PARLIAMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19861, 26 July 1934, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

THE LOWER HOUSE SEVERAL BILLS DISCUSSED By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON. July 25. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Notice to introduce the following bills was given: Timaru Borough Empowering (Rev. Clyde Carr), Shipping and Seamen's Amendment (.Mr P. Fraser). Replying to Mr W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier), the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes said that the Government did not at present propose that the Napier-Wairoa-Gisborne railway should be completed. The terms and conditions on which the Government would be prepared to approve the handing over of the line and associated works to private enterprise were at present under review. Mr E. T. Tirikatene (Ind., Southern Maori) asked if the Government would make provision for medical assistance for natives residing on the West Coast of the South Island.

The Hon. J. Bitchener replied that the Department had already granted an annual subsidy to doctors at Hokitika and Westport for attendance and supplying medicines to indigent Maoris. No request for an extension of the present arrangement had been made.

Mr A. J. Murdoch (C., Marsden) asked the Minister of Agriculture whether in view of the present uncertainty in the dairying industry and the fact that a Commission is now investigating many phases of the industry, whether he would appeal to the Dairy Board to refrain from imposing new regulations until the report of the Commission had been submitted to the Government.

The Hon. C. E. Macmillan replied that the Government had already taken up the matter with the Dairy Board and it was still under discussion.

The Native Plants Protection Bill was read a first time.

Mr C. H. Chapman (Lab., Wellington North) moved for leave to introduce the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill. He said the object of the Bill was to prevent young people from bevictimised. He gave instances of young people paying premiums for training as hairdressers and then after six months, being dismissed without being fully trained. Other members supported the Bill and appealed to the Government to take steps to prevent the practices which were growing up.

Leave was granted and the Bill was read a first time.