PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 21196, 24 September 1930, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE SITS LATE NURSES AND MIDWIVES REGISTRATION THIRD READING OF BILL (Per i United Press Association.) •Wellington, September 23. The.. House of Representatives met at 2.30 this afternoon. The acting-Prime Minister (the HON. E. A. RANSOM) gave notice of intention to move that the House should meet at 2.30 pan. on Mondays during the remainder of the session for the transaction of Government. business. MR RANSOM gave notice of intention to introduce the New Zealand Institute" Amendment Bill. Rebate On Petrol. The Leader of the Opposition (the HON. J. G. COATES) asked the acting-Prime Ministej, whether 4 rebate would be made on petrol consumed by motor vehicles used by local authorities for road making purposes. MR RANSOM replied that those vehicles which were previously entitled to a refund of 4d. would now automatically be entitled to a refund of 6d. per gallon. MR COATES asked whether the Railway Commission wotdd report to the Government and whether the report would be placed on the table of the House. MR RANSOM replied that the report had returned from his Excellency and had been handed to the Government. He hoped to lay it on the table early next week. MR M. J. SAVAGE (L., Auckland West) asked the acting-Leader of the House if he would take immediate steps to alleviate unemployment in Auckland. He read a telegram from an officer of the hospital board, inter alia, stating that the position was becoming more acute than ever and applicants for relief were getting notice from landlords to vacate their houses. MR RANSOM said .that arrangements were now in hand to place a large number of men in Auckland. He regretted that the position generally was still serious, but the scheme the Government had in view would offer some relief. Replying to Mr G. C. Black (U., Motueka), MR RANSOM said that the report of the sub-committee set up to consider the position of widows under the Earthquake Relief Fund was received at a meeting of the Central Earthquake Committee. The recommendations of the sub-committee were generally adopted, subject to a. proviso that the sub-committee be empowered to further review each case before The purchase of annuities was finalized. The cost of annuities and other assistance recommended would be approximately £14,460, subject to proof of age being submitted. Reports of Divorce Cases. In moving for leave to introduce the Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Bill, MR P. FRASER (L., Wellington Central) said that it proposed to regulate reports so as to prevent injury to public morals and it was based on the same lines as the Act now in force in Great Brit-, ain. It provided that in reporting actions for divorce, separation, etc., only essential portions should L-e publisher!. Those portions which were not in public interest and were liable to damage morals, especially those of young peoplp, should not be published. Mr Fraser stated while the British Act had at first been regarded with a certain amount of misgiving it would now be difficult, after the measure had been in operation for some time, to find a single voice raised against it. The Bill was introduced and read a first time.

In introducing the British Nationality and Status of Aliens (in New Zealand) Amendment Bill, MR FRASER said that its object was to enable New Zealand girls marrying aliens to retain British national- , ity. It would restore their status to what it had been in Great Britain prior to 1844. In that year and also in 1870 legislation had been modified to bring it into conformity with legislation in other European countries. The Bill-had gone through both the ■Houses of Lords and Commons practically unnoticed, Mr Fraser stated, and the women of Britain had thereby been deprived of a great privilege. The necessity for restoring that privilege had been most discernable during the war. He hoped that the Imperial Conference would this year take some action in the matter. The Bill endeavoured to remedy the position in New Zealand at any rate. ; The Bill was read a first time. The Rotorua Borough Vesting and Empowering Bill was reported from the Local Bills Committee with the recommendation that it should not be allowed to proceed. The following Bills were reported from the Local Bills Committee with the recommendation that they should be allowed to proceed with amendments: Napier Harbour Board Loans Enabling Bill, Clutha River Board Empowering Bill, Auckland City and Motuihi Empowering Bill, Western Access Empowering Bill, Auckland Provincial Water Board Bill and Wellington City and Suburban Water Supply Amendment Bill. A division was taken on an amendment to refer the Western Access Empowering Bill (a Wellington measure) back to the committee for further consideration. It was explained by members that it was desirable that the committee should hear the evidence of additional witnesses. The amendment was carried by 32 votes to 25. There was also debate on an amendment to refer the Auckland Provincial Water Board Bill back to the committee for further consideration, members supporting the amendment contending that the measure was unnecessary. The amendment was rejected by 44 votes to 12. The House adjourned at 5.30 and resumed at 7.30. An amendment to the Nurses’ and Midwives’ Registration Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor-General’s Message. Minister Replies to Questions. Replying to questions, the HON. A. J. STALLWORTHY eaid the amendment provided that hospital boards should have a representative on the Nurses’ and Midwives’ Registration Board. It had been brought down in response to opinions expressed bymembers. On the motion of MR RANSOM urgency was accorded the passage of the Nurses’ and Midwives’ Registration Amendment Bill, which was thereupon considered in commitMR J. A. YOUNG (R., Hamilton) contended it would be unfair to include a representative of hospital boards On the Nurses’ and Midwives’ Registration Board unless another* representative of the nurses were included. At present there were five members of the board, including only two nominated by those who could speak on be’half of the nursing profession. If the amendment were adopted the balance of the board would be upset. He urged that if the Minister was determined to go on with the amendment he should also make provision for the inclusion of three representatives of the nursing profession. He believed that control should be in the hands of the profession. MR FRASER said that while Mr Young had stated there would be an alteration in representation on the board, he had failed to show that there would be any terrible consequences from such an alteration. “Inadequate Charge.” ' MR H. M. RUSHWORTH (C., Bay of Islands) said that the only criticism he wished to level at the Bill was the failure to define what was an “inadequate charge” • with, respect to beds in private hospitals available to the public. MR W. E. BARNARD (L., Napier) suggested that it might be left to the board to determine what should be regarded as an “inadequate charge.’ l

