HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14001, 6 September 1907, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5. ■The Houso met at .2.30 p.m. Threo days'' leave of abscnce was granted lo Mr Macpherson owing to a bcroavcment in his family, and tlirco days' leave was granted to Sir Thomson on urgent public business. LICENSING POLLS. A bill amending the law relating to licensing polls was brought down by Governor's Message, and was road a first time. One amendment is to enable a poll to bo taken if Parliament is dissolved before the expiration of three years, the result to tako effect on the day on whioli Parliament would have expired by offluxion of'time.' THE ESTIMATES. The House then went into Committee of Supply. The first olass taken was the Public Health. Department (total vote, £38,959). Mr MASSEY said. he .had heard that the Waikalo Sanatorium was'not in a suitablo position and that, it was subjected to westerly winds, which were not conducive to the health of tho patients. He added that ho was also informed that the climato was unsuitable, and that the medical officers' reports had not been submitted in t'hoir entirety' to Parliament. Tho Hon. Mr FOWLDS replied that no reports had been kept back by him. As far as tho location of tho placo was conconcerned. ho thought it was generally approved by medical men. Replying to a. question, ho stated that the item £25,000 included the cost of the movemonts of the staff, both for travelling allowances and expenses. . The staff had to move about considerably, and the cost was therefore high. Mr lIORNSBY asked if provision was made on the Estimates whereby indigent patients could be admitted to the sanatoria of tho colony. Ho said that married men had been unablo, to get admittance to tho sanatoria becauso they could not pay the fee of two guineas per week. Ho urged that it would bo better to placo 'these people in sanatoria, where they could be cured and enabled to perform their duties again.

Mr FOWLDS said the hospitals were doing a deal, in the direction suggested by Mr I-lornsby, but if a patient from, say, Mastorton was sent to a sanatorium, then it was expected that the district from which the patient was sent should pay the cost of treatment. He urged that consumptive annexes should bo constructed in connection with all the hospitals in the colony. Mr JENNINGS took exception to Mr Fowlds's suggestion re constructing annoxes, as, lie said, many of the hospitals were not ill suitable climates for the euro or consumptives. Mr HOGG said that persons who could pay two guineas per week • were able to procure medical attention for themselves, and had no need of a sanatorium. He considered it inhuman to shut the doors of the sanatoria to practically destitute peop:t>. He quoted ah instance of a man in Wairarapa who had been compelled to give up his dairy business by the health authorities, and yet could not got into the Otaki sanatorium.

Mr FOWLDS said there was certainly a lot of inhumanity about the caec named by Mr Hogg, but that was on the part of the Wairarapa Hospital Board, which should pay tho paltry two guineas per week required by tho Otaki sanatorium. It could not bo expected that tho Wellington Hospital Board would undertake to accept patients from outside districi-s without payment. Replying to Mr Jennings, ho said it was not part of the department's policy to differentiate between patients from country districts.

Mr SYMEB said it- was as hard to get country .patients into tho Cambridge sanatorium as to get them into htfaven.

Mr BERRIES asked why it was tho department did nothing for tho Native whom the Native medical officcr recommended, The Government, as a whole, must take the I>!ame for neglecting to attend to or carry out tho recommendations made by tho medical officer whoso duty it was to attend to tho Native race. In connection with this ho drew attention to the !EsKmatos, which showed that though £2700 was voted last year to tho administration of the Native medical and health service, only £695 had been expended If they suppressed tohungas 'they must give more assistance to Dr Pomaro to look after the Natives ns well as the white pcoplo occassionally in the lack-blocks. Mr GREENSLADE said the Waikato sanatorium was in an plmost ideal spot, and was doing good work. Tho medical officer ,!iad lately visited England, and his oxpericncc gained by that visit would bo of considerable benefit- to tho sanatorium patients. 110 urged that a larger subsidy bo given to tho doctor who looked after the Natives, : What sort of medicine could they expect from a man who only received a subsidy of £40 a year. Mr JAMES ALLEN snid that though the Natives were now ready to- go to tho hospital there was a difficulty in getting them admitted. Referring to Dr Pomaro's report urging that homes should 1)0 established for aged Maoris, Mr Allen said tho Minister should mako a definite statement as to whether he agreed with his medical officer's report". Mr MAJOR said that if tho health of tho Maoris was not bettor looked after the race would bccome extinct. Ho stated that there was no-medical man from Now Plymouth to Patea who was subsidised to lookafter the natives.

Mr ELL, referring to the mdigent pcor in the larger cities, said there wore a number of ladies' nurses who went about attending the poor, and ho urged that these should, be subsidised on a pound for pound basis. ' Mr MALCOLM urged that tho system of cottage hospitals should be established to meet the requirements of the' country districts. He thought the time had arrived when medical inspection should be provided free by the Government. Wo had veterinary surgeons going about the country inspecting stock, and ho' thought that if medical inspection were free for human boings many sufferers would be saved years of suffering.

