PARLIAMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20899, 1 December 1937, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINTON, November 30. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. In answer to an urgent question by Mr L. G. Lowry (Labour, Otaki) who drew the Minister’s attention to the dismay and concern of the staff of the Porirua Mental Hospital at allegations concerning the ill-treatment of a patient at that hospital by a member of the staff mentioned by Mr R. A. Wright ’n the House recently, the Minister in Charge of Mental Hospitals, the Hon. P. Fraser, said a full investigation had been made into the matter and the allegations were without foundation. The patient’s allegations were not founded on fact. Eight days leave of absence was granted to Mr P. Neilson on account of illness, a similar period being granted to Mr Pau Henare tor the same cause. Mr J. O’Brien, on behalf of the Goldfields and Mines Committee, reported that the committee had considered the Mining Amendment Bill and recommended that the Bill be allowed to proceed unamended.

The Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Amendment Bill and the local Legislation Bill were introduced by Govemor-C. neral’s Message and read a first time. Explaining the last mentioned Bill, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, said that this was really a washing up measure dealing with various matters wherein local bodies throughout the Dominion required validating legislation, etc. It was not a complete Wash-ing-Up Bill because the present session was divided into two sections, the second to be continued next year, at the end of which the final Washing-Up Bill would be presented. There were no "catches” in It, and the Bill itself comprised 51 clauses.

The Bill was referred to the Local Legislation Committee.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, November 30. The Auckland Electric Power Board Amendment Bill was read a first time in the Legislative Council, and it was agreed that it should be allowed to proceed this s'vslon as if it were a public Bill.