PARLIAMENT
TIIE ESTIMATES. SUPERANNUATION FOR NURSES DISCUSSED. CONDITION OF MORTGAGES. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Mortgages' Extension Amendment Bill was received from the Houbo of Representatives, and read a first time. ,i For this Bill, passed through all stages in tho Houso tho preceding day, the Hon. H. D. Bell claimed urgency, and it was proceeded with at once. Moving tho second reading, he explained the provisions of the Bill and the objects of it. Tho Hon. 0. approved strongly of the Bill, and said that the amendments would got rid of some of the evil effects of the Act already very properly passed at this time of crisis, but he expressed the opinion that further amendments in the law might.yet be found to be necessary. The Hon. H. D. BELL, in reply, pointed out that the Bill before the Council was quite distinct as to its subject matter from the Act already passed. The. Act had considered only those mortgages and agreements of sale and purchase made impossible of fulfilment by the supervening of a stato of war. The amending Bill 'dealt with contracts to be made in the future. He assured the Council that the Government had spared no effort and no time to make this special legislation as useful as possible, and if they failed in. their object,, they had certainly not failed in their sense of responsibility. Their difficulties were very great. They were absolutely without precedents of .'any 6ort, and defects were bound* to occur in their legislation to deal with* an unprecedented state of affairs.
The Bill was read a third time, and, passed. . ' LICENSINC DILL. BEER AND THE GRAIN SHORTAGE. The Hon H. D. BELL, moving the third reading of the Licensing Amendment Bill, said the measure had been so thoroughly' debated previously that he did not think it necessary that he should speak at length upon it. The Hon.' G. JONES said that in his opinion the Bill, like all other measures intended to control tho liquor traffic was likely to avail little. The only way to control the liquor. traffic was to abolish it altogether. It seemed to him that at such a time as this; when the world was threatened with a shortage of grain and. breadstuff's, it was folly to allow, the manufacture of beer to continue. 'If' necessary, ho would agree to tho brewers being compensated for, the interruption of their industry. ■ The Bill was read a third time on the voices without further debate. Tho Hon. H. D. BELL, moving the adjournment of the Council, said that ho did not expect that there would bo anything but formal business to octhe Council on Tuesday, but there was still a possibility that business would arise out of the proceedings of the House that night demanding the attention of the Council on Tuesday.; Ho could not therefore suggest an adjourn-, nient of the Council'for any longer period. Tho Council tose at 2.58 p.m.
THE HOUSE
•The House of Representatives sat at 7.30 p.m., and at 815 p.m. went into Committee to further consider the Estimates. Tho first item dealt with was the Vote for Eublio Health, Hospitals, and Charitable Aid, which totalled £55,994. Mr. J. S. Dickson (Parnoll) asked what the Department proposed to do regarding St. Helens Home, Auckland. ■ The Hon., E. Heaton Rhodes replied that the intention of the Department was to erect a new building, but that there was difficulty in getting a site. _ . ■ ' SUPERANNUATION PAY OF NURSES. Mr. J. B. Hine (Stratford) again drew attention to the need for a superannuation scheme for nurses, especially those who made nursing a life-long work. .Mr. J. A. Young (Waikato) euggested that there should be some uniformity in the matter of 1 the payment of nurses. The various hospital boards in the country had their own rates of pay for nurses, and it was'not well that that should be the state of affairs. ' Mr. G. _ W. Forbes (Huruuui) said that the increase in the subsidies paia by local bodies to hospital boards was causing a good deal of dissatisfaction, and that ho would like to know if it was necessary. Replying to these questions, the Hon. R. Hoaton Rhodes said that nurses would have to be State servants before they, could como under the State • scheme of superannuation. Ho had suggested to local bodies that .they should co-operate with the Government in some scheme of. superannuating nurses. The Minister went on to say that the question of the uniformity of the payment of nurses whs, also, a matter for the hospital boards. It was correct that expenditure on hospital work had been heavier this year than usual, but it was mostly' on buildings, and it was hoped that extra expenditure of the kind would not recur for some time. Dr. RangiHiroa (Northern Maori) asked; why the vote for medical and. nursing aid,, to Maoris had been largely reduced in this ydar's Estimates. The Minister answered that there had' not been a reduction, but that the item had been divided under two heads. Sanitary Plumbing. Several members urged that the Plumbers' Registration Act should be amended /6o that plumbers who had been -practising as master plumbers for seven years should be enabled to obtain certificates without having to pass examinations. Mr. J. Payne (Grby ;Lynn) disagreed with this View. Ho said that a man might for years liavo practised rough plumbing, and yob havo no knowledge of sanitary plumbing. It would be unwise to risk the hoalth of communities because a few plumbers were too npathetic to acquire tho knowledge of sanitary plumbing, which ,wo.uld enable them to pass tho required examination, Mr. G. W. Russoll (Avon) asked why tho Dominion was taking upon itself an expenditure/of £370 in connection with sowago works in the Mount Albert and Mount Eden boroughs. Mr. Rhodes, in reply, said that this work was absolutely necessary, so tho Department wns undertaking it, and the money would- be refunded by the local bodies. Mr. Russoll: Why didn't you compel thnm to do tho work ? Mr. Rhodes' said that there was no pawer of compulsion, and that the Department thought that it was advisable t<i tfike tho course adopted. - Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hiirunui) asked if o, Masseurs , Registration Bill was being brought'down this session. Mr. Rhodes said that this Bill was li\ hand,' but thM ho'oould not say .IVHPther to would, or, .wquM aeh be
brought down this session. As to tao registration of plumbers, the Minister said that the examination was neither theoretical nor vety technical, and t/lio test was so simplo that any competent man could pass it with ease. Tho Public Health Vote was passed unaraended. Cook Islands. When the Cook Islands Vote, £6908, ivas under consideration, Tho Hon. Dr. Pomare, replying to questions, said that the health, of the people on tho islands was better than it had ever been previously. The medical officers stationed in the group had done excellent work. Further measures for the improvement of the health of the natives wore, ho said, being considered by Cabinet. Hβ stated that a Bill dealing with the Cook Islands administration would be brought down this session. The item was agreed to after brief debate, and this completed tho Internal Affairs Class. ' Railways, N The Class, Working Railways 000, was reached at 11.10 p.m. The Hon. W. Fraser took charge of the Estimates in the absence of the Hon. W. H. Herries. Mr. 6. W. Russell (Avon) asked whether tho Minister could say what was the general intention of the Government regarding the recommendations in tho report of the Goneral Manager of Railways.
Mr. Fraser said that the report came down when Mr. Herries was ill, and as Mr. Herries was still unable to attend to his duties, no opportunity had,been given to Cabinet to consider the report. As-soon as possible after Mr. Herries's return the report would be considered, and the decision of the Government upon it would be communicated to tho House. Also the Prime Minister had said that an opportunity would bo given to the House or discussing the report, Mr. Russell then suggested that the wisest course for the Ministor to follow would be to report progress, but to this course Mr. Fraser would not at first agree, but ultimately he consented, to the postponement. Mines. The Olasß, Mines Department £34,343; was discussed at considerable length, and l passed. Progress was reported. » \ ' The House rose aVI-2 a.m. until 7.80 p.m. on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said that afternoon sittings would be resumed on Wednesday, and that on Tuesday he would announce the probable date of the elections. ■
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Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2253, 12 September 1914, Page 4
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1,444PARLIAMENT Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2253, 12 September 1914, Page 4
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