PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18049, 24 September 1920, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

(Iwiom Ouh Own Cokhespondknt.) WELLINGTON, September 22. itkuklisss M OTOKISTS. Dr Tliacker (Christchurch ICast) in tho I-Jouse tins afternoon, asked tlio Primo Minister if Jii s attention had bnen drawn to tne remarks of the coroner in regard (o tho death of the Ri-v. G. W. Harding (C.m-terbiu-y), in con.sequetKV of a motor accident. l)r Thackcr emphasised the necessity of drastic action in cases of careless driving. Mr Massey said ho had read tho coroner's remarks, and ho thoroughly agreed with thorn. A similar question had been asked earlier in the session, and as he was tlu-n Minister in Charge of the Police, lie had called their attention to it. . If legislation was ncccssary, and probably it would be. ho would introduce something that would make reckless motor drivers much moro careful than t.hcy had been for a long time past. HINDUS ON PUBLIC WORKS. The employment of Indians by the Public Works Department on road works in tho Wainir.apa was mentioned in the' House of Representatives by Mr A. D. M'Leod (Wairarapa). Tho complaint of a Main Body man, who stated that he was being forced to carry his swag, while coloured men worked in his own district, was read to tho House bv Mr M'Leod. The Minister of Public Works (Hon. .T. G. Coates) replied that- he had not heard of Indians being employed in the Wairarapa. A protest bad 1 been made acainst tlio employment of a gang of Indians on roadmaking near Christehuroh. but as a matter of fact, other labour had not been available at tho time, and the local people had bron anxious that the work should proceed quickly. The Indians had worked on a co-operative contract on the same conditions as anybody else. Mr Coates added that he would mako inquiries on the* point raised by Mr M'Leod. The Indians were British citizens, and he did not, enre to ask them to suffer any indignity until the Doliey of tho Government, as to 'the number of them to be permitted to remain in New Zealand had boon determined. FORESTRY LEGISLATION. ' Mr G. Mitchell (Wellington South) asked in the House of Representatives if tho Government intended to bring down forestry legislation during the present session. The Prime Minister replied that the point had not been decided by Cabinet. Provision would be made in tho Supplementary Estimates for the finance of the Forestry Department, and if a Forestry Bill was required it would bo brought down before the end of the session. Members were likely to be busy with moro urgent work for several weeks yet. There was® some forestry law at present on the Statute Book in the Finance Act of 1916. and that rnifiht be suffieiei\t. ■ If it wi;s not he would bring down a Bill towards tho end of the session. WELLINGTON, September 23. GIFT OF NAVAL GUNS. The Minister for Defence (Sir Heaton Rhodes) told the members of tlio House of Representatives to-dav that on the recommendation of Lord Jel'.icoe the Admiralty had made a gift of guns, mountings, and spare parts to New Zealand for training purposes The value of the gift was over £8000, and the solo condition was that the guns should be available for use on armed merchant ships in case of necessity;. There wore about 12 of the guns. The* gift included also 16 wireless telegraph sets. The guns, added tho Minister, were of various cal'bres and types, and wore similar to those used on cruisers, submarines, and patrol boats. Thcv could be fitted on the . Philomel for instructional purposes. WOOLLEN COMPANIES' PROFITS. " Has the Board of Trade recently copducted an investigation .into the profits made by woollen companies in New Zealand. and, if so. is it intended to make the results public?" asked Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon) in tho House of Representatives. The President of.the Board of Trade replied that an investigation had been made, and that he proposed to lay the report ou the table of the House. BUTTER PRICES INQUIRY. The Chairman of tho Butter Committee (Mr J. A. Nash) asked in the House of Representatives yesterday for an extension o f the time allowed the committee for tho preparation of its report on butter prices. Mr Nash said that tho committee had much evidence to hear, and could not possibly complete the work in the three weeks originally allowed. The House decided, on the Prime Minister's motion,, to allow the committee an extra week. The Butter Committee was to -have taken evidence to-day, but owing to a late sitting of the House all the Select Committees were relieved from duty for the day. The witnesses tli.it had been called bv' the Butter Committee will be taken to-morrow morning. MILITARY MEDICAL" STORES. The Minister of Defence was asked today by Mr A. D. M'Leod (Wairarapa) a question concerning certain medical stores which had been returned to Now Zealand after the war,' and stored in the dominion. Jt had been brought to his notice. He said that these stores, of which there was a large supply, were being sold, but only to medical men who- had been at the