Mr MASSEY said he considered Dr Pomaro to be a thoroughly sincere and capable man, and regretted that no notice had been taken of his recommendations. Ho hoped that some business-like arrangement would be made, by the Health Department to allow 'of young Maori girls being trained as hospital nurses. Ho liad looked through the report of the Waikato sanatorium for 1906, and found that the medical officer's report was not in it. Had the report been favourable he felt it would Jmve been included, and if it were an unfavourable report then it was wronjj to suppress it, and lie hoped the Minister woujd lpot into it. He' averted that the

medical officer's report of last year on "tho Waikato sanatorium waa the revorso of.satisfactory. * Mr A. L. D. FRASER said it teas impossible for Dr Pomaro and his assistants to attend thoroughly to the thousands of Maoris of tho two islands. Four years ago ho (Mr Fraser) had asked that a medical officer should bo sent to Keanga (Hawke's Bay) to attend to a repugnant disease that waa rifo among the men, women, • and' children, but lie had not been there yet. Mr Fraser added that tho schoolmasters' had acted as medical advisors, and had been in tho habit of sending to Napier for drugs when required, but, now a regulation had been made compelling them to eond to Auckland for drugs. Ho "asked the; Minister to altor this at once, so that drugs which were urgently needed could hoobtained quickly. As to Dr Pomar'e, tho speaker ridiculed his idea that tho individualisation of Native land \v»6 a panacea for all tho ills of tho Maoris. Mr FOWLDS said a contract was made s'omo years ago to obtain drags from Auck-' land, and as the firm had represented that it had a. stock of drugs on hand required for tho Maoris the practice was to bo continued until tho stock was exhausted, when it would bo discontinued. 110 did not propose to allow teachers to procure drugs whenever they desired, as that- would cost tlirco times the usual amount; hut teachers could mako application on tho prescribed' form. Ho said ho found there had been a report from tho medical officor at tho' Waikato Sanatorium whicli had not como boforo him. Ho added that before the doctor left tho institution, relations wore somewhat strained, and his* reports, which had been satisfactory, .suddenly became very unsatisfactory, and were of such a. contradictor)' nature that he understood that it wns not considered advisablo to submit thom to Parliament. Thoso reports did not, however, como to him. He said ho would look into the question of subsidising district nursing. Referring to Mr .lames Allen's questions, he eaid that 110 proposition had been made to liini by Dr Pomaro or to tho department to establish old men's homes. Ho said 110 had given hospital -boards to understand that, so far as v.'ero concerned, as patients. they wore on the same footing as Europeans, and if it was satisfactorily proved to" liitn that, differentiation had taken plac& he would lake steps to withhold tho subsidy until the board realised its sense of duty. A difficulty aroso in obtaining Maori girls' sufficiently advanced and equipped- to bo trained as nurses. Ho added that thorß wero fivo Maori girls bcinp trained. . Eo-.-plying to Mr Grecnslsido. Mr Fowlds said that in future the sanatorium would bo known as tho Waikato and not as tho Cambridge Sanatorium. Ho explained that the amount voted to the Native Health Department was boing exceeded, and would necessitate an extra amount being placed on tho Supplemental Estimates. Mr T. MACKENZIE said it was tho usual practice of hospital boards lenvo to tho matron tho task of selecting Maori girls for training as nurses,, and ho understood that, it was exceedingly difficult to obtain girls sufficiently educated and who had tho necessary mariner to fit them, for tho position. Tho Public, Health Department voto was passed unaltered. 1 Tho next class taken was tho Mental Hospitals and Charitablo Departments (total voto. £106,924).

Mr WILFORD said it was recognised by medical men that epilepsy generally occurred before an individual reached 20 years of age, though it sometimes occurred in cases of people over 50 years of age. •The Government had placed defective cases under the Education Department and weakminded cases under the control of mental hospitals. This differentiation might ho convenient, but it was. certainly unscienr t.ific, and ultimately. the Government wolild havo to establish a sort of halfway houso in which eases affecting bot|i dc-scriptions of disease could be placed, and 110 added that such an establishment should be under the Public Health Department, as epilepsy was curable in its early stages., He iirged lhat tho Government should ta3;e control of epileptics, as it could not expect mothers of families to dovotx; practically the whole of their tinie to looking after an epileptic child, and the Stato should look after suoh children just as it looked after neglected children.

Mr BARBER urged Hint the time had arrived when Mount View (Wellington) Hospital should be removed to some other locality.

Mr FISHER said that out of the small population of Chinamen in the colony 26 wore in mental asylums, whioh was a. matter for serious consideration. Mr HOGG said the Mount View Mental Hospital was' a credit. Tho farmwork of tho institution was excellent, the situation of tho hospital all that could bo desired, and tho wholo work of tho institution was admirably conducted.

