CALL FOR DEBATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27499, 20 September 1950, Page 7

CALL FOR DEBATE

Proposed Sale Of Airways PA WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. Mr F. Jones (Oppn., St. Kilda) asked during the Budget debate tonight whether the report of . the committee which had been given the task of formulating proposals for the sale of the National Airways Corporation could be tabled so as to give members an opportunity of*, debating whether the organisation should be sold. He was certain that the losses made by the corporation, would be reduced considerably by 1951. Were Government members satisfied that private enterprise would provide as good a service as the NAC and that the subsidiary as well as trunk lines would pay? Mr Algie: How much loss should we put up with before we get anxious about it? .... Mr Jones: I think we ought to meet bosses He saidthe crashes and shifting from Rongotai to Paraparaumu and other reorganisation had contributed to the losses, which in future could, he considered, be brought down to bedrock. The Government ought to be prepared to carry some of the'subsidiary lines at a loss. HANDICAPPED CHILDREN A National Responsibility PA WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. Discussing problems in the field of education in his Budget speech in the House of Representatives tonight, Mr W. B. Tennent (Govt., Palmerston North) said that one of the most disturbing was that of providing adequately for handicapped children. It was an alarming thought that probably 15 per cent, of our child population fell into the dull and backward group. In that group some were ineducable, while others had specific disabilities and required the trained attention available oqjy in special institutions.

Some of those most readily teachable were being provided for, however inadequately, in ordinarv classes. Under existing conditions, schools could do little to help them. Special classes were provided for some, but those were inadequate in number and in facilities, and the teachers for the most part were inadequately trained for what was highly specialised work. Still further down the scale were those for whom help could be provided only in occupational classes. Little was known of the position there, and a thorough survey was called for. It was not sufficient to argue that such children should be wholly the responsibility of their parents. The State should undertake some responsibility, and he recommended as a beginning the establishment of occupational centres in every city and large town. It would be necessary to have in every centre of population a home to which such children could be sent periodically to give relief to the parents.