In Parliament

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 September 1913, Page 2

In Parliament

Questions By Members .Mr .Robertson to .usk the uovernment. AVhether they will take sieps to relieve Iho hardships iin"posed on a yreat munber of people in the Dominion by the fact that ii has been decided thai a-irls shall not be allowed (o sit Tor Tivil Service examinations for (he nexf two years ? The Jlou. .Mr .Massey replied, In receiii years vim'v few vacancies in Hie clerical division of the Public Service have occurred lo which girls could be appointed as cadels, though very large numbers of girls are available who have qualified in the Civil Service examinations. Ai liis( .November examinations I hen: were 710 girls competing, whereas only two vacancies have occurred for them upto date. The expenditure of an extra tOOO was scarcely warranted for the purpose of determining two or three appoinlemenis: hence the decision to exclude girls from the

next examinations. Any "'iris thai arc specially anxious to attempt to secure- one of the few vacancies in <ho Public Service open lo them may sit for the Public Service Senior Examination in January nexf, (he passing of which •rives them priority of claim for appointment in (hi , event of there beiii" , a vacancy.

NKW ZKALAN!) HIRDS

.Mr (i. M. Thomson to ask tlie. Prime Minister, W'hal arrangements have been made by the present ni' previous (iovernments with .Mr -fanics Drumiuon, of Christcliuich. in relation to the preparaliou of an illusdatcd work on the birds of New Zealand ? The Hon. Mr Massey replied, In March, 11)11, Mr Orummoiid, who had previously in commuuieatfn.ii with the (ioveriiinent, snlmiilU'd a scheme for the publication of an illustrated work on New Zealand birds, lie estimated al I hat time I hat the publication j.'uld cost fIOOO exclusive of (lie cost of the production and the prmtiii" , of pliiies, and lie underlook to produce ihe work and supervise it without remuneration. On (his basis the 1 lieu (iovernincnt agreed to an iieni of £1000 be.inf>" provided on the Estimates. Subsequently a .Mr (:leor»e K. Lodf>'c, an "eminent painter of bird pictures in London who had been communicated with by Mr Drunimon, adviVcd lliaf thai Ihe cost of the production of ihe necessary plates (thirty-seven) would be IMiIS. This was approved subject to the plates belli"" executed to tiie satisfaction of the ili»"h ('onimissioner. 'I'llis is the only definite recorded coniinilnieiit so fai. The question as to whether .Mr Di-11111111011(1 was to produce tlift book as his work, and at Ins cost and risk, the (ioverninenl contribnliii"- to the cost of publication, or whether .Mr Drumnioii is merely tin editor of a work to be produced at Ihe (ioveriiiiieiit's expense, and t<ll the accuracy of which the (iiivci-iiniriii will be practically respdusible, does not appear to be definitely determined by the recorded correspondence. The question is of ui'eai importance, and is Ihe subject of recent correspondence still coniinuiii" , . The (■ioverniiieiit may later have, to confer with the members of Ihe late (ioverniiieiil as to the intended ell'ecl of the provision on the estimates. The (Jovernmeut does not consider thai Hie production of (he work is an urgent mailer, or that it is necessary to supplement or add to existing standard works on New Zealand birds: but it desires to .yive ctfecl to any understanding definitely arrived at between Mr Drtiiniiiond and previous (lovernnielils.

COOL IKS IX FM I

,Mr Youn<r to ;isl< (lie I'riino Minister, N\*lictlier (lie (iovernnuiit will enter into immediate negotiations, throug/h tlie Imperial aiuhorifies, will) the (uivernment of the Crown Colony of Fiji with ;i view (o seeing , if i( would not be possible (o compel I hose persons .Hid corporations who have been responsible for Iho importation of. Hindoo coolies into the Islands under Ihe authority of ihe Fijian (ioveninieni (o return them (o India at \\\t, l completion of their labour eoni racls, so as to cheek in some measure, i , ' "."f altogether abolish, Ihe migration of coolies from Fiji to Xew Zealand? The lion. .Mr Massey replied, A Pull to amend the immigration Restriction Act is at; p'resent in preparation, and by its provisions it is intended lo restrict, as far as possible, the imniigM'ation of Hindoo coolies to this country. Tin' matter was brought under the noi ice of (he I' nder-Secretary of Stale for (lie. Colonics during his recent visii-lo New Zealand.