PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 230, 27 August 1938, Page 15

PARLIAMENT

DISCUSSION OF ESTIMATES. INTERNAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 26. In the House of Representatives, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry), speaking of an Opposition reference to the distribution of art union funds, said that the distribution had been carried out as equitably as possible, and all applications for funds had received fair and careful consideration from his department. The Minister stressed the difficulties experienced by parties employed by the Government in killing deer, but stated that the work was continuing more effectively every year as the organisation was improving. In 1931 some 8988 deer had been killed, while, in 1937-8' a total/of -20,475 deer had been killed. Last year a total of 39,000 animals had been destroyed, including deer, pigs, rvapiti, goats, etc. Mr J. Hargest attempted to compare the travelling allowances to Ministers last year with those this year, but was ruled out of order by the Chairman of Committees (Mr E. J. Howard). “Compared with last year, there is j a big increase in' these expenses,” said Mr Hargest. Mr- Howard: Last vear’s Estimates re over and done with, and wo can’t discuss them now. Mr Hargest: Perhaps the Minister will be good enough to explain the increase. Mr Howard: You are out of order. Mr Hargest remarked that, in view of the increase, lie wondered whether the country was getting value 1 for its money. Dealing with salmon netting licenses, Mr H. 8. S. Kyle asked the Minister of Internal Affairs whether his department intended to carry on issuing .these licenses. The question was particularly urgent, he said, so far as fishing in tho Waimakariri River was concerned, and an extension in the number of licenses did not appear desirable. Rod fishermen all over New Zealand had complained that the rivers were being depleted, and the runs in recent years liad shown marked decreases. The depletion was attributed by rod fishermen to the effects of netting. Mr Kyle also asked for further information regarding the grant of £2OOO for the relief of Spanish refugee children .

The Minister of Education (Hon. P. Fraser) interjected that this money had been paid into the funds of the International Commission through the High Commissioner •in London. This fund, said Mr Fraser, had been sponsored by the British Government. The vote was passed. PENSIONS DEPARTMENT.

The discussion on the vote of £6,911,20O_ for the Pensions Department was limited to a single question by the Leader of the Opposition (Hon. A. Hamilton), who asked whether, in view of the coming social security legislation, the House would be passing the Pensions Vote for the last time. He asked whether the department would go out of existenceThe Minister in charge of Pensions (Hon. AV. E. Parry) - Pensions will be absorbed in the Social Security Department. /

The Minister of Education : We may have to"have the Pensions Vote next year because of the lap-over in the financial year.

The vote was passed. The Native Department vote of £IOB,BOO was passed with little'discussion, and the next Estimate to be considered was the x r ote of £510,835 for the State Forest Department. STATE SAAVMILLS. Mr AV. J. Poison described the provision of £15,000 for homes for employees of the State sawmills as ridiculous expenditure. He said that many firms in private business were providing excellent homes for their workers, but nothing on the lavish scale contemplated by the Government. The timber industry should be left to private enterprise, he said. These firms w r ere operating with all classes of

New Zealand forest timber, but the State could produce timber for cheese boxes only. The Minister in charge of State Forests (Hon. F. Langstone) said the State had gone to a great deal of expense in raising plantations that would be of increasing value in the produc-/ tion of all classes of timber. It would be foolish if it.did not make adequate provision to protect this asset from the menace of fire. That was why it was taking pains to house its staff comfortably and to provide the latest methods of protection from damage. This vote was passed. Tho following votes were then put through with practically no discussion :

NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND.

j Dealing with tho vote for the . National Provident and Friendly So- . cieties Department of £129,120, Mr Kyle asked if this department, which was a wonderfully useful one, would close when the social security proposals ,came into force. The department had done wonderful work and had provided against old age at a minimum cost. Did j the Government intend to carry on (with the National Provident Fund? Most people could not afford to pay in to that fund as well as to the social security fund. Mr Hamilton also described the. fund as a very attractive scheme. The Minister in charge of the Department (Hon. W. Lee Martin) : It has its limitations, though. The Minister of Finance (Hon. AV. Nash) pointed out that the National Provident Fund had more than enough money to meet its liabilities. Mr Lee Martin said there had been a slight increase in the business of the department, but the limitation of a £3OO maximum salary necessitated a limitation in the number of new contributors to the fund. There was also the competition of the Friendly Societies and insurance companies, but, nevertheless, the fund was doing fairly well. A number of local bodies and private companies were associated with the fund, but latterly there had been some hesitancy on the part of such concerns to join up, because of the social security proposals. Mr Hamilton: AVill the fund go out of existence, like the pensions scheme? Mr Lee MartinNo, it xvill remain. The Minister added that the question of redress for people who could not afford to pay into both the fund and the social security scheme would have to wait until the Social Security Bill came up in committee. He added, however, that he did not think the Bill would affect the National Provident Fund or the friendly societies. The vote was passed and the House adjourned at 4.25. During tho day the House passed 12 classes of Estimates to a total value of £9,335,433, and so far this session the amount of the Estimates passed is £22,652,570.

The Minister of Education (Hon. P. Fraser) intimated on the adjournment that on Tuesday the House would consider local Bills during tho afternoon and the Imprest Supply Bill in the evening.

Valuation Department 55,200 Public Trust Vote 358,553 Government Insurance Dept. 295,167 State Fire Insurance 104,290 State Accident Insurance ... 33,470