MOTION IN THE HOUSE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1935, Page 9

MOTION IN THE HOUSE

LABOUR SEEKS INCREASE ALLOWANCE FOR DEPENDENTS, CONDITIONS OF WORK IN SAMOA. WOMEN’S PETITION HEARD. ■<s. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Match 22. When the House of Representatives met to-day Mr. M. J. Savage, Leader of the Opposition, gave notice of his intention to move at the next sitting day “that the House expresses grave concern with the inadequate provision made for relief workers and their dependents and is of the opinion that until such time as productive work at standard wages of pay can be made available to every able bodied worker an increase of not less than 10s a week should be made forthwith in the wages of such workers, with a further sympathetic allowance for each dependent.” Mr. A. S. Richards (Lab., Roskill) asked the Prime Minister whether he would issue instructions to Government officers in Samoa that positions there should be filled by Europeans or else half-caste or full-blooded Samoans. At present, he said, certain positions were being filled by Chinese coolie labourers, who were paid only £3 a month, ■while many Europeans and Samoans were In dire distress.

Mr. Forbes said he would have the position investigated. The House was engaged for a considerable time discussing the petition of Mrs. Coleridge Farr, Christchurch, who sought to regain from the Public Trustee control of her own estate. The Public Petitions Committee recommended that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. The facts of the case were outlined by Mr. E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South), who explained that Mrs. Farr had at one time been an inmate of a mental institution. Despite the testimonies of several eminent specialists in New Zealand and England she had not been able to secure control of her estate, which in 1908 was valued at £16,000. He submitted that Mrs. Farr had not been, treated fairly in the matter. Sir Alexander Young, Minister- of Health, said he had no objection to the recommendation of the committee and would take the matter up to see what could be done. No obstacles would be placed in tile petitioner’s way by the Government. . , Several members spoke in support of the petition and the Government was urged to act without delay. The report was tabled.