GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14685, 19 November 1909, Page 6

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18. The House met at 2.30 p.m.. • REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. After formal-business had been transacted, the remainder of the afternoon was occupied in discussing answers to questions. HOSPITALS BILL. In the evening the House went into Committee on the Hospitals Bill. Mr NEWMAN moved an amendment to clause 39, sub-clause 1 (which provides that the Minister may subsidise the moneys received by a board), to the effect that the Minister in making such subsidies is not entitled to take into consideration the money left to hospitals by way of bequest when arriving at a decision whether the boaird 'had sufficient funds to carry, out its administration. ' _ After considerable discussion, the MINISTER declined to accept the proviso, which was defeated on the voices. On the motion of Mr FOWLDS, clause 71 was amended to extend and apply to contracts entered into between a board in respect to the relief granted to any person by sanatoria. At the Minister's instance, clause 81, providing for hospitals being transferred to another local authority in. caees where the boundaries have been altered, was superseded by another which allows the Governor to combine two or morelocal authorities to constitute one l»ard for a district. A new clause (71b), providing that a board may make agreements with friendly societies in Tcspect of the maintenance of members or -relatives of members of the said societies, was included in the hill. A new clause (127 a) was added-. It provides that members of every old board and the trustees of every separate institution under the act of "'I9OB ivho arc in office at the passing of this act shall continue to hold office until the commencement of the new act,

Mr HINE moved to insert a clause providing a maximum working week of 56 hours for nursc6. Several members spoke- in support of the clause, but it was pointed out that no provision was made for cases of emergency. On the MINISTER'S suggestion Mr* Hine agreed to amend the clause to read " except in cases of emergency the hours of nurses and probationers should not exceed 56 hours per week."—The clause was then agreed to. ■On the first schedule Mi STALLWORTHY moved to delete Whangarei, Hobson, and Otamatea from the north hospital district with a view to making these a separate district. Mr FOWLDS explained that he would tako up the attitude of dividing on every similar motion with a view to getting at the opinion of tho House in regard to the subdivision of districts. He' considered Mr Stalhvorthy's motion a reasonable one. After discussion the amendment was agreed to on the voices. Mr POLAND moved to exclude' the borough of Waihi from the Thames hospital district. Mr FOWLDS said he could not accept the amendment, which was carried on ■ a division. On the motion of Mr HALL, Wairoa and Hawkc's Bay were constituted a separate district from Waipawa. Mr PEAROE moved that the Taranaki district should be altered to comprise parts of the Egmont county north of Arawata. road instead of Clifton, Taranaki, and Egmont. On a division the amendment was defeated. Mt DUNCAN moved that clause 18 be struck out and a new clause added making Picton and Wairua separate hospital districts.—This was agreed to. On the motion of Mr GRAHAM the Mitrchison County was included in the Nelson district.

Mr DAVEY moved that Ashburton form part of the North Canterbury hospital district. Mr HARDY and Mr NOSWORTHY opposed the amendment on the ground that the Ashburton people iwanted a separate district.—The amendment was negatived on the voices. Mr COLVIN moved that Charleston and Denniston Hospitals be added to the second schedule.—On a division the amendment was earned. The House agreed' to the report of the Select Committee, which recommended the striking out oi subsection c of clause 39 and the substitution of a sliding 6cale of subsidies based on tho levies of the rate- . able value per head of population. After midnight Mr NOSWORTHY moved to strike out the third schedule i and Insert in lieu thereof the following. "That a definite shave of endowments be ; vested in the Ashburton Hospital and ; Charitable Aid Board, tho income of such ' share to lie applied to the maintenance of indigent persons of the class which has , hitherto furnished the inmates of the Old - Men's Home."

Considerable discussion followed, after which, on the suggestion of Mr MASSEY, tho amendment was withdrawn, the, .Minister promising to draft a clause to meet the case.

On the motion of Sir Wm. STEWARD a new clause was added to insure that the Waimate Hospital be continued.

The bill was then reported with amendments, iind the House roso at 1.20 a.m.