Mr 'WfIiFORD elaborated his remarks on epilepsy, which, ho stated, was hereditary, and had one fcaturo in that it frequently "skipped" a, generation. / ; Mr 70WLDS said he was not in a position to make a definite statement in regard to Mount View Hospital, but ho hoped to do so* shortly. Regarding halfway houses, ho said that land had been acquired at Auckland for an institution of tho kind, and any decision arrived at concerning Mount View would have an important bearing on the question so far as the .Wellington district was concerned. At Seaview provision was mado for special treat-, ment, and the officers throughout tho colony woro alive to the needs of tho times. Good' work was bcinjj done in tho treatment of epileptics at Richmond, and it was hoped to made additions to the building there; This year tho Government also hoped to brinw about a system of classification at all these institutions with a view of bringing about the best results. At present a. system of classification was in force at Vaitati.

Mr ELL referred to tho Maternity Home in Christchurch, which, he stated, was altogether unsuited for tho purpose, and which was certainly situated in a place whero such an institution should not bo established. He asserted that place had been offered to the Government alongside Sydenham Park, which was an idealspot, and the' Government should, liavo secured it, as it would have been available for other purposes. Mr GRAY urged that homes for incurables should bo established in tho largo centres, which would relievo hospitals and allow of more curable casas being taken ill. Mr .TAMES ALLIIY asked tho Minister what ho intended to do in regard to infectious diseases hospitals. . In soma of tho country districts the residents had to-con-tribute to hospitals which they wore unable to use in a case of infectious disease. Tho law was not clear as to whether, in Duncdin at anyrato, the central Hospital Board whs responsible for providing adequato treatment in a caso o[ infections' diSeaso arising in country towns. He wanted to know if tho Minister intended to relievo those oountry districts from contributing to central hospital boards and allow them to provide for tho treatment of infectious diseases themselves, or would ho compel tho central boards to provide the necessary treatment

Mr FOWLDS said ho believed the site of tho Maternity Homo was an ideal one, and was a cheap purchase. At the oroscnt time it was tho best equipped in the colony, ■and had been made so at less cost than any other. He required a new homo in"Wellington, and could not procure it under a cost of £8000, and it would bo no better at that than the Christchurch institution. Referring to homes for incurables, ho stated that that was a matter being provided for by all the progressive boards of the colony. Pvofcrring to infectious diseases, Ijis own .impression was that the law as it existed was sufficient to' can so {ho central boards to provide for infections diseases in districts; but the .matter was being considered by Iho Jaw officers, and if an amendment, of tho law was required an amending bill would be brought down this session.

Mr JENNINGS complaincd that nothing had been done in the direction of erecting a hospital at Taumarunui, ae was promised last year. Mr OKIiY complained that tho people of New Plymouth had to contribute to the maintenance of sick persons from outside districts which had no _ local hospital boards, but. which were quite able to provide for their own cases. He urged the Minister to take steps to remedy this. Mr TANNER said the time would come when hospital and charitable aid would bc-come a national 1 matter, and not a local one. When that time arrived it would mean that all classes would contribute a fair' share towards tho upki»p of these institutions. _ Mr FOWLDS said an ideal site had beer, secured for a Hospital at Tiunnaninui, and specifications were belnpf prepared, and tenders would bo called immediately. Referring to Mr Okey's complaint, f,o said ho proposed to make provision on ihe Supplementary Estimates for drrwt contributions in eases where no raUs w«rc levied. The vote was passed unaJterod. ■ Tho next class taken was tho State coal mines account (total veto £182^93)..

Mr DAYEY complained that at Christchurch tho manager of tho State Coal Department to supply coal dealers with opal to to fttsromora, bat

would supply thom with slack. Ho knew of email coal dealers who had ■ been compelled to sell their horses and dray 6, as they could not . mako a living. Ho felt that-tho Government when it inaugurated the department to dea| with a monopoly did not intend to crush the small man. . Tho Hon. Mr M'GOWAN said ho believed the department had been/instrumental in preventing monopoly or an in-' crease in price. Referring to Mr Massey's statement that a loss ha dbecn made, ho explained that that only referred to one mine. ■Tho other mines had paid, and- had mado a. profit. He explained that tho, department paid all just dues, and in reply.to Mr-Davcy he said tho department could not supply small coal dealers with 'screened coal. 110 added, 111 reply to Mr James Allen, that the department paid wHarfago to tho Wellington Harbour Board. : ilr MASSEY asked if the department was paying the samo royalties as other private collieries on tho West Coast. He also said he was informed that the department's carts did not observo the statutory half-holiday in Christchurch. Quoting the figures at which the coal was supplied .to the Railway Department, which differed from tho price paid by private consumers, Mr Massey said it appeared to him as if the department was making its profits out of the Railway Department. Ho added that tho department; was sending its' coal to tho Railway Department at Auckland, when it could, bo procured at less cost locally, and a better article at that. He concluded.by asking , if, any travelling allowances were, paid by this department, as he was informed that one of tho department drew: a higher, travelling allowance than any other Government officer. . . .'

