VARIED TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23121, 20 August 1938, Page 17

VARIED TOPICS

day on estimates NINE VOTES APPROVED SOME INTERESTING POINTS GENEVA AND IMMIGRATION [AT TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTF.It 1 WELLINGTON, Friday - Discussion in the House of Representatives to-day ranged over a wide varictv of topics. The first full day was spent on a consideration of the estimates of departmental expenditure and in a shortened sitting nine departmental votes, involving a total expenditure of £775,153, were passed. Only three major points of interest arose from the discussion. Consideration of the vote for the Prime Minister's Department gave rise to a debate on the attitude adopted recently at Geneva by the High Commissioner Mr. W. J. Jordan, especially with regard to his opposition to the foreign policy of the British Government. Opposition members asked for nil opportunity to debate the subject in full. Other topics discussed during tho day were the importation of "pulp" "magazines and the need for a more vigorous immigration policy. The methods of compiling unemployment statistics- also received some attention, but no new. arguments were advanced on this point. The following votes wore approved during the day:—Prime Minister's Department, External Affairs Department, Public Service Commissioners' Office, Treasury, Customs Department, Land and Income Tax Department, Stamp Duties.Department, Census and Statistics Office and Labour Department. The§p, with the estimates of the Legislative Department, which were passed last Tuesday, bring the total of votes approved to £877,50.*?. The House adjourned at 4.40 o'clock for the week-end recess and consideration of the Estimates will he resumed on Tuesday. The following two days will be given over to further consideration of the Social Security Bill. In view of the fact that, tho Primp Minister, .Mr. Savage, left Wellington this evening for a week's tour of tho North Auckland district, no exceptional developments are expected in the House neSt week.

APPRENTICES WANTED TOO MANY RESTRICTIONS MR. ARMSTRONG'S BELIEF POSITION MUST BE FACED [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday . "The apprenticeship laws' of this country are absolutely antiquated," said the Minister of' Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, in replying to questions on the position of apprentices during consideration of the estimates of the Labour Department in the House of Representatives to-day. "This whole matter requires attention," said Mr. Armstrong. "In the general run of trades under modern conditions I do not think a five years' apprenticeship is necessary. I believe there , are too many restrictions at present."

Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition—.Waitomo): AVill you help us to put the matter right? "We have to face up to the position and put. it right," said the Minister. ''However, it must be remembered that when wc came into office there wore only 3300 registered apprentices in the Dominion. We have managed to get that figure up to 8000 at the moment, but the normal requirements of the country can only be met by a total of 10,500 apprentices. We hope to bring the total to 10.000 by the end of the year, but in view, of the leeway which we have to make up we would not be eoing too far if. we had 15,000 apprentices."

MAY DAY RUMOUR SUGGESTION ABOUT HOLIDAY CONTRADICTION BY MR. SAVAGE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER 1 'WELLINGTON, Friday "There is a rumour that New Zealand's delegates to the International Labour Conference at Geneva have been « asked to ascertain the prospects of faring May Day made a universal statutory holiday," said Mr. S. G. Smith (Opposition—New Plymouth) during consideration of the estimates in the. House of Kepresentativcs to-day. Mr. Smith said he had heard it stated that in future agreements Between the Minister of Public Works and the New. Zealand Workers' Union an effort would- be made to have May Day included as a statutory holiday. It had been suggested that the matter Was being field in abeyance until some agreement, had been reached at Geneva. Tho Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, Said it was ting first he had heard of it. Delegates were not sent to Geneva With instructions about May Day.