QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 267, 9 October 1940, Page 9

QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

NURSES’ SALARY

IN ST. HELEN’S HOSPITALS.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 8

The payment of probationary nurses at St. Helen’s Hospitals was the subject of an urgent question to the Minister of Health bv Mr W. if. Denham (Lab., Invercargill) when the House met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. Mr Denham asked if the Minister’s attention had been drawn to the fact that the salary of probationary nurses in St. Helen’s Hospitals in Southland was £26 per annum and whether the Minister would take immediate steps to increase this amount. Hon. 11. T. Armstrong, in reply, said that from October, 193 G, the Government had decided to follow the system which had become general among hospital boai'ds of paying a small allowance to all trainees, and from that date had paid trainees in St. Helen’s Hospitals at 'the rate of £25 per annum, in addition to providing free board and lodging. It was recognised, however, said Mr Armstrong, that the introduction of the social security tax and

national security tax had substantially reduced the amount paid. The whole question of allowances was being reviewed. AVAR VETERANS IN BALLOT. The fact that some men who had seen several years’ service in the last war had been called up in the recent Territorial ballot was drawn attention to byMr J. A. Lee (Dem. Lab., Grey Lynn) in an urgent question to tho Minister of National Service. Mr Lee pointed out that these men were well past the age lor overseas service, and he asked whether the regulations would be amended to allow men with overseas service in the last war to be exempt. Hon. R. Semple, replying, said such men as mentioned in the question were not being conscripted for service overseas, but a number might be drawn in the ballot for Territorial service. The number, however, would not be great and each case would be dealt with in a way to enable the men to give the country tlie full benefit of their knowledge and experience. He .believed the men concerned would resent any action that might deprive them ot an opportunity to making their best contribution to national defence.

PROTECTING FREEZING AVORIvS. The importance of guarding the Dominion’s freezing works from sabotage and attacks by Fifth Columnists was stressed by- Mr T. D. Burnett (Nat., Temuka) in an urgent question to the Prime Minister. lie asked what steps the Government was taking to protect this important Dominion industry 7. lit. Hon. P. Fraser stated that the Government in no way underestimated the importance of freezing works in the Dominion’s economy, and at a conference of the Meat Board and Freezing AVorks Association it was agreed that protection of these undertakings should be assumed by the managements themselves, who were to appoint watchmen equipped with batons and whistles. The Government had under immediate consideration regulations to ensure that all necessary precautions were observed by 7 tho managements at freezing works and other important places. The regulations would give watchmen certain additional powers as to detention and search, etc., which would assist these men in the more oflieieut protection of property. DESTRUCTION OF DEER.

In another, urgent question, this time to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Burnett asked whether, as tho Government deer and chamois hunters were likely to be dispersed owing to war needs, the Minister would use his best endeavours to issue adequate supplies of .303 ammunition to tho remaining high-countrymen in order to destroy these pests. • _ ‘ Hon. AV. E. Parry replied that, with a view to conserving every possible round of ammunition for national defence, the whole position with regard to supplying such material for the purpose of deer destruction, etc., had to be reviewed, and the Department ot Internal Alfairs was now reluctantly in tho position ’of not being able to continue the arrangement previously existing lor the sale of cheap ammunition. Mr Parry gave au assurance, however, that the work ot destruction of deer by official fields orncors would .not l>e discontinued. £1,000,000 PATRIOTIC FUND DRIA 7 E.

On behalf of tlio Speaker (Hon. W. E. Barnard). Mr Lee, in an urgent question to Mr Parry, asked if Ins attention liad been drawn to a resolution passed at a recent meeting or the Hawke’s Bay Provincial Patriotic Committee to the effect that the coming appeal lor £1,000,000 should be divided under three headings: (1) Help for the British people; (2) comforts for New Zealand troops; (d) rehabilitation of Now Zealand eoldieio. Ho asked if the Government would | on ye effect to this proposal. i Mr Parry said the appeal lor £1,000,000 was by individual provincial patriotic councils, and whether moneys were to bo sought for each separate purpose of the appeal was a matter ot providing sterling for such amounts as the National Patriotic Fund Board might desire to remit overseas at the reauest of provincial councils. MEN ESSENTIAL Edit PRODUCTION. A request that the Minister for National Service should make a statement that producers, primary or secondary, could be assured that the organisations available tor appeals would receive some direction on the question of men necessary for production being called up for service was made in an urgent question by Mr J. N. Massey. Replying, Mr Semple said that when the quotas were fixed for the number of men to bo calfed up for Territorial training in the recent ballot due allowance was made for tiie fact that a number of men would require to have their training postponed duo to the essential nature of their employment. In fixing district quotas more liberal allowances were made in rural areas, as it was fully appreciated that at this time of flic year it would be very difficult to 'release large numbers of men from the primary industries. Tlio Manpower Committees were fully aware of the necessity of maintaining production and essential services and all classes of men employed in essential industries' were considered individually by the committees. Where it appeared that production was likely to he adversely affected Territorial training was postponed until a more suitable time. • A tribute to the memory of. the late .John Hutcheson and expressions _ of sympathy with his widow and relatives were paid in a motion moved bv- the Prime Minister and seconded by the Leader of the Opposition and carried. Mr Hutcheson represented the Citv of Wellington constituency from 139 G to 1902.