front. Many doctors who had offered to go to the front, and had been retained in the dominion owing to their services being required here, were not able to obtain any of these drugs at a cheap rate, and soma of the stores were not obtainable in tho country at the present time at any price. Sir Heaton Rhodes replied that he had r.ot a list of the stores referred to. and had no idea what tho quantity was. Ho »"Ould take the matter into consideration, and would give the necessary information when the inquiries had been. made. SCARCITY OF SCHOOL TEACHERS. The difficulty experienced by education boards m stalling country schools -was mentioned in tho House of Representatives by Mr R. Masters (Stratford), who quoted tho j following statement made by the inspectors of the Wellington board:—"Wo are finding the greatest difficulty in properly staffing our country schools, mainly owing to lack of decent accommodation for teachers, especially female teachers. While for our junior cjty positions, of from £130 to £140, thero are 2U to 30 certificated applications, | there is frequently not a single qualified applicant for positions of from £160 to £200, oven up to £240, in the oountry." Mr Masters a&ked if the Minister of Education would make a special grant to education boards for the erection of moveable homos for teachers. All tho boards are having tho same trouble in finding teachers for tho country schools, and the solo remedy appeared to be the improvement o£ the housing facilities. > The Minister s of Education (Mr Parr) replied that ho realised that lack of housing was one of the chief reasons why, teachers did not care to go to country schools. Tho shortage of accommodation was not confined to tho toache-Ts, and :t would be understood by tho House that the Education Department could not possibly undertake to provide houses for all teachers. The proposal to crect small moveable cottages, which could bo placed where they were required, had much to commcnd it. and ho agreed that the department should assist financially in tho provision of these houses. Tlio Minister added that hundreds of teachers now working in tho towns could get better money if they would go into the country. The country children wero suffering because they were taught by uncertificated and unqualified teachers, while better teachers clung to the towns. In the new echemo of salaries to be brought down in a week or two he proposed to meet this difficulty by providing increased payments for the lower grade schools. Members would see when the scheme was presented that tho department had made an honest effort to attract teachers to the country schools. THE GAMING BILL. A statement that tlx; Prime Minister had promised favourable treatment to Mr G. Hunter's Gaming Amendment Bill, proposing to increase the number of permits in favour of country clubs, was mentioned in the llouso by Mr J. M'Conibs (Lyttelton), who wanted u> know if other private members' Bills now at the bottom of the Order Paper were going to get a chance. Tho Primo Minister replied that the statement concerning Mr Hunter's Bill was correct. He had been asked by a deputation, in the early days of' tho session, to see that this Gaming Amendment Bill got a run. He had promised then that Mr Hulitor would be given an opportunity to move the second reading. Ho had also promised Mr Statham an opportunity to move tho second reading of his Elective Executive Bill. Mr M'Combs: What about the Labour members' Bills'? Mr Massey: Some of the Labour Bills will be dealt with. I have not had an .opportunity of going through them. I think they are still before the Labour Bills Committee. Mr Hunter (Waipawa) confirmed what tho Primo Minister had said. Mr Massey had promised him a fair run with tho Gaming Bill. MEMBERS' PRIVILEGES. j Some disinclination on the part of members to discuss their privileges in public

waa obsorvublo when telegrams were montioned in tho llouso of ilopresontatives today. Mr L. M. Isitt (Chrisfchurch North) raisocl tho question by aflring the l'ost-inaster-Uoneral why members, who were charged 8d for 36 words by tho Telegraph UHice, hud to [>ay 9d for a second 36 words in the same telegram. Soveral members indicated by interjection their disapproval of tlio question. The I'ostmaster-General (Mr Coates) asked if the honorable monrbcr wanted the '"jito increased. "1 hardly think it fair that, members' telegrams should have missed the general increase," Raid Mr Coates. 'I shall bo pleaded to consider this, if members desire me to do so." No members roso to support an increase. Later in the afternoon Mr J. S. Dickson (Parnell) complained that while members could send 36 words for 8d tho persons to whom they sent reply-paid telegrams wore allowed only 12 words. lie suggested that tho person receiving the reply-paid telegram should be allowed 36 words. Cries of "No." "Leave it alone," and "not worth discussing," came from several parts of the House, and the Speaker called loudly for order. Tlio Postmaster-General, after waiting a few moments for a hearing, replied that he wonlc] look into the question.