PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2282, 29 August 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. AFTERNOON BITTING. [Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 28. Tho Council met at 2.30 p.m. Hon. J. Rigg moved that the Government- bo recommended to introduce a Bill to provide efficient means of utilising tho credit of the Dominion in times of financial panic, so as to restore public confidence. Ho urged a revival of the Bank Note Issue Act of 1893, but if the Government was not prepared to take over a lioto issuo it could make provision, for tho issuo of notes in a time of panic and make them legal tender. Tho Attorney-General said lie was satisfied there was not the faintest reason for legislation of the kind suggested. The motion was lost by 24 to 5. Tho Coroners’ Amendment- Bill was committed, and a now clause added providing for the payment of witness-

Tho Christchurch City Sanitation Bill was read a second time, and tho Council rose until Wednesday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON BITTING

The House met at 2.30 p.m. Consideration of tho Estimates was ■esuined.

Marine—Harbours, inspection machinery Departments, £82,680. The Minister, replying to members, said that lie intended to import Atlantic salmon ova from England this year. He stated that the Government oyster beds had proved a great success, and the profits on tho year’s transactions would be between £SOO and £7OO, selling .at 12. s 6<l as against £1 or 30s. Itwas proposed to alter the regulations of service on the Amokura, so iliat boys must serve two years. If their parents removed them before that time they would be liable to the cost of training, £BO per year per boy. The Amokura- was absolutely a success. The Government so far was unable to get on obsolete war vessel from the Imperial Government to bo used as a depot .ship. The vote was passed unaltered. Department Labor, £27,162. —Hon. J. A. Millar, replying to members, stated that the cost of tlio Arbitration Court and Conciliation Boards was roughly £BBOO. Tho cost of tho Board’s enquiry into the Canterbury farm laborers’ dispute was £BOO. Sev-enty-two per cent of the fines imposed on men between 1903 and 190 S was collected, and of the fines on employers 90 per cent was collected. The Blackball miners had paid their fine and costs in full. Of the £1350 fines imposed on slaughtermen £691 was collected. £356 was owing by men who had left for Australia, but ivlien they returned steps would bo taken to collect. Out of 105 workers’ dwellings. erected, only two were unoccupied . A good deal of discussion ensued upon the question of cheap rents and homes for workers, and several members urged that homes should be erected in the suburbs and adequate and cheap transit facilities provided. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.

EVENING SITTING. Committee of Supply resumed at 7.30 p.m . The Labor Department voto was passed unaltered. Public Health Department, £38,910.—Hon. G. Fowlds', in answer to members, stated that vaccine lymph was so good that the French Government had asked the Department for supplies for their Pacific islands. Regarding the Christchurch sanatorium, the Government had already paid between £7OOO and £BOOO, and wero now asked for £2OOO for land given to tho Sanatorium Committee. Mr. C. M. Gray said the Government had only paid what the Act required, and had done the committee out of £1136. The Waikato r-anator-ilim had been very differently treated. The Christchurch sanatorium would stand renowned, with the door locked, a monument to the Government’s colossal indifference.

j\ir. J. Allan said lie hoped the Government would repeat the "Waikato experiment in Central Otago. He was glad to see that a subsidy appeared on the Estimates towards the funds of societies for tho promotion of the health of women and children. This was a great work. Dr. Chappie emphasised the protective character of sanatoriums to the community at large, as well as their curative valuo to patients. The best climatic conditions for the treatment of tuberculosis were to be found at Central Otago. The expenditure of the ITeal-th Department had greatly increased of late years, and the question was whethcr'tho results justified .this. Medical officers, except in the time of a scare, should be used for tlie purposes of medical inspection of schools. Mr. O. M. Gray complained that the administration was defective, and 45 per cent of tho total voto was going towards salaries. Tho results were not commensurate with the largo expenditure. Mr. A. W. Hogg thought a good deal of mone-y would be more usefully expended upon the training of nurses. Facilities to enter sanatoria should he increased.

Mr. F. E. Raume held that not too niuch was spent on salaries, contending that tile Health Officers were doing good work, and a largo staff was essential in a Department of this kind.

Mr. A. T. Ngata urged that more money should bo spent by the Department upon the backblocks natives. Hon. G. Fowlds stated that the operation of the Puro Foods Act had resulted in a higher standard of food. The vote was passed unaltered.

Class 26, mental hospitals and charitablo aid, £104,534. Mr. T. M. AVilford animadverted upon tho high rate of insanity. There was inadequate accomodation for females. Hon. G. Fowlds said, this was temporary until the new asylums were ready. ' Mr. C. M. Gray urged tho necessity for better classification.

Mr. W. W. Tanner said that people were sont to mental hospitals who should never he there, the result being bad classification.

Hon. G. Fowlds stated that the Department was even now considering the selection of a site, for new buildings which would permit of better classification. Air. T. M. AVilford said that when some patients at" Sunnysido went to the theatre they had to "mix with raving lunatics. Obviously bettor classification was necessary. Tho site for a new hospital should be selected without delay. The present wages of attendants were bad. Air. \V. AV. Tanner said that for years' Alinisters had made unfulfilled promises. Hon. AV. Hnll-Jones contended that there had been much improved accommodation in recent years.

Hon. G. Fowlds stated that halfwav houses were to be erected at tho various centres.

Air. F. 11. Flatman urged additional exnenditure on cancer research. The necessity for medical aid in the hackblocks was urged by several members.