PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 42, 4 October 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(Per Press Association.; Wellington, October 3

The Council met at 2.30,

The Hatt Railway and Road Improvement Amendment iiill was road a second time.

The Attorney-General moved tho second reading of the Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill, remarking that the work done in the district was one of tho most profitable and beneficial that had ever been undertaken in New Zealand, and indicated that the Government should not hesitate to step forward and initiate works of this character.

T'he Bill was read a second time. The Mental Defectives Bill was read a third time and passed. The Papakaio Water-race Bill (Hon. Mr Jones) was read a second time. Tho Wanganui School Site Bill was passed in committee without amendment, and read a third time and passed.

The Patents, Designs, and Trademarks Bill and the Sir Donald McLean Memorial Park Bill wore, on the motion of the Attorney-General, read a second time. Tho Council adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30

Replying t.o Mr Fisher, the ActingPremier said the amendment to the electoral law would be introduced this session. Sir James Carroll also informed Mr Reed that the printing of the electoral rolls was being expedited. An amendment made by the Legislative Council in the Friendly Societies Bill, to .bring the measure into operation in 1912, instead of immediately, was agreed to on the motion of the Hon. Mr Millar. On the motion to go into committee of supply on the Estimates, Mr Reed moved an amendment that the time had arrived for the installation of submarine signalling apparatus on the shipping of the Dominion.

Hon. J. A. Millar admitted that the matter was of great importance, and said he was approaching the owners of the apparatus with a view to obtaining the sole rights for the Dominion. The present charge was too heavy to admit of the system being brought into general use, but if the Government acquired the rights it would be prepared to make payment from shipowners extend over a number of years.

Mr Reed’s amendment was negatived.

The House then went into committee on the Estimates. Continuing on those of the Internal Affairs Department (£25,118), several members urged paying adequate salaries to and shortening of hours of attendants at mental hospitals, and referred to the present overcrowding of such institutions. A suggestion by Mr Fowlds for ono central institution met with opposition on the score of the heavy cost to relatives travelling to see patients. ' The Hon. Mr Bnddo, in reply, said the Supplementary Estimates would provide,for a sufficient sum to meet the increases in salaries for the year. Dealing with the matter of accommodation, the Minister said the proposal for a large central hospital did not do away with the present hospitals, which would be continued. It was supplementary to the present system. With regard to the average hours attendants were at present working, vh., 61J hours, this would be reduced to 57J. Attendants would have every fifth day off, with 24 days’ leave annually. As far as possible the above would bo given effect to. The Rev. I silt urged the Governmen t to hold its hand until after the election, as, if electors in a few weeks recognised their responsibilities in the matter’ of the liquor traffic, the mental hospitals would be half emptied and new institutions would not be required. The House adjourned at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. The Hon. Bnddo, replying to cri-

ticisms and questions regarding t)io Internal Affairs vote, said the Department was providing for two Euro pcan and two native nurses for she natives. He favoured a system of lectures for natives; to inculcate in them the benefits of home nursing. Hospital boards would in future do more for the health of the natives.

Mr Greenslade objected to tlie cheese-paring policy of the Government in connection with the Cambridge Sanatorium, and asserted tlicro was not sufficient care in the medical inspection of immigrants. Mr Allen moved to reduce the vote lor hospitals and charitable aid by £I, as a protest that the law had not been complied with, the Minister not having laid the hospital and charitable aid report on the table of the House within 121 days of tiio assembling of Parliament. The amendment was negatived by 37 to 30.

Mr Fisher sought information concerning the functions of the Inspector of Fire brigades. He did not see that there was occasion for an appointment of the kind. The duties were, so far as lie could see, comparatively small, and he was inclined to believe the billet had boon created for the officer. Mr Allen moved to reduce the sum of £250 for the entertainment of visitors by £5. 'fho division resulted in a tie, viz., 28 to 28. The chairman (Mr Colvin) gave bis casting vote against the amendment. Mr Fisher moved the redaction of the vote for uniforms and o- .vcoats for messengers by £IOO as an indication that the State shomd manufacture its own uniforms for all departments instead of purchasing by

contract. Tho amendment was lost by 40 to 13, and the total vote passed.

Tho next class taken was Customs, Marine and Harbours (£123 1:32). Wellington, October I.

After midnight, replying to Mr- Herdman, tho Minister said ho would bring in a- Bill to enable Captain Atwood, of the Elingamitc, to seen re a rehearing of his case in connection with the wreck of that vessel on tho Three

Kings. Dealing with the matter of survey ou tho coast, the Minister stated that there wore any amount, of vessels practically on the scrap-heap in Hong Kong which would be admirably suited for the work, but the Admiralty would not give the Government one of them. A survey ship would cost £32,000,' and £15,000 a year to run. There could ho no decent survey of the coast without sweeping, and this process was a very costly one. In reply to Mr G. M. Thomson, tho Minister stated that tho Antarctic exploring ship Terra Nova had for some time been engaged taking soundings between the Three Kings and Cape Maria Van Diemen. Tho work would ho finished about the mid die of tho month. He had tried to get the ship for survey work around the coast, but owing to the lack of engine power, she had not been able to undertake it, as it involved coming close in to the coast. The position was that the Government had given £I2OO to the expedition, and wanting to get something for its money arranged for the soundings to be taken.

The total vote for Customs, etc., passed unaltered. On the vote for the Labour Department (£22,316), a discussion took place on abolishing the agents for parties in Conciliation Boards.

The Hon. J. A. Millar defended the Act.

Mr McLaren contended that the basis of a judgment should he equity and good conscience, and not on the principles of jurisprudence.

The amendment to abolish assessors was lost, and the House rose at 2.65