House of Representatives.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7845, 10 September 1904, Page 6

House of Representatives.

AFTERNOON SITTING.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. FINAL STAGES.

The Church Keserves and Canterbury Bill ( Mr Flatman) was put through its final stages. SECOND READINGS. At 3.5 p.m. the Speaker called on the first Order of the day, which was the resumption of the debate on the motion for the second reading of the Licensing Acts Amendment Bill. No member rose to speak, and the Speaker put the motion, the second reading being agreed to on the voices. SUPPLY. The Housß then went into Commiotee of Supply for the farther consideration of the Estimates. The total vote for the Stamps and Deeds Department, £29,806, was passed unaltered, and the next class taken

was Lunacy and Charitable Department, £79,280. On the vote for the Lunatic Asylums, £72,169 Mr Davey moved a reduction of £1 as an indication that the Committee considered it advisable that an Appeal Board should be set up to which could be referred the complaints, etc., of asylum ,attendants... Hβ = strongly urged the claims of asylum attendants for redress. Mr Witty spoke to similar effect. Mr T. Mackenzie said humane, intelligent and capable people were required as attendants, and these could not be obtained for the wretched pittance paid by the Government. Mr J. C. Thomson complained of over-crowding in the asylums, and thought it was the duty of the Government to show every consideration towards both inmates and attendants.

The Hon W. Hall-Jones sympathised with the attendants and recognised the arduous nature of their work. The desire of the Department was to provide for a means of classification of the patients, and that was now being done. He desired to impress on members that there was no antagonism on his part to any of the suggestions made by members for the improvement of the asylum conditions. He wanted to get first-class attendants and to treat them so that it would be worth their while to remain in the service. The question of increased pay for the attendants was before the Cabinet, and provision for this purpose would be made on the Supplementary Estimates.

Mr Wilford said .the Minister, who was strong when dealing with public works, was timid and shy when dealing with the asylums. He advocated a half-way house between the asylum and the gaol that would relieve the overcrowding.

Mr Ell urged that children should be taken out of the asylums. Mr Taylor said the Minister was on trial for his administration. He would like him to take the position of baker at the Sunnyside Asylum for three months. It he did that he would come back one of the most ardent reformers in the colony.

Mr Laurenson advocated the traming of asylum attendants. In the course of further discussion, Mr James Allen said the result of Boards of Appeal in two instancesrailways and teachers —was not satisfactory, and at the present time he had reason to know that it was an extremely difficult thing indeed to maintain discipline in the Railway Service. In regard to the Railway Appeal Board, he thought they were verging close on a danger point. The discussion was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment.