PARLIAMENT MAKES GOOD PROGRESS WITH ESTIMATES

Grey River Argus, 2 October 1948, Page 5

PARLIAMENT MAKES GOOD PROGRESS WITH ESTIMATES

WELLINGTON, Oct. 1

Doubts as to the ability of State Departments to take over efficiently, as from April 1, 1949, the provision of all workers’ compensation insurance, as provided for under the legislation passed last year, were expressed by several Opposition speakers when consideration of the estimates was resumed in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Mr W. A. Sheat (Nat., Patea) asked if information could be given as to the progress made with the preparations for the change-over from the private insurance companies to the State Insurance Office, when the monopoly, for which provision had been made, became effective next year. Mr J. M. Massey (Nat., Franklin) moved that the vote for the Government Accident Insurance Office be reduced by £lO as an indication of the Opposition’s dissatisfaction with the monopolistic servjce to be established next year in this field of insurance.

The amendment was defeated by 34 votes to 30. REFERENCE TO PAMIR The barque Pamir had been taken over in doubtful circumstances, in the first instance, and there had to be a special peace treaty clause to enable New Zealand to retain the ship, said the Minister of Marine, the Hon. F. Hackett, in reply to Mr T. L. McDonald (Nat., Wallace) when the vote for the Marine Department was under discussion.

Mr McDonald asked the Minister to state if the decision to hand the Pamir back to Finland was purely a New Zealand decision and could this country have kept the barque if it wished.

■> Mr Hackett said the Pamir had been offered to the United Kingdom Government, which had advised that it had handed back a sailing ship to Finland, as a gesture of goodwill. New Zealand had decided to do likewise.

Mr McDonald said that the Pamir had given great publicity to New Zealand overseas. It.might not have been financially successful, but nevertheless, it had real value, difficult as this was to assess in money. Mr S. G. Hollapd (Opposition Leader): “Russia will get it in the end.” FISHING POACHERS Replying to a point raised by other speakers,' Mr Hackett said that so far as poaching on fishing grounds in New Zealand waters was concerned, it was possible that the three-mile limit to territorial waters might have to be reviewed in order to curb poachers, and prevent fish being taken away from New Zealand markets. The vote was passed. CYCLISTS ON ROADS Mr G. H. Mackley (Nat., Wairarapa) speaking to the vote for the Transport Department drew attention to the careless disregard to wise road usage by many cyclists, especially at night. He urged better policing of this type of traffic. Mr Mackley urged the development of a policv of" rail haulage, wherever possible, for heavy goods. He said that, on a recent trip north, he had passed fortv heavy vehicles, all carrying fertiliser from the Westfield works to the Waikato. He estimated that they would use 800 gallons of petrol daily, and the cost of road transport for this typ e of haulage must be much higher than rail transport. TRANSPORT CO-ORDINATION Mr W. H. Gillespie (Nat., Hurunui) urged the best possible co-ordination between all forms of transport. He said that there appeared to be a likelihood of some conflict developing between the Minister, who had expressed himself in favour of such a policy, and Mr T. Hill (Waterside Workers’ Union secretary), who had declared that there was need for higher pay for watersiders and other transport workers. In reply to a question by Mr Gillespie, the Acting-Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. W. Nash, said that, a special committee had been-appoint-ed recently and would meet shortly to arrange adequate and properly coordinated transport for mvoing the new season’s wheat crop from farm to mill.

Mr Gillespie said that present indications were for'a heavy c,rop this year. a NEXT WEEK’S WORK When progress was reported at 5.15 p.m., Mr Nash said that the defence estimates would be discussed on Tuesday,. and Bills on the following two days. The second reading of the Land Valuation Court Bill would probably be taken on Wednesday evening. The House then adjourned until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. Votes passed to-day totalled £2,556,434.