PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19101, 20 August 1925, Page 11

PARLIAMENT.

answehs to questions departmental reports. SUMMER TIME BILL. A "HARDY ANNUAL" AGAIN. [BY TELEGRAPH SPECUL REPORTBtt. I ' WELLINGTON Wwlnendfrr In the House of Representatives this afternoon the Prime Minister gave notice of his intention to move that Government business be taken on Wednesdays, on and after August 2b. During the afternoon a laige number of departmental reports were tabled and members discussed an swers to questions. In the evening, among other private bills considered was Mr T. K. Sidey's " hardy annual, ' the Summer Time Bill. A lengthy discussion ensued in Committee, members dealing with the effect the proposals would have upon the farmers. After supper tho operative clause of the bill was rejected by 30 votes to 29. Mr. Sidey then moved that progress be reported Mr. W. E. Parry's Miners' Phthisis Bill, to extend miners' pension benefits, was ruled out by the Speaker on the ground that its main purposo involved an appropriation. A number of other private members' bills were considered The House roso at 12.25 a.m. PHOSPHATE FERTILISERS. STANDARD OF PURITY. LEGISLATION CONTEMPLATED. [BY rELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER. J WELLINGTON Wednesday. Iu reply to a question by Mr. F. Lve (Waikato), who suggested that a standard of fineness and soluble phosphate content bo required m all mineral phosphato manures the Minister for Agriculture, Hon. W. Nosworthy, stated today that the making of necessary improvements in tho fertiliser Act. is in hand at the present time and Mr. Aston, chemist to the department, who is at present abroad is making special inquiries regarding fer tiliser legislation in operation in other countries, amendments already framed here cover the points mentioned by the member and it may bo added that the manufacturing-companies in New Zealand nlready grind tin: phosphate rock to a degree of fineness varying from 80 per cent, to 90 per cent. THE "PETRIFIED MAN." WANGANUI DISCOVERY. QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT. [BT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAI REPORTER.) WELLINGTON. Wednesday Further reference to a so-called petrified man, thought by the member for Waima l'ino, Mr. F. Langstone, to bo of prehistoric antiquity, was made in the House of Representatives to-day. Replying to an inouiry by the member whether the relic, which had been found in a cave at Wanganui, would be placed in the Dominion Museum, the Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. R. F. Bollard, said the attention of the Government had been drawn to the* report emanating from Wanganui of the discovery at some locality, the name of which had not been stated. If the discoverers were agreeable tlie Government would send a scientist to make a careful record. There was no authority, however, by which the Govern men might commandeer the specimen, but if sufficient interest was found to attach to it the Government was prepared to negotiate for its purchase for the Dominion Museum, MEDICAL RESEARCH. WORK IN THE DOMINION. GOITRE AND PARALYSIS. [BY TELEGRAPH. SPECJAL REPORTER.] W ELLIN GTON. Wed nesdn.v. A resume of medvcaJ research work now lu progress in New Zealand under Gov . eminent subsidies was given to day in the House of Representatives by the Minister for Health. Sir Maui Ponaaxe. " The only medical research concerning v/h:icb the Deportment of Health is in a position to give information is that which is being carried out with the funds pro vided by the Government," he said. "The work in hand comprises (a) an investigation into the incidence, causation and pre vent ion of goitre-; (b) the study of, in fantile paralysis with a view to discovering the factors which cause this disease to display epidemic manifestations, some means of detecting it in its early stages, and methods for its prevention.; |e) an inquny dealing with cancer is about to be started, a sum of money having beeu made available for ihe purpose. This inquiry piobably will be of a statistical riaitne "The work incidenticl to A and B is being nuclei taken al the Medical School in Dunedin The department has recently appointed a reseatch office! with special qualifications for tins work, and lie is a<-!!ni> n coMaltorat ion with the university authorities. "As the result of the investigation deal ing with goitie a very niateiial advance has been ni.ide 'u the treatment and pi even t'ron of tins d'stsase among school children m pai 1 1< ular, and among the population geiieiallv. "The intentions of the Government are to set aside fiom time to lime sufficient sums of' money to enable investigations to bo undertaken into any matters of special in toresf to the Dominion. The Department of Health has no knowledge of the intention- of others hi icgaid to medical research work." THE BLACKBERRY PEST. ATTITUDE OF MINISTER. (BY rKLEOIt.IHH —SPFiUAJ. IM'EH. ] WELLINGTON. Wcdne.xday It Is not (jiuposed to rnalcp immediate grants tor the clearing of -blackberry on Grown land? or soldiers' holdings, stated thp Minister for Lands, Hon. A. D. McLeorl today, in answer to a question by Mr G McKay (Hawko's Bay', In support of h's question Mr. McKay stated that thp settlers in most cases had rio money available for this purpose and ihe blackberry was spreading at an alarming rale. Government s'lionljl give immediate assistance and' thus prevent settlers from being forced to leave their farm- at a consequent serious loss to the Suite Tlu- Mn-iTter said the department .of Agriculture offered ..a bonus of £10,009 for an efficient, practical ami economical method of esterminatln/c' blackberry and , tiad two experimental plots r ( t Walroa under 'ihservafion If wa.s nftt proposed lo make grants to,r the clearing of black berry on Crown leases «r soldiers* hold-"'-its