Many Would Like To Peep Behind Curtain

Northern Advocate, 21 July 1949, Page 3

Many Would Like To Peep Behind Curtain

WELLINGTON, Thu. (P.A.).—The suggestion that the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) should arrange tor a secret session of Parliament on the return of the Minister to Moscow (Mr C. W. Boswell), who is now on his way back to New Zealand, was made by Mr A. S. Sutherland (o—liauraki) in the House of Representatives yesterday. The proposal was contained in a question addressed to Mr Fraser. Mr Sutherland suggested that an insight into life behind the iron curtain in the Soviet Union would be much appreciated by many members. Miss Howard, Minister of Health: Hear, hear.

A total of 76 speakers—33 from the Government and 38 from the Opposition benches—took part in the Ad-drcss-in-Reply debate. which was brought to an end early last evening, when Mr .7. B. F. Cotterill iG—Wanganui). the mover, made his reply. Mr Cotteriil said that the debate, if it did nothing else, had confirmed and emphasised the difference in economic outlook between the Labour and National Parties. Mr C. M. Bowden t'O—Karori): Thank goodness. Mr Cotterill: I agree with the member for Karori entirely, and the people of New Zealand will agree, 100.

Maori Land

Consideration is being given to the setting up of a Royal Commission to decide cases where the lessee of Maori land under an expiring lease is entitled to compensation for improvements. This was stated by the Minister ot Maori Affairs'(Mr Fraascr). in a lcplv to a question asked by Mr W. .1, Broadfoot <o—Waitomon Mr Broad foot said local bodies were disturbed about the non-payment of rates after leases expired. He added that under a Royal Commission the problem would be shelved for ever and a day.

Maraetai

It was expected that the first unit at the Maraetai hydro-electric station would come into operation by the end of 1951. and the other four units would come into operation progressively thereafter, said the Minister of Works Mr Semple), replying to a question asked by Mr W. Sutherland (O—Bay of Plenty).

Airways

Physiotherapy

Disruption

Rehabilitation

The possibility of serious disruption of industry in New Zealand similar to that now being experienced in Australia was raised by T. P. Shand (O Marlborough'. In a question to the Minister of Labour (Mr McLaganfi Mr Shand asked if the Minister would say whether he approved of the action taken by the Australian Government, and whether he would take similar action in New Zealand if the circumstances arose. If not, what action, did he propose to lake?

A payment of £85.000 from the Consolidated Fund to Tasman Empire Airways. Ltd., to meet an estimated deficiency in operational costs for the year ended March 31 is recommended in the annual abstract of the Unauthorised Expenditure Account tabled in the House of Representatives. This ab* street also shows that. £21,733 was paid to the New Zealand National Airways Corporation io met a deficit incurred by the Pacific regional services from November I. 1947. to March 31. 1948. A cost of £2324 was incurred by the Island Territories Department in chartering a Skymaster aircraft from Trans-Australia Airlines for a flight between Western Samoa and Auckland.

New Zealand was one of the last countries in the world to keep the word masseurs in use. said the .Minister of Health iMiss Howard) when tiie Physiotherapy Bill was introduced. By provision in the bill all masseurs will now be known as physiotherapists. Miss Howard said that the bill had generally bean accepted' by physiotherapists in New Zealand, who are required to register. A maximum fine of .LSO will be imposed on unregistered persons advertising as physiotherapists. The existing registration board, known as the Masseurs' Registration Board, is reconstituted to include the director of physiotherapy in the Department of Health, the principal of the school of physiotherapy at Dunedin. and an additional therapist. The training and examination to qualify for registration as a physiotherapist are to be left to be defined by regulations. The registration board may approve hospitals or other institutions as training schools. Annual practising certificates are to be taken out.

A physiotherapost who had been an inmate of a mental hospital may not resume practice without a licence from the board.

An inter-departmental committee consisting of representatives of the Labour and Employment Department. Health Department. Rehabilitation Department. and others has been set up to work out a comprehensive plan for the vocational training and rehabilitation of disabled civilians. Thi# was stated by the Minister of Health (Miss Howard) in reply to a question asked by Dr A. M. Finlay <G—North Shore'. Miss Howard said the proposals were similar to a scheme operating in Great Britain and would cover the complete rehabilitation of the disabled person from medical treatment to re-establish-ment in normal employment. Discussions had been held with the Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League with the view to admitting civilians to the league's training centres.