Mr WOOD said 110 resired to know why so little coal was turned out of tho Stato • mines as compared with private companies' tninea. Ho also desired to know ... u'hy applications for tho establishment of •/ depots,'wero. refused on tho ground that ' there was no coal, although every year tho expenditure increased. Ho assorted. that. .Stato coal was sold at a cheap rato to • Palmerston North merchants and was retailed by them at 42s per ton. Ho had olrfaincd Westport coal at Palmerston -North'at £1 10s 6d per ton, yet tho mer- ' charts were deriving great profits,. ■ ' 0 Mr.M'GOWAN said tho demand in tho ' > towns was for household coal. He was doing his best, to bring tho working of the" Seddonville mine to a point where , there; would be 110 loss, and that was tho reason. wh)' 1 tho mino was not working full timo ' all tho year lxmnd. Tho department could supply coal at Palmorston North at 37s 5(1/:' ■per, ton. In roply to Mr Massey, tho : . Minister sail tho department had to supply . ■ a. particular kind of coal to_ the - Railway '. Department, and hud to utilise slack -as it best, could, otherwise it would have to'at' ■ onco increase the cost of screened coal to' private consumers. ' Mr -BARBER said the department, should bo worked on business lines' arid moro" ' ■energy displayed 111 carrying out the busi-,, . . •nejs of the department. No business indi-\. vidua! would drag along in tho manner tho ' ' detriment had been dragged, on. Hourged that moro depots should be cstab- . lished. ■ ' Mr M'GOWAN pointed out that it cost just as muoh' to get a ton of slack out ( qf . the mino as it. would coW to pet.-.good household) coal. Ho added .that tho department had endeavoured to spread the ;, : supply of coal' as evenly. as possible: Ho suggested that the municipalities should : . tako tho coal and supply it to consumers. Mr, POOLE urged that tho Government , 1 should open a, mino in the • Auckland _ dis-> /. •triot, as coal thoro was at . a' prohibitive -figure. . ... Mr COLYIN said the Stato coal mino at, Scudonville was aa -well managed as any mine in the colony. • • . . . Mr WOOD pointed out that coal could bo landed at Foxton at £1 2s 8d per. ton, : and, with 4s added for railage, it could, bo landed at Palmerston for £1 6s Bd. Yet the Minister said ho could not deliver . it under £1.17s 6d per ton. Mr GUINNESS asked if tho Government' intended to open up any further areas for mining under the department. Ho' understood tho prospecting that- had been carried on showed favourable results.'. He urged that tho Government should acquire the wholo field at Point Elizabeth, and allow miners to take up sections ou lease in perpetuity. Ho contended that tho streets of the township should be pushed on aa speedily as possible. - Tho Hon. Mr M'GOWAN, in replying to Mr Guinness, said they wero building houses for miners, and allowing them-' to \ pay for same-at so much per week, ' .Reply: . ing to Mr Massey, JlO said that the inspect-. • ing engineer was .paid £3 3s per day byway, of salary and travelling allowance; and had his steamer and railway fares allowed.' Ho was only paid that salary when actually: engaged on tho department's business. The voto passed unaltered. The next class taken was Lands for Settlement, total voto £8435. The Hon. Mr MILLAR, in reply to Mr Guinness, said it was not intended to erect", workers! dwellings in tho smaller towns: where land and rents iverb'Comparatively' cheap. . ■ . Mr BUDDO suggested that tho Government should try the flat system of housing workers. "' '*

Mr LAURENSON said such a step woul' 1 be in the wrong direction. They should aim at providing something for the worker, to do in his sparo hours, and it was . essential that ho should Jiavo a littlo land. He advocated that a train servico should take workers out into the country. « The vole passed u'naltered.

The next class was Maori Land Settle' ment Act. £2095. ,

.Mr HORNSBY urged that paymehta mado -by Government agents should b'o mado in the place whero tho money could' not be spent in drink. l'ho Hon. Sir CARROLL agreed with tho suggestion. v . The voto passed.

Tho Government Accident Insurance Aecounf, £8490, was passed without comment. . . '

State Fire Insuranco vote, £10,450. Mr FISHER urged that better salaries should bo paid to officers of tho department. . " Tho vote was passed unaltered.

Advances to Workers Account, £2320, was passed .unaltered.

Progress was reported, and tho House rose at 1.50. •