Ministerial Travellers

Northern Advocate, 24 July 1943, Page 2

Ministerial Travellers

(PA., WELLINGTON, This Day. In the House of Representatives yesterday Mr W. J. Poison (Oppn., Stratford) criticised high expenditure on travelling expenses for Ministers, their wives, private secretaries and staff, and said that (here was a general iecling on ihc putt of the public that too many holiday jaunts were indulged in by one or two Ministers. He asked if Ministers paid their own expenses when they were out on shooting '''Mr! S 'f. W. Doidfie (Oppn., Tauranga) asked how much activities such as those taken part, in by Ministers at the recent Christchurch East by-election had cost the country. , Mr. Parrv said he regretted that the question had been raised, because it cast a slur on Ministers when it was suggested that they used their cars lor spotting tours. He did not think any self-respecting Minister would do that. Mr. Poison: I did not suggest that. Mr. • Parry said that when a Minister was on tour lie had to carry out national work and it did not matter whether there was a bv-election on or not. Sir Francis Beil, when a similar matter in connection with an Oamaru by-election had been referred to him many years ago, had declared: "The Minister L like a policeman, always on duty no matter where he is." However, said Mr. Parry, if a Minister went into his own district to address a political meeting at election time, lie had no right to use a ear or draw expenses. Increase in Pests Discussing the Internal Affairs Department Estimates, Mr. W. Sullivan (Oppn., ltav of Plenty) drew attention to the rapid increase' in the opossum population in the Dominion and expressed tire view that some cffqrt should be made to reduce their numbers as they were rapidly becoming a pest. The Minister for Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry) agreed and said that since tiro commencement of the war, pests ot all sorts had increased and could not be kept down because farmers did not have necessary rifles or ammunition. Mr. Parry also referred to the difficulty in keeping down deer. Prior to the war 30,000 to 35,000 deer were being killed annually, but the number was now down to 12,000 a year clue to shortage of staff. The Minister also gave an assurance that his department was working in conjunction with the Army Department with a view to having .303 rifles impressed for defence purposes returned to farmers ns soon as possible to enable them to deal with the deer and pig menace. Women Police When the Police Department vote was being considered Mrs. W. J. Poison (Oppn., Mid-Canterbury) said that women of the Dominion were concerned over various unfortunate happenings in our cities and they believed that more women police were needed. She had heard great accounts of the work of the present women police and thought that if their number were doubled it would not be too much. The Minister in charge ot the department (Mr. Webb) said that the department would favourably consider the position. Women police were doing excellent work and the department wished to encourage thoroughly trained and competent women in every possible way. During the day eight classes of estimates and half another class were passed, the total amount involved being £0,719.71(1. Altogether 15 votes had now been passed, representing in the aggregate a sum of £12.330,465. The House adjourned at 5.30 until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, when further classes of estimates will be considered.