PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20870, 9 November 1929, Page 20

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

NOTES FROM PRESS GALLERY. (From Odr Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, November 8. REST HOMES ACT. Parliament to-day, with slight amendments, passed the Government measure providing for the establishment and maintenance of rest homes for persons unable through age or infirmity to take proper care of themselves. The description of “ destitute persons ” was deleted from the title of the measure, which now becomes the Rest Homes Act. References to prison procedure or phraseology were omitted, and the minimum term of reception was reduced from 12 to six months, LOCAL BODY LOANS. i Objection was made in the House of Representatives in the early hours of this morning by Mi- J. S.' Fletcher (United member for Grey Lynn) to the principle of the Local Government Loans Board being authorised to validate a variation of the purpose for which a local body loan is raised. He moved that the clause in the Finance Bill referring to this be deleted. The Acting Leader of the House (Mr G. W. Forbes) said that the provision had been included in the Bill at the instigation of the local bodies. If it were felt that too much power was given he was prepared to drop the clause. When the Minister gave an assurance that he would have an amendment introduced in the Legislative Council to give effect to his promise, Mr Fletcher withdrew his motion. The alteration will involve some reconstruction by the law draftsman. ROTORUA-TAUPO RAILWAY-. The opinion that the action of the Government in discontinuing the Kotorua-Taupo railway was thoroughly justified is contained in the report of the Public Petitions SI to Z Committee on the prayer of E, Vaile ana 85 others for the resumption of the 'railway presented to the-> House of Representatives last night. It was recommended that no activn be taken, “The committee is also of the opinion,” states the report, ‘ that the Government should consider putting into operation an exhaustive experimental test on a limited area of, say. 10,000 acres of better class pumice land to be brought into permanent pasture on the principle of mass employment.” TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT. As the result of a compromise the House of Representatives to-night passed the short Government measure confirming the establishment of the Transport Department and the placing o! the control of transport under the Minister of Transport (Mr W. A. Veitch). It was explained by Mr Veitch that although at an earlier stage he had given an undertaking that the Bill would be abandoned this session, negotiations for an agreement between the conflicting interests had taken place, with the result that an understanding was arrived at that justified his seeking to place the measure on the Statute Book. i T] 10 Leader of the Opposition (Mr J. G. Coates) urged that the department be given tlm power of a commission so that a full inquiry could be made into all matters affecting, transport. - , The Minister said he would not agreee to the appointment of a Royal Commission, but pointed out that the department would have the opportunity to investigate transport problems. The Bill was read a third time, and passed. REGISTRATION OP NURSES AND MIDWIVES. No more will be heard this session of the Nurses’ and Mid wives’ Registration Amendment Bill which proposed to pave the way for approved private hospitals to be training institutions for probationer nurses desiring to sit for the State examinations. Opposition was threatened the measure, and in the rurh to close llii. session it has bo'-n decided to abandon the Bill. The Bill did not reach the second reading stage, VISITS TO PRIME MINISTER. With the session ef Parlian ent almost ended and many members already on the homeward trail, the thoughts if members on all sides of the House turned to-day to the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), who has been confined to his private suite in Parliament Buildings since October 3 suffering a prolonged in- ■ rsiinsition. Most members accordingly visited the nmra of the sick Leader today to fake official leave for the session. It is hoped that Sir Joseph Ward will shortly be sufficiently restored to health to be able to proceed to his private residence at Heretaunga to complete his convalescence.