PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 27 September 1930, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

DAY ON ESTIMATES. The week’s work in Parliament was rounded off yesterday with further consideration of the Estimates, of which five more classes were passed. The Government evidently deemed the rate of progress satisfactory, for the halfexpected call to members to sit again in the evening was not made. The debate on the Justice Department estimates largely turned on the method of appointing justices of the peace. The Minister of Justice, Hon. J. G. Cobbe, gave an assurance that political considerations did not weigh one iota, and he announced that further appointments would be made shortly after Parliament rose.

The conduct of the Borstal Institute at Invercargill bulked largely in the debate on the Prisons vote, the suggestion being made that there was too much of a gaol taint about the establishment, but Mr Cobbe pointed to the small number of inmates who subsequently came before the courts as proof ■of the success of the Borstal system in New Zealand.

Labour’s advocacy of increased benefits was revived on the Pensions vote, when Mr W. H. E. Parry (Auckland Central) moved to reduce the total vote by £1 as an indication that the House desired increases to be made in the old age and blind pensions. Mr Parry moved a similar amendment on the Pensions Department’s annual report several weeks ago, but a division was not taken owing to the interruption of the sitting. However, the House was divided yesterday and the amendment to reduce the vote was defeated by 40 votes to 22. Efforts to pierce the veil of mystery which still shrouds the Government’s defence economy proposals were made when the Defence estimates were considered toward the close of the day. It was evident that members were determined to lose no opportunity to extract all possible information from Mr Cobbe, and the vote had not been passed when the hour of the adjournment arrived. It is expected that estimates will be further considered on Tuesday, and members on the Reform benches, at least, appear determined to do their utmost to secure a more expansive statement than the Minister vouchsafed yesterday. .Monday sittings, which have lapsed since the long hours worked immediately before the departure of the Prime Minister, Hon. G. W. Forbes, will be reinstituted next week.

UNEMPLOYMENT bill. The Unemployment Bill was put through its final stages and passed by the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon.

When the Council resumed yesterday afternoon it went into committee on the Bill. The majority of the clauses were agreed to without comment, but those relating to the constitution of the board and the flat rate levy were freely discussed. On the motion that the Bill be read a third time several councillors took the opportunity of having their views recorded in Hansard. MILITARY TRAINING. In response to questions which came from all sides of the House as soon as the estimates of the Defence Department were reached yesterday, the Minister of Defence, Hon. J. G. Cobbe, announced that during the balance of the present military year the department would carry out the training of 600 officers and 2000 non-commissioned officers in the territorial force in addition to all secondary school cadets. Although he was pressed for an answer, the Minister gave no indication of what was to happen to members of the permanent staff in view of the economy “cuts,” nor did he announce his intentions concerning voluntary training. WAGES POLICY. “Will the Acting-Prime Minister give the House an assurance that the Government will not adopt a wagereducing policy?” asked the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr H. E. Holland, in an urgent question he put to the Hon. E. A. Ransom, yesterday. Mr Holland also asked that before any of the wages of the lowest paid workers were attacked, those with high incomes be subject to a substantial levy. His question was prompted by the deputation which had waited on the Government on Thursday to ask for legislation to give the Arbitration Court power to reduce wages by general Older.

The Acting-Ptime Minister said the Leader of the Labour Party had raised two very important policy questions that he could hardly be expected to answer off-hand.

Mr P. Fraser (Lab., 'Wellington Central): Why not?> < ‘ There will be no departure from the policy stated by myself and other Ministers,” said Mr Ransom, £< The questions raised by Thursday’s deputation have not yet been considered by Cabinet, and I am not in a position to make any policy announcement.” WOMEN JUSTICES. The appointment of women justices of the peace was advocated by the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr H. E. Holland, when the- estimates of the Justice Department were under discussion in the House, of Representatives yesterday. Mr Holland said that women justices were absolutely essential, as there were many cases before the courts in which women were concerned. »He knew of several- able women who could well be appointed, and he suggested to the Minister that the nominations should not

be held up on the score that women should not be appointed. Just as a man should not be debarred from being appointed a justice on political or religious grounds, so a woman should not be prevented from holding office on account of her sex.

The Minister of Justice, Hon. J. G. ■Cobbe, said he did not know that any definite policy had been laid down concerning the appointment of women. He would be pleased to consider appointing any women that members considered fit to hold office in their districts. In any case the whole question of the appointment of justices would be considered at the end of the session.