PARLIAMENT IN SESSION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1840, 28 August 1913, Page 4

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION.

■ OVERCROWDED ASYLUMS. NAM DEFENCE MATTERS. r . ijA PkCIFIG -FLEET. 1 "must Shoulder responsibilities."

Tho Houso of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m.'

Mr. T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) gave Hotico to ask tlio Prime Minister whether 'as much aa £80,000 had been received by tlio Government; last year as a fesult of the .operations of tho Graduated Land Tax.

Mr. WILFORD gave notice also that ho Would ask the Government whether it was their intention to reduce tho majority required for tho carrying of a proposal at tho local option poll in this year, or in election year. Four days' leave of absence was granted to ,Mr. L.-'M. Isitt. THE NEW HEBRIDES. j\lr.,G. M. THOMSON . (Dunedin North) asked tho Primo Minister whether it was tlio intention of the Government to tako advantage of tho visit of Lord Emmott,' Under-Secretary of State for tho Colonics, to discuss with him tho question of tho condominium in tho Now Hebrides, in view of the very unsatisfactory condition of affairs intlioio islands. The Hon. AV. F. MASSEY said that tho Government had already been in touch with Lord Emmott. That morning along with the Hon. James Allen ho had had a long interview with Lord Emmott, and among tho. matters discussed was that of dual control of the New' Hebrides. " , M ' A RUMOUR. Mr. O. E. STATHAM (Dunedin Central) said it had been rumoured that tlio Public Servico Classification List was forwarded to tlio Cabinet by the Public Service Commissioners, and returned to the Commissioners with instruction toycut down some of tho increases in salarjv. Was this true? Tho Hon. W. F.,MASSEY: In reply to .tho honourable -gentleman I can only say that tho statement referred' to, like many other similar statements,'is '•without tho very slightest, foundation. Mr. Brown: Is .iti.a surpriso question?, ; ••• Mr. Massey: The honourable, member Notified mo two ; niinutej ago that -he jiras going t-o ask it. V OVERCROWDED ASYLUMS. Mr. J. S. DICKSON (Parnell) asked the, Mjnister-for -Public; Health "wlie-. tlier .Tie'Tiatf" had any application for additional ,staOor..tho Auckland Meow tal lioSpifiil;; 'id: whichj"reference had boeD. ;'iriado ! at .the -inquest'-the - other ' day. - r k-c":.; , k :>. Th£->Ho)i; i-Ev H-. RHODES said ho was 1 Y-ell' asriirei- as -was reported at the; inquest : i?H9spitai' at mstitutionsr.elser where? ; was : - '6veMrowUetl^V&s' : 'tO; the shortage' of ' attendants he'. could ' say that (it was very difficult to, obtain iiurse'% : ,and ;in order -;to overcome this the Department! had'*,arranged for an increase in paft'and, h'ad sent to'Eng-' land for a; supply of nurses. Twentyfive nurses, .who had been selected by, an ex-matron of : one of our ; institutions,-. had; arrived. These would in some measure meet the demand for, extra .sattendants. - ed ;that">. j "'iho ;■'• institution . was 'overcrowded,'''..but ''with.'--.the; ac--commedation. .iprpyidtjd during'' ; 'the'past year, and to be provided during the,coming.year, he hoped this difficulty woiild bpovorcome. •Not only was it .ne'cessafy't'o find suffix cient accommodation for.'a'larger number, but; accommodation:' sufficient. to permit, of proper"Jcliissification. . This ho hoped toihayeVavailable during,the coniing year.' .' --' ■^?'

X FIRST. READINGS; Thcrrßluff . Harbour Board/'. Ing Bill-(Sir Joseph. Ward) and tho iWater"' Supply Amendment Bill ; (tho Hon. A.L. Herdman) were introduced, and rcj'ad.a first time. : SCIENCE AND 'fIRT BILL. Tlio: following Committco.was, on the .■motioq* of tho'Ron., ,F..;Mf, Fisher, Bet up'-to investigate' the'ScieiiCb " and' 'Art Bill: Messrs. 6. J. Anderson, H. G. Ell, E. P.' Leo, AIM. 1 Myers, J. Robertson, G.'W. Russell, ,G. M. Thomson, Dr. A. K. Newman,' the' Hon. A. T. Ngata, the Hon. Dr. Pomare, and the Hon. F.-31. B„ Fisher. • •