HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Northern Advocate, 28 August 1913, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

YESTERDAY'S SITTINGS. NEW HEBRIDES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.; WELLINGTON, Aug. 28. The House met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. Replying to Mr G. M. Thomson (Dunedin North), Mr Massey said he had that morning in company with the Finance Minister had a long interview with Lord Emmot, Under-Secre-tary for the Colonies, respecting the New Hebrides and especially with regard to the Condominium. AUCKLAND MENTAL HOSPITAL. In reply to Mr Dickson (Parnell), the Hon R. H. Rhodes stated that the Mental Hospital at Auckland was overcrowded. It was also very difficult to obtain nurses. That state of affairs was not peculiar to Auckland, however, but existed right through the Dominion. The Government had sent to England for nurses and so far 25 had come out. He hoped next year to be able to provide further accommodation at the Mental Hospitals. Four days' leave of absence was granted to Mr Isitt. The Bluff Harbour Board Empowering Bill (Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) and Water Supply Amendment Bill (Hon. A. L. Herdman) were read a first time.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. In reply to the weekly budget of questions, Ministers said— %; That out of the total number cf teachers (3212) who receive graded salaries, 2434 teachers will, if Parliament passes the short Bill to be introduced presently, receive ihe double increment from Ist January next. That a measure giving a general increase of salaries requires careful ccnf-ideration, but such a measure wi'l be introduced next session. That it was not intended to airend ttlfc l>;fence Act so that public hails eroded without Government assistance by the residents of a town and which have been used on one or two nights a week as drill ha'.ls shall •vJien taken over by the Defence Oe partiiient under the Act be paid for and the proceeds utilised for the erection of another public hall.

That no bungling has occurred iv connection with the supply of uniforms to the territorials as ar.eged by the member for Grey Lynn

Tliat no discrimination whatever is shown against Roman Cattidic school children ip so far as conveyance by railcis concerned. The regulations lay down the condition under which free school tickets are issued and any one can obtain such tickets on complying strictly with the provisions of the regulations.

That no hindrance is placed by the Department in the way of high and technical schools teaching wireless telegraphy, provided that outside "aerials" are not erected. In some cases such schools have applied for permission to carry out instruction in wireless telegraphy, and it has been granted, subject to the installation of such apparatus indoors as will not interfere with public correspondence between coast stations and ships at sea.