Medical Fees Not Included. MR A. HARRIS (it., Waitemata) asked Whether medical tees would oe included under the definition of an ‘'inadequate charge.” ! MR STALLWORTHY: Medical fees are not included. MR HARRIS declared that this was , a departure ffom the original intention. The Bill would simply enable doctors to place patients in private hospitals and charge them what they liked. He said he intended when the clause was reached to move an amendment providing that a fee of, say, four guineas per week should be inclusive of everything. MR H. E.~; HOLLAND said that medical fees were paid in private hospitals at the present time. The object of the Bill was to enable nurses to receive training in suitable private hospitals. The short title having been passed, MR HARRIS moved that the clause dealing with conditions subject to which hospitals or other institutions might be approved -as training schools for nurses should be so amended that 40 beds should be available at all times for occupation by patients receiving medical, nursing and hospital service without charge, or for an “inadequate charge,” the word “medical” being added to the original clause. The amendment was rejected, by 42 votes to 21.

MR YOUNG moved to add to the same section of the Bill the words “which 40 beds shall be the training school for nurses.”' He said it was desirable that only the beds open to the public should be recognized for training purposes. This was the system adopted in Canada. MR YOUNG’S amendment was defeated by 47 votes to 18. MR W.‘ENDEAN (R., Parnell) then moved an amendment providing that an “inadequate charge” should not be greater than a charge for the .same services in a public hospital in the same district as that in which a private hospital or institution was situated.

MR STALLWORTHY said that while an inadequate charge would probably be on the basis outlined in the amendment, such practice might operate unsatisfactorily in some instances. He considered it the most suitable means of meeting the situation to leave the decision as to an inadequate charge in the hands of the Nurses’ and Midwives’ Registration Board. After further discussion MR STALLWORTHY stated that he would be prepared to meet the wishes of the House and insert some amendment dealing with inadequate charge when the Bill came before the Legislative Council. Mr Endcan’s amendment was defeated by 41 votes to 22.

MR YOUNG moved a further amendment stipulating that before any institution would be recognized as a training school the board should satisfy itself that reciprocal arrangements with England would not be prejudiced in consequence of such recognition. The amendment was defeated by 44 votes to 19 and the clause was passed. A division was taken on the clause giving private hospitals the right to appeal to the Supreme Court against the boards refusal to grant approval as a training school. The clause was retained by 51 votes to 10. . 1. . A new clause appointing a representative of hospital boards to the registration board was passed. . . The Minister agreed to make provision at a later stage for an additional representative of the nurses to restore the former balance of power.

The committee stage was completed and the third reading debate was continuing when the House was left sitting at 2 a.m.