POLITICAL JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1931, Page 5

POLITICAL JOTTINGS

RESOURCES OF HOSPITALS. An appeal to the Minister of Health to make more money available to hospital hoards in order to enable them to cope with demands for the relief of distress was made hv Mr D. G. Sullivan (Lab., Avon). He said it was essential -that the Minister should face the necessity of making more adequate provision for the. hoards which wore finding it impossible to meet an increasingly difficult position' with the funds at their disposal. The hoards were -unable* to provide enough food for those clamouring for assistance, and they were unable to do anything toward assisting those who i were no-t in a position to pay their rent, and who- wore in danger of being 'turned out into the streets. In his position as Mayor of Christchurch lie was visited by about 70 persons a day who wanted food and clothing, and in many instances these people had found that the hospital could do nothing for tuem. Tjf something 'Were not done soon, conditions would develop in New Zealand equal to or even worse than those in any part of the Empire. This might sound like an over-statement, hut it was not, Even with the financial position of the country as it was, the Government could not avoid the responsibility of preventing distress.

DENTAL TREATMENT.

The principle laid down by the Government that payment fat* dental exominatimi of school children should be insisted upon was described by Air H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, as nit extraordinary departure from the United Party’s declared policy.

Air Holland contended that the change of policy could not he justified either by the Prime Minister or the Minister of Health. The Government had committed itself to free dental treatment. “When it made this change it did not make it in the daylight,’’ said Mr Holland, who added that the Labour Party would have opposed it to the “last ditch.”

BUDGET BALANCING

A complaint that the Government in its efforts to balance the Budget had forced sacrifices upon that section of the community least able to hear additional imposts, was expressed by Air J. O’Brien (Lab., Westland). He said the wages of the defenceless Public Servants had been reduced, and other wage-workers had been forced to suffer reductions, but the Government had done nothing so far to demand sacrifices from the other class of the cummunity, Mr O’Brien said the Government appeared to him to he “taking the breeks from a* Highlander.” In other words, it was trying to take from people what they did not have, Its proposals had so far been most one-sided, and it was only fair to expect that something should now he done to enforce sacrifices upon those who were best able to make thorn.

TEA CHER S’ A GLOW A NCES.

Criticism of the action; of the Government in discontinuing the “remote” allmvnnce paid to school teachers, was expresesd by Mr 11, E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, in speaking to the Imprest Supply Bill. Stating that an injustice had been done to a large body of the teachers. Mr Holland declared that the Government should not have moved in the matter without first consulting Parliament. He said that a result of the abolition of the “remote” allowance those affected' had suffered a reduction in salary of not ten per cent, but between 20 and SO per cent.

PREFERENTIAL VOTING. An alteration in the system of electing members of Parliament- -is provided for in the Electoral Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr O. H. Clinkard (United, Rotorua), and read n first time, Mr CHnkard said considerable dissatisfaction had been expressed with the present system of representation. Under bis Bill electors would he given the opportunity of employing the absolute- majority system, flt provided for preferential voting with the elimination of the bottom candidates at each recount. The Bill was set down for second reading on July Bth.

MINING LAW

SUGGESTED ALTERATIO'N

A method by which activity on the Thames goldfield may he aided with a consequent increase in the employmentof miners on the field, is set out in a largely-signed petition presented to the House by Mr A. M. Samuel (Ref., Thames).

The petition asks the Government to take action whereby the special area of 1200 acres lying between the Ivuranui Gully and the He pc Creek may be more diligently mined by the present holders of the mining privileges or in the alternative thrown open in part or whole for free mining. It is claimed that the present companies have not the capital for prosecuting extensive or deep-level mining, but are relying on someone else making a strike that wmdd benefit them. Objection is taken to the tribute system in operation on the grounds that it nrecludes preliminarv free prospecting. neoosritntes a disclosure of exnot locality without security of tenure, and involves after disclosure of locality a restriction in limits in favour of the holder of the mining privilege

with the result that the tributer has to take his chance on-, the treatment of himself and his ore. The petitioners ‘ therefore suggest that the Mining Act be amended to enable the area mentioned to be mined as a “free area’' for surface mining oniy, titles 'for claims not exceeding in area 10 acres to he applied lor as set ut by the regulations under the Act BUS FARES TO HUTT. An appeal to the Government to reduce the fares charged on the Weiling-fcon-Hutt bus service was made by Mr IV. A ash (Lab.. Hutt), when speaking in the Imprest Supply Rill debate. Mr Nash said that by charging high fares on the buses the Government had opened the door to private competition Taxi-drivers were taking advantage of tlit position The cost of travelling on the buses had forced a number of persons to use their own cars, in which they carried friends. He suggested that a reasonable fare would be Is 3d return.