PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1929, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

(By Telegraph—Press Association). . THE HOUSE. , . ‘WELLINGTON, August 9. The House of Representatives met at 2.30. . -

, following bills were introduced and read a first time:—

Borough of Lyttelton Corporation Enabling Bill (Mr J. M/Combs). Wellington City Milk. Supply Amendment Rill (Mr W. J. Poison). , Tile financial debate was; continued jtly Sir G. tturiter, ,Messrs Makitanara, Mason, McMillan, Jenkins, Armstrohg, Wright and Ransom. WELLINGTON, August 9.

-The Rouse of Representatives under the new Standing Orders met at 16.30 this morning. Mr, Langstone gave notice of intention to introduce tlie Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill. t Hon. Wilfoixl moved the second reading of the Local Authorities 'Empowering (aviation encouragement) Bill, and a debate on the subject at present is in progress. The Bill is designed to extend the powers of local bodies to assist in the formation of landing places. V

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Replying to M,r Hamilton, the Hon. H. Atmore stated that the matriculation examination was conducted by the New Zealand University Council, a •body that was .quite independent 'of the Education Department and the Minister, who, therefore, had no authority to interfere. He could say, however, that he understood that eVery care was exercised by the council to make its examination results reliable and to eliminate the possibility of error. In answer t,o Mr Kyle’s question whether lie would make provision for the special trairiing needed ifor competent sports mistresses, the Hon. H. Atmore replied that all training college students were trained in a comprehensive scheme of physical drill, sports, etc., and, in addition, twelve of the most promising students were selected annually, for a year’s intensive training in physical education at the Duhedin Training College. Relying to Mr Carr, the Hori. W. A. Veitch. said that, should the present negotiations with the British GoVel-n----ment in regard to pensions reciprocity prove fruitless, further consideration would be given to a suggestion to provide that people who have reached 'the age of sixty-five, but have not resided twenty-five years in New Zealand, should be granted a pension proportionate to their period of residence in the Dominion.

. In the course of a question Mr Parry mentioned the iricrense bf tile naturalisation fee from £2. to £lO, and stated that this constituted a liafdship , tern any hfibd-working, honest persoris de-sil-ing citizenship.

The Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle repli" that the Minister had power, rinder th regulations, td charge a fee not exceeding £1 in case of indigent persons. Further inforhiation Ms being obtain ed as to febs chafged fob hatiibalisation in otlieb British dominions.

The Hon. J. G; Cobbe, replying to Mr Ansell } said that the disabilities ,to which the New Zealand fish export trade to Australia Was subject were already well known, but, despite them, certain exporters maintained a regular ahd remunerative trade with the CoinV> riioilwealth. Up to the present the only represeritatidrts Oil tlie subject of sending a matt tb Australia that had been received had been from a very small section of the trade, and quite insufficient to justify any such action on the part of the Government. i Answering a question by, Mr Kyle, the Prime Minister stated that no.communication had been received from tlie British Goveriiriient intimating the discoritihuarice of Ertipire. preference. ‘ Replying tb Mb Poison, Sir Joseph Ward stated that approximately from’ 65 to 70 per cent of loans granted bv the State Advances Office on rural lattds were for the purposes of repayriient of loans, the balance being made for developmerital purposes. . Tlie Prime Minister, replying to Mr Bitehener, stated that Section 130 of teh Customs Act, 1913, in effect provided that, When an increase' takes plafce iri the rates of Custonis duties on goods, and an agreement for tlie sale of such goods had been made pribr to the alteration, the importer or other person concerned may, in the absence of express written provision to the contrary- add to the contract price the difference caused by the alteration, tn the circumstances, it did not appear that any action was required with respect to contracts for sale otf goods tnade With local bodies. In answer to a qiiestion submitted by Mr Fletcher, Sir Apirana Nghta stated that the Goveriiriient was fully alive to the fact that fire wriste in the Domihion was a matter for serious riritionnl concern. With a view to finding a remedy, it was proposed to arrange for a discussion between the genei'ril manager of the State Fite Office- the Couhcil of Eire Underwriters, arid tlie Inspector of Fife Brigades, wild Would be asked tb subfriit definite recbriiriieiidations for the consideration of tlie Government. The Hon. W. B. Taverner informed Mr Harris that it was not considered advisable that the scope of investigations of tlie' special committee which had been set Up to consider the wheat arid flour duties should be extended to covfer all tariff, questions particularly affecting secondary industries. eriiployirig New Zealand natural raw products.

In reply to Mr Poison, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy stated that a great deal of instruction in personal and domestic hygiene (dealing. to some extent indirectly with moral and social hygiene) was at present giv.en to school children by officers of the School Medical Service (Health Department), and also by teachers. Replying to another phase of the same question, the Minister said that investigations were always made into reports of hardship and neglect suffered by nurses or probationers on the staff of public hospitals, and a progressive improvement in working hours and conditions was being secured. He further stated that a chair of midwifery had already been established at tlie Medical School. In reply to Mr Young, the Hon. A. •J. Stallworthy stated that the matter of the probable visit to Kew Zealand of Dr Janet Campbell (an eminent authority at the head of the British Mother arid Child Welfare Division of the Tiealth Department of Great Britain') had already been considered by the Government, in view of Hoi* coining visit to Australia. I The House spent the afternoon dismissing answers to questions, and adjourned at 5.30 p.m.