Notes From Parliament.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18550, 25 August 1928, Page 4

Notes From Parliament.

MORE WAR FUNDS SHOULD BE SPENT, LABOUR MEN SAY.

(Special to the "Star.”) WELLINGTON, August 25. A suggestion that a greater part of the accumulated war funds should be spent on the relief of unemployed returned soldiers was made by Labour members yesterday. They deplored the fact that more of this money subscribed for soldiers was not being spent at a time when ex-service men were appealing to charitable aid boards for relief.

The Minister of Finance (the Hon Pownie Stewart) said that the National War Funds Council stood behind district funds and acted as a 6ort of reservoir. Districts were fed from the main fund as it became neces: ary from time to time. The War Funds Council had £160,290 in its coffers.

Mr J. A. Lee: That will last for forty cr sixty years.

The Minister of Finance said that there were returned soldiers on the council and they appeared to be satisfied with the present cautious policy A little time, ago it was suggested that the funds be used to help local bodies to provide employment, but there was an objection to that. The total of the funds of the societies throughout New Zealand was £1,063,000, or a little more Some of it consisted of buildings, and perhaps only 60 per cent was liquid. Mr Lee: Most of it could be spent on unemployment. The Minister of Finance said that most societies had drafted regulations which confined expenditure to cases of distress arising from war service. That made it difficult to relieve distress arising frorn unemployment. Some societies had these regulations and some hadn’t.

Mr Sullivan (Avon): Do they confine expenditure to the interest earned?

The Minister: No. thev make capital advances to districts. Sir John Luke is chairman of the executive and he is more familiar with the whole position than T am.

Sir John Luke said that a grant of £SOOO was made last year for the relief of unemployed returned soldiers, of 'dffiich £4310 was spent up to the end of the year. It was only a fair thing to use some of the money in that way. The executive of the council met every week and endeavoured to carry out theft duties creditably. The assets at the War Funds Council were not too high if the many years ahead were to be faced.

Mr Sullivan contended that in view of its large funds the National War Funds Council could have helped unemployed soldiers a good deal more He felt that patriotic societies were too rigid. He would not say unjust. A returned soldier or his dependants had to put up a remarkably good story before they got anything ’at all. Mr Nash (Palmerston North) said that the council was doing splendid work.

Mr Sullivan: They are not even spending all their interest. Mr Lee said that the Auckland Patriotic Society had done splendid work, but that was no excuse for the National Council piling up a huge capital sum. That the War Funds Council didn't spend a sum equal to the interest earnings at a time when Auckland had a clothes drive for poor returned soldiers showed that some-, thing was wrong. The Council's statement showed that many overseas Imperial ex-Service men were receiving thousands annually from New Zealand funds. That only went to that the Government was bringing out immigrants who were on the bread line practically the moment they landed. Mr Armstrong said that there were ex-soldiers and their children hungry and in want to-day. Sir John Luke: There need not be if they apply to the War Funds Council. Mr Armstrong said that it was use- , less to say that when there were street collections and soup kitchens and soldiers’ wives seeking clothes. The Hon. A. D. M'Leod: You are exaggerating a bit. Mr Parry: Not at all. The Minister wouldn’t say that from a public platform. Electric Wiremen. The Electrical Wiremen's Registration Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's message. The Minister of Works stated that it seeks to remove anomalies in the present law, such as the point that there was no power to remove an endorse-

: ment of a wire man’s license It was also to be provided that certain persons not fully qualified as wiremen could be licensed to do limited classes of electrical work in specified premises, but not elsewhere. Another clause would make it clear that the wiring of premises must be done by registered wiremen, or by apprentices, or improvers under their personal supervision. Employers would be liable to a fine of £lO if this clause was infringed by failure to secure proper supervision. The Bill would also provide further powers for inspectors and would give power to make regulations that stage lighting may require to be controlled by a registered wireman or the holder of a provisional license. Statistics.

When the Internal Affairs vote was being considered in the House Mr Savage raised a question as to the supply of statistical information. "We are gradually losing track of the affairs of New Zealand,” said Mr Savage, "because of the curtailment of statistics.” He supposed Ministers would say that this had been done iu the interests of economy, but what was the object ? Was it due to a desire on the part of the Government to keep members ifi darkless, so that when they set out to criticise they would tie in the position of guessers.

The acting Minister of Internal Affairs (Sir Maui Pom a re) disputed the assertion that there had been curtailment. The Government had no. intention of curtailing information, and the Year Book was becoming more informative year by* year.

Hospital BiH. The Lands Committee of the House of Representatives has approved the Christchurch Hospital Bill without amendment, and it will reach the second reading stage on Thursday.

Ashburton Water Supply. Tho Ashburton Water Supply (Lagmhor Creek) Bill has been completely redrafted by the Local Bills Committee. New clauses iwlW! bean framed to deal with the position of the Tinwald Town District. Both tho Ashburton County Council and the Tinwald Town Board are in agreement that the County Council should exe--cise full control over Lagmhor Creek and branches within the town district and this is provided for in the Bill, though nothing in the measure is to operate to make residents in the Tinwald Town District liable for payment cf annual water rate or charges. Petitions.

As a matter of policy i* involved, the Public Petitions Committee has no recommendation to make on the petition. of T. Bull and other Canterbury residents who wish the licensing la*.v amended, as electoral boundary changes have deprived them of tho opportunity to reinstate a license formerly existing in their neighbourhood. Charles H. Lennon, Timaru, petitioned for a compassionate allowance on account of injuries sustained while a member of the police force. The Public Petitions Committee has referred the matter to the Government for favourable consideration. The Public Petitions Committee has referred to the Government for inquiry a petition from William Alfred Hewitt, of Christchurch, asking for an inquiry into evidence tendered before the Divorce Court and to be allowed to appear before a select committee. Military Training.

The Defence Committee of the House has returned, without any recommendation, a petition signed by 4249 Dunedin residents praying for the abolition of compulsory military training in New Zealand. It dealt similarly with a Christchurch petition signed by 3197 persons, who desire a referendum to be taken on the question of immediate total disarmament in the Dominion. Admission to Public Reserves. An amendment in the Public Reserves, Domains and National Park.? Bill, which has been inserted by the Lands Committee, extends to twenty the days in the year on which this public can be excluded from a reserve except on payment for admission. The Governor-General may by warrant increase the total to thirty da vs annually. Harewood School. The Minister of Education has informed Mr Kyle (Riccarton) that he has approved a grant for remodeling and additions to the Harewood School, Papanui.