PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16268, 29 June 1916, Page 9

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. CONSIDERATION OF ESTIMATES. [BY TELEGBATH.—-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington*, Wednesday. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. The annual reports of Tourist, Justice. Mines, Police, and Geological Departments were laid on the table. The Minister for Finance laid on the table a statement of the public accounts. On the motion of the Prime Minister it was agreed that on and after July 3 the House meet at 7.30 p.m. on Mondays for the transaction of Government business.

Replying to questions, Ministers said: Several applications had been received from discharged soldiers for workers' dwellings, and preference was being given to them over other applicants, and applications from widows of soldiers received" special consideration; the amalgamation of the Immigration Department with another Department was under consideration; it was not proposed to extend the provisions of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act in the direction of including . men who were under fire in South Africa during the campaign of 1900; the question of preventing aliens acquiring the freehold of land in the Dominion was one which must come before the Imperial Conference, as any such legislation must be uniform throughout the Empire; there would be considerable difficulty in differentiating between earned and unearned income in New Zealand, and it was not proposed to attempt it at present; it was not deemed necessary as yet to appoint a permanent War_ Pensions Board; the question of making subsidies for public libraries available for the current year would be considered when the Supple- j mentary Estimates were being framed. The Mines Department. j On resuming at 7.30 p.m., the 'House j went into Committee of Supply to consider the Estimates. On Class VIII., | Mines Department, £51,613, Mr. H. Poland (Ohinemuri) congratulated the Minister on the appointment of an Under-Secretary to the Mines Department, and so placing the Department in the position it was prior to 1909. He urged an increase in the salaries of inspectors of minesThe Minister, in reply, said he was in sympathy with the claim for increased salaries for mining inspectors, but that, rested with the Public Service Commissioner. As the Department was shorthanded, he was not able to appoint any additional inspectors to the West Coast. *' Inspection of Tunnels. The Minister denied that there had been any whittling down of salaries or men. Salaries had been increased. Applications were now being called for an inspector to replace one recently retired owing to the age limit. " Mr. Colvin maintained that there had been a reduction in the number of inspectors. The commissioners id not know the requirements of the industry, consequently gold mining was not getting the attention it deserved. ~ ~ The Minister agreed that the number of inspectors should be increased, but this could not ba done at present. Inspectors, however, now had better facilities for the discharge of their duties than ever before.

Mr. C. H. Poole (Auckland West) said there were signs of inactivity in the Geological Department. More energy should be shown in searching for coal areas. He urged the establishment of a State coal mine in the North. Mr. P. C. Webb (Grey), congratulated the Minister on the energy shown in the conduct of his Department, particularly in boring for coal. Several members made requests for examination of various localities for coal or other minerals.

The Minister, in reply, said these requests would not be lost sight of. They would be reported on at the earliest moment. The vote was passed at 10.35 p.m. Ohinemuri Qoldflelds. The House then considered the vote of £17.028 on miscellaneous services in connection with mining areas. Mr. H. Poland (Ohinemuri) referred to the niggardliness of the Department in dealing with prospectors in the Ohinemuri district. Under £300 had been expended in the endeavour to develop new mining areasThe vote finally passed at 11.55 m. The House then proceeded to Class IX., Department for Internal Affairs, including mental hospitals, hospitals, and charitable aid and public health, £493,723. (Left sitting.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. MILITARY SERVICE BILL. [by telegraph.—PßESS association.] Ellington", Wednesday. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Military Service. Bjll was further considered in Committee, ■ progress beinc leported. The Council rose at 5.15 p.m.