HOUSE VOTES SUPPLY FOR STATE SERVICES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7061, 8 November 1929, Page 5

HOUSE VOTES SUPPLY FOR STATE SERVICES

Parliamentary Staff

SUPERANNUATION FOR POLICE IN ABEYANCE

NURSES’ CONDITIONS.

Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, Last Night,

On resuming at 7.30 p.m. the House of Representatives went into Committee Of Supply to deal with the supplementary estimates. The Legislative Department estimate was passed after a lengthy debate, in the course of which members advocated the amelioration of conditions of the staff attached to ,tho Parliamentary buildings.

When the public buildings vote was submitted, Hon. G. W. Forbes stated as it had been made clear that the opinion of the House was against the subdivision of the Tinakori road property known as the Prime Minister’s residence Cabinet had decided that it should bo retained in the present state as a Ministerial residence. (Hear, hears.) When the Cook Islands vote was submitted, Mr W. D. Stewart asked the Minister to give very serious consideration to the claims of Dunedin as port of call for the Maui Pomiam

Mr Forbes stated the report that had been presented during the afternoon had emanated from the select committee and Cabinet had not yet reached a decision on the matter.

Mr P. Fraser referred to the quarters of the crew and Sir A. Ngata stated that when the vessel nest reached New Zealand, arrangements Would be made for an improvement in the crew’s accommodation.

In the course of the consideration of •the Justice Department estimate, Hon. T. M. Wilford, in replying to Mr J. A. Nash, said he was still of opinion the salary of the Commissioner of Police should bo reviewed but on a study of the supplementary estimates, it would be seen it was .the policy of the Government not to increase salaries of •heads of departments - at the present time. They, like others, would have to waft. The Government could not increase the salary of the head of one department without granting an in-' crease all round.

In replying to further questions, he said the whole subject of Public Service superannuation would be investigated during the recess and the investigation would include police superannuation. He regretted that difficulties had prevented the. introduction of legislation providing for police superannuation this session.

Mr A. E. Ansell urged that constables appearing in children's courts should, not wear uniforms and Mr Wilford stated he was in sympathy with the request. Hon. P. A. de la Perrolie, in replying to Mr W. H. Field, stated that the Government fully recognised ,the value of the Royal Life Saving Society’s work and he hoped that in future it would be possible to increase the grant to that body. Messrs A. M. Samuel, J. McCombs and W. H. Field urged that action should be taken to improve the salaries and conditions of nurses and probationers.

Hon. A. J. Stallworthy said the matter was under jurisdiction of boards throughout New Zealand. In some of the large hospitals, nurses were now working eight hours a day, with one day off in seven. He added that in the last year, a substantial improvement had been effected in nurses’ conditions in a nunjber of hospital districts. He had been able to get a grant from Cabinet to increase the accommodation for nurses.

A total of £303,120 for addition to the ordinary revenue account was passed at midnight. Mr Coates moved that the supplementary estimate of £302,046 for the Public Works fund should be reducod by. £lO, as indication to tho Government .that it should hold an inquiry to roveal to the country tho prospects of various railway lines under construction or new ones contemplated. The Minister promised a statement (reported elsewhere) and the amendment was lost on the voices. Mr P. Fraser asked the Minister whether ho would institute an inquiry into the treatment of men on relief works. Hon. E. A .Ransom said the compllaints ho had investigated had generally been of a minor nature. He was prepared to arrange for inquiries into any complaints brought before his notice.

The Public Works supplementary estimates were then passed. The passage of separate accounts and accounts outsido the public accounts, amounting approximately to £406,000, was completed at 1.35 a.m.

Mr. Forbes moved tho second reading of the Finance Bill, enabling the borrowing of four millions for public works and an additional million for education. The House was left sitting at 2 a.m.

Legislative Council WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.3 t o ’clock to-day.

Tlic Rural Intermediate Credit Amendment Bill, the products export Amendment Bill, Taupiri Drainage and River District Bill, Counties Amendment Bill and Cinematograph Films Amendment Bill were read a second time and put through their final stages and passed without amendment. The Council received the Town Planning Amendment Bill from the House, put it through all stages and passed it without amendment.

In speaking on the second reading of the Shipping a.nd Seamen Amendment Bill, the loader of tho Council (Hon T. K. Sidcy) intimated that he would move to add a new sub-cla.use, providing that power to make rules with respect to the qualification of applicants for examination conferred , the Min-

i&ter by tho Principal Act should, in the case of applicants for third class engineers’ certificates, include power to exempt from examination all applicants who satisfied the examiners that they were qualified without further examination to receive and held third class engineers’ certificates. The clause was objected to by the Hon. W. Earnshaw and other speakers and Mr Sidcj agreed to refer it to the committee. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Labour Bills committee. The Cornell adjourned at 9 p.m. until 10.30 f .m. to-morrow.