PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20668, 13 September 1930, Page 13

PARLIAMENT.

RAILWAYS INQUIRY.

PROTEST AGAINST METHOD.

COMMITTEE TO PROCEED.

DEBATE ON ESTIMATES.

1)R. VALINTINE'S SALARY.

[in- TELEORArH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday. Tho sum of Parliament's achievement

ito-day was not impressive. Of primo importance was tho debate on the Government's proposal to set up a special Select Committee to investigate many phases of tho railway construction policy. In view of tho revelations in a recent statement tabled in tho House showing a prospective annual loss of over £737,000 in tho/operation of (ho lines under construction. Tho parties wero all agreed on tho imperative need of a thorough survey of an alarming position, but opinions wero sharply divided as to the merit of tho Government's plan of investigation and tho scant timo allowed for the committee to inquire into such r vast and many-sided problem.

Work in tho Recess,

Eventually, tlio Government's proposal was agreed to, but tho gravo doubt still exists of flio ability of tho committeo lo mako any but a most perfunctory investigation before tlio session ends, and it seems likely that tho work will liavo to lio completed in the recess.

Attention was later turned to tho Estimates and a long discussion ensued on those relating to tho Health Department. It was a comparatively small matter, tho retention of tho retiring Director-General, Dr.,T. 11. A. Valintinc, as a salaried advisory officer, that caused tho hold-up. Some members saw in tho arrangement tho giving of a concession to compensate the doctor for not being entitled to retiro on superannuation and a Labour amendment to reduce tho departmental vote by £IOO as a protest against tho arrangement was moved, but was defeated on the voices after tho division bells had been rung.

Minister Under Fire.

The Minister of Health, tho Hon. A. ,T. Stalhvorthy, was kept under a firo of questions for most of tho afternoon and when ho uttered a mild protest against the time taken to dispose of tho Estimates a Labour member remarked with relish that his experience would bo nothing in comparison with tho reception in storo for the Postmaster-General, the Hon. J. B. Donald, when tho Post and Telegraph Estimates arise for consideration. The only other class, of Estimates other than tho Health Department under discussion to day was that relating to tho Department of Internal Affairs, and this debate was unfinished when the Houso rose for tho day at 5.30 p.m. The Acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, said ho had hoped that it would bo possible to consider the Nurses and Midwives Registration Amendment Bill further on Tuesday, but in view of the slow progress made with the Estimates, they would be further dealt with then, and he would ask the Houso to extend the hours of sitting to enable greater headway to be made with tho work.

RULING REVERSED.

DECISION OF THE SPEAKER.

INTERPRETATION OF TERMS.

[Rt TF,f,TSOn ATH. —SPK'.'IATi H ETO TITER. ] WELLINGTON. Friday.

An interesting point, which resulted in Mr. Speaker reversing tho ruling of the Chairman of Committees, Mr. W. A. Bodkin, occurred in tho House of Representatives to-day. The refusal of Mr. Bodkin to give him permission to discuss tho admission of medical students to St. Helens hospitals when tho estimates of tho Health Department were under consideration was challenged by Mr. A. M. Sam,uol (Reform —Thames). The chairman contended that tho question was ono of policy, and that Mr. Samuel should confino himsolf to matters of administration.

Mr. Samuel then moved to report progress and obtain tho ruling of the Speaker.

When the Speaker returned to tho Chamber, Mr. Samuel argued that the question was not one of policy, but ono of administration, and that it carno under the same category as the hours of nurses. If the chairman's ruling was upheld, it ■would squash discussion in the House on any department. Mr. Fraser said tho question raised by the member for Thames was of vital importance in tho administration of St. Helens hospitals. Tho admission of students was re/erred to in tho annual report of the Health Department and yet the member for Thames was to be debarred from discussing what was in that report.

Mr. 11. (1. R. Mason (Labour —Auckland Suburbs) said tbo issue could bo divider] into orio of policy and administration. It was tho word policy that caused tho confusion. It was a misleading and ambiguous term. Tho Speaker said ho was inclined to atjreo with tho member for Auckland Suburbs. Tho word policy was vaguo and what it meant more than anything was that when legislation was necessary to givo effect to a purpose, Government policy should not bo discussed. He thought it would be admitted that legislation was not involved in tho present instance. 110 would thereforo rule that tho discussion bo allowed.

FILM CENSOR'S WORK.

CRITICISM OF DECISIONS.

[T TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER. ] WELLINGTON, Friday.

Recent criticisms of decisions of tho ■overnnient film censor wero referred to by Mr. 1\ Fraser (Labour —Wellington j entral) fluting discussion upon tho Internal Affairs Department estimates in the House of Representatives to-day. He said that as long as the present occupant the position held office, littlo satisfaction could t>e expected. Flo urged tho • "iverrwnent, to appoint someone with a greater senr.o of tho responsibility of his position.

He based his complaint upon various incidents lately and bo hoped the Government would take tho position into consideration.