PARLIAMENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 18 November 1927, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEVERAL BILLS DISCUSSED. Wellington Nov. 17. In the House of Representatives to-day, Mr J. McCombs (Lyttelton) asked if the Government would introduce legislation to restore to Parliament its authority and prestige by insuring that its will shall prevail. The Prime Minister replied that he was not awar e of any circumstances having arisen that would lead to the supposition that Parliament was not master of its own actions. Replying to Mr W. A. Veitch (Wanganui), the Minister to Mines said the visit of the German scientist investigating oil deposits in Now Zealand was being made at the invitation of a Victorian company, which had certain leases of oil-bear-ing lands. The Governent had given no facilities to them. The Ashley River Improvement Amendment Bill (the Hon K. S. Williams) was introduced and read the first time. Amendments mad® by ths Legislative Council in the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill were agreed to. In committee on the Slaughtering and Inspection Amendment Bill. Mr G. W. Forbes (Leader of the Nationalists) drew attention to the fact that in some centres freezing works were already in existence, which should make it unnecessary to spend money on the erection of abattoirs, iu circumstances such as prevailed in Christchurch, for instance. Members pointed out that freezing works would not agree to the requirements in regard to killing and inspection. After discussion the Minister said it was really a question whether freezing works could not do ail the work necessary in the case of Christchurch. A poll had been taken in Christchurch and the proposed extensions of abattoirs were rejected. The condition of things at th e abattoirs was such that tf continued very long it might become a menace to the health of the community. So far as he could see there was no reason why the city should not have its kill ing done at freezing works if such course was cheaper. In view of the conditions at the Christchurch abattoirs and the rejecting of the poll by the ratepayers, only one couiso was left to the municipality. It must raise the money without a poll. The bill was reported without amendment. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill was put through committee and reported with amendments. Both bills were read the third time and passed. In moving the committal of the Coal Mines Amendment Bill, the Minister said it provided, into alia, dor the protection of miners' wages, which would be made a first charge on plant, etc. This was the result of a promise made to th e Kaitangata miners who recently found themseives in a bad position. Another provision was for the proper distribution of air throughout mine workings. Mr H. E. Holland, commenting, expressed surprise that the Dobson Company was not prosecuted, as the reports showed that it had not complied with the regulations regarding coal dust. That, however, was a past matter and he hoped that iu future no company would exempt from prosecution if there should unfortunately arise similar conditions at another mine. CHILD WELFARE. In moving the committal of the Child Welfare Amendment Bill, the Minister said various amendments had been made to meet objections raised in different centres. Ho thought the measure, which provided for additional supervision and inspection. was now free of anything of a contentious nature. The Minister said good work was being done by the Child Welfare Department, the development of which must prove of great value to the country by reducing the proportion of pauperism and wrong-doing. He commented on the work being done by the Y.M.C.A. and the big brother movement in directing youth into honourable careers. Mr W. J. Jordan (Manukau) considered th e welfare work had grown to such an extent as to warrant its being administered by a separate department. instead of being included in the Education Department’s activities. He contending that while it was all very well to encourage brilliant scholars and technical and other schools, a special effort should be made to encourage those who were less fortunately endowed with less fortunate upbringing. The Minister, in reply to the debate, deprecated the idea of setting up a separate department for child welfare. To do so would be neither more economical nor efficient, as the same officers would have to go to it. The Education Department was the natural body to look after such children, whose education had to be supervised. He admitted that many of the wayward children were the product of indifferent parental training, and he thought it would not be a bad idea to have a home where some of the parents could be trained. He favoured putting children in private homes where there was a mother, but not too large a family, and he thought that policy was better than establishing special institutions in the North Island. He thanked members for their reception of the bill. They were only making a beginning and they would go further as experience seemed to justify. The bill was read the second time, and the House went into committee on the Coalmines Amendment Bill. Both hills were reported without amendment, read the third time and passed. TWO NEW BILLS. By Governor-General’s messages' the Public Service Amendment Bill and the Railway Amendment Bill were introduced and read the first time. In connection with the former bill, the Prime Minister said he would not press the committee stage until the Public Service Association had an opportunity of considering the clauses of the bill. The Prime Minister also stated that the Railway Bill was similar to the P. and T. Bill and was an endeavour to bring, all b.'anthes of the public service into line, which would be a very good thin/;.

The Railway Bill was then read the second time pro forma and referred to the Railway Committee. The House rose at midnight until 2.30 p.m.