, and alleged that from one end of the country to the other commissions were packed with supporters of the Government.

Hon. J. G. Cobhe said the appointments were not political appointments. The best men who could be procured had been asked to act. Mr F. Langstone alleged that the Government had shown favouritism in its appointments. “There has been too much of this sort of thing going on for the good government and clean political life of the country,” he added. Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates said he did not think Mr Langstono’s remarks needed to be taken seriously. “He talks and talks in every possible way.” Mr Langstone : You can’t even talk. Mr Coates: He just talks and talks and ho talked his poor unfortunate candidate out at Motueka.

Continuing, Mr Coates said the niembers of commissions were carefully selected. It was difficult to find supporters of the Labour Party who were farmers and who were able to understand farmers’ difficulties.

Mr W. E. Barnard expressed astonishment at Mr Coates’s statement that it was difficult to find men amongst the Labour Party who were suitable to serve on commissions. He said he could name half n dozen farmers in the Kaipara electorate who we re in sympathy with the Labour Party and who could do the job. Mr P. Fraser said they had heard something from the Minister of Public Works that was fortunately rare in the House—an attack on the personal

ability of a member. Air Coates: A T es, very definitely. Air Fraser: The only difficulty in tho matter is tho qualification of tho Alinister of Public Works to judge. Air Coates: Now we shall get some Billingsgate. Air Fraser: I am not going to follow the example of tho Alinister and reflect on his ability. Ho added that as a friend and colleague had been attacked lie wanted to state that Air Langstonc would compare more than favourably with any Alinister or aiiy member in the House. Air Cobbe said that when bo had appointed commissions lie had been ignorant of tho political leanings of any of tho men, apart from two or three. Political influences had not weighed with him one iota. Alter a further discussion, Air A. At. Samuel declared: “Of course, all these appointments are political. It is no use playing blind mail’s bluff with two Holes in tho handkerchief. We know that if the Labour Party were in power, appointments would be made in a similar manner.

Labour members (emphatically): No! ALr Samuel: Of course they would, and if they were not made in a similar manner, the Labour Party would not bo playing the game with their supporters.

Air Barnard said lie wanted to draw the Alinister’s attention to a disparity. Farmers were' appointed to commissions because of their knowledge of farm mortgagors’ difficulties, but in the cities, people such as bankers, who would clearly appreciate the mortgagees’ position more fully, were appointed. Ue asked why the Government did not appoint somebody who would be able to appreciate the position ol the householder, wage-earner and salary-earner.

LOANS LEGISLATION

THE AAIENDING MEASURE.

Per Press Association. , . WELLINGTON, Dec. 7. r I he New Zealand Loans Bill, Property Law Amendment Bill and the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill were put th rough the remaining stages and passed, in the House today.

Moving the second reading of the New Zealand Loans Bill, Hon. AY. Downie Stewart said the proposal to consolidate tho law relating to loans had been under consideration for some time and had more than once been recommended by the Auditor-Gen-eral as being advisable on the grounds of simplification and economy. Referring to the clause providing lor change of domicile of securities, the Alinister said this had been made necessary by reason of the fact that purchasers of securities had been placed at a disadvantage because they had had to present coupons for payment at some' place other than that in which they were demiciled. MISCELLANEOUS BILLS.

The Hawke’s Bay Rivers Amendment Bill and the Whangarei Harbour Board Vesting Bill were reported from the Local Bills Committee with amendments. The Waitangi National Trust Board Bill was reported from the Lauds Committee with amendments and the Auckland City Empowering Bill was reported from the Lands Committee without amendment. The Taieri River Improvement Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor-General’s message and read tiro first time.

INMATES_OF HOMES. POAVERS EOR RECOVERY OF FEES

Per Press Association. AVELLINGTON, Dec. 7. Additional powers for the recovery of fees for the maintenance of inmates in inebriates’ homes and reformatory institutions a.re conferred by the Reformatory Institutions Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives this afternoon.

On a complaint being made that an inmate or his relatives have failed, or intend to fail, to make adequate provision for the cost of maintenance, a Justice of the Peace may issue a summons to an inmate or his relatives requiring cause to be shown why an order for the cost of maintenance should not be made. Upon the complaint being heard before a Magistrate, lie may make an order against defendant requiring him to pay toward the cost of future maintenance a reasonable sum not exceeding 22s fid a week. The Alagistrato may also order a sum not exceeding £SO to be paid on account of past maintenance. The order may be made whether the inmate or relative is resident in New Zealand or elsewhere.

Explaining the Bill, Hon. J. G. Cobbe said it would enable tho Justice Department to collect fees from such people at Roto Roa and Pakatoa as were in a position to pay. He pointed out that the department had to pay the Salvation Army £1 a week for the upkeep of each inmate, and there was at present an annual loss of £I7OO on the institutions.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. CLEARING UP OF BILLS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 7. When the Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m., Hon. M. Fagan asked the Government whether it would take into consideration the urgent need or amending the Mining Act in order to prevent the present practice of persons holding goldmining areas for purely speculative purposes by making provision for the payment of a substantial cash deposit by applicants for any goldmimng claim the area of which exceeded five acres. Hon. R. Masters replied that it was recognised that the existing mining law was not satisfactory and it was proposed, when the next Mining Bill was being prepared,_ to ensure that claims and other mining rights were worked more fully than they were at present. The Carterton and District Memorial Bill was passed through all its stages without amendment. The Fire Brigades’ Amendment Bill was received from the House of Representatives and put through all stages and passed. The Native Land Amendment Bill, which was received from the House, was read the second time pro forma and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. In moving the second reading of the Cook Islands Amendment Bill, Sir James Parr said the Bill provided for the transfer of the administration of Nieu Island from the Minister-in-Chargo of Cook Islands to the Minister of External Affairs. Hon. R. McCallum said he had always been opposed to the control of Samoa by New Zealand, and ho asked for an assurance that the change of control of Niue would not create further trouble in Samoa.

Sir James Parr said the Bill did not place Niue under the Samoan Administrator, but the island would be in the same position as it was before. The Bill was put through the remaining stages and passed. The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill, which was read the second time yesterday, was put through the remaining stages and passed. The Council rose at 3.55 p.m. until 1.30 to-morrow,