FUNDS FOR DEPARTMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1930, Page 9

FUNDS FOR DEPARTMENTS

DISCUSSION OF ESTIMATES MOVE TO INCREASE PENSIONS. POLICE AND MILITARY VOTES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. • When the estimate of £45,000 for the Police Department was submitted to the House of Representatives to,-day Mr. R. A. Wi-ight- asked the Minister what was the position with regard to book-' milking. There should be some finality one way or the other, he said. Either the bookmakers should be suppressed or they should be placed on a proper legal footing. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle said he hoped the new Commissioner would endeavour to stimulate the police with a view to getting more convictions of bookmakers. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe said the number of convictions last year indicated that the police were fully active in dealing with bookmakers. Mr. F.'Waite-said he was glad to be able to say that valuable progress had l>eeu made in the endeavour to eliminate sly grog selling in Southland. He hoped the new Coiijmissioner would keep up the pressure in this direction. Tin sum was granted. The estimate of £165,000 for the Pensions Department was considered next. Mr. W. E; Parry moved that the vote be reduced by £1 as an indication that the House desired an increase in old age and . blind pensions. Mr. Wright said that widows were allowed to ejtl'n only £7B a year and he considered they should be allowed to earn at least £lOO a year in conjunction with the penson. Mr. A. M. Samuel asked if the Minister would agree to make amendments to the Pensions Act to bring miners’ pensions into line with others. Mr. Cobbe said he knew there were anomalies in the Pensions Act. The Government was sympathetic but another £-1.000,000 would be required to put them right. Pensions were costing the country £2,809,596. The increases asked for would cost a further £1,011,000, and that was impossible at present. He was prepared to give the miners favourable consideration. , Mr. E. J. Howard supported the amendment and said he believed the country could afford to pay old age pensioners ohe pound a Week. Mr. J. O’Brien objected to old age pensioners being examined by constables in uniform. Mr. J. A. Nash said he had been assured that constables would (Conduct their enqxiiries in plain clothes and he was disappointed that that had not been adhered to. ■ # . Mr. Cobbe said he would issue instructions that constables must conduct enquiries in plain clothes. ° Mr. J. G. Coates asked if the Minister would state when the soldiers rehabilitation report could be taken. There were many urgent cases to be considered. Mr. Cobbe said an opportunity would be given to discuss the report. His de-partment-had been negotiating with the R.S.A. and had practically come to an understanding which, he believed, would please all returned soldiers. - The amendment was defeated by 4V votes to 22 and vote was passed. The estimate of £275,000 for the Defence Department was submitted, upon which Mr. Waite asked whether adequate supplies of small arm ammunition were being maintained. ._ A.- Nash asked for details as to officers placed bn superannuation and tiidsb transferred to India. Mr. Coates said many people were concerned owing to the undefined attitude of the Government towards; defence. He asked what form military training would take in future. Mr. Cobbe said 600 officers and noncommissioned officers and 2000 men wou’j. be kept in training this year, also secondary school cadets. , r . . x In reply to Mr. Waite the Minister said the ammunition retained would be afi affidunt' sufficient for a war reserve. He' was not in a position at the moment to answer the question asked by Mr. Nash. . „ x . -vx Mr. W. J. Jordan urged that famines should be given for men to go into camp if they desired to do so. It seemed to him the pendulum had swung right over from compulsory military trainng to the ether extreme. Progress was then reported and the House’ rose at 5.30 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. on Monday.