QUESTIONS IN HOUSE

Southland Times, Issue 24881, 22 October 1942, Page 5

QUESTIONS IN HOUSE

MINISTERIAL REPLIES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 21. Ministerial replies to questions were considered in the House of Representatives today. V.A.D, pay Tlie Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer. in reply to the Hon. W. E. Barnard (Dem. Lab., Napier), who had stated in his question that V.A.D. pay was low in comparison with the earnings of other girl workers, said hospital boards had been recommended to pay not less than 30/a week in the first year, 35/- in the second and an additional 35/- if the aid lived out. Most boards were also providing indoor uniforms and paying travelling expenses In excess of 3/- a week. TREATMENT OF OBJECTORS Tile Minister of Justice, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, replying to a question by Mr Barnard asking for uniformity in the treatment of conscientious objectors by magistrates, said that when the regulations were first issued a circular outlining the policy issue involved was sent to magistrates, but this could not be of a directive character, penalties being for the determination of the Court. In addition, there were differences between cases which did not appear in the reports of them. NO' FOWLS

The Minister of Housing, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, in reply to Mr W. P. Endean (Nat., Remuera) said the Government intended to adhere to its decision not to allow the keeping of fowls by State tenants. The keeping of fowls in a closely settled area was considered undesirable from the health point of view. SALUTING OFF DUTY

The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, replying to a question by Mr J. A. Lee (Dem. Lab., Grey Lynn) and Mr Barnard, said the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces was not in favour of abolishing saluting by soldiers when off duty. In Australia, he said, soldiers were required to salute when off duty except when in crowded thoroughfares or assemblies. Consideration would be given to the question whether the adoption of this modification would be advisable in New Zealand. DOCTORS FOR CIVILIAN NEEDS The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, replying to Mr Lee, said that the National Health Committee was responsible for seeing that enough doctors were retained in New Zealand to meet civilian needs, and the question of increasing the number of medical students was receiving consideration. NATIONAL SECURITY

In reply to another question by Mr Lee, Mr Fraser said the accuracy of the report that a confidence trickster had been kept at Rotorua by the National Security Department was being investigated. It was regretted that it was inadvisable in the interests of public safety to discuss publicly the means adopted to ensure public safety. MEN FOR SERVICE

Mr Fraser, in reply to Mr J. A. Roy (Nat., Clutha) said that as far as possible single men would be posted to the services before married men, but it would not be possible to post all single men first because many of them were in essential positions where they could not be effectively replaced.

COMMISSIONS IN ARMY Mr Jones said that all Home Guard officers were given the opportunity of securing a commission when drafted to the armed forces. While suitable men were given a temporary commission in the Territorial Army, others were sent to training classes for officers or N.C.O’s. MEDICAL FEES

Replying to a question by Mr W. M. C. Denham, Lab., Invercargill), Mr Nordmeyer said that in view of the large amount of administrative work involved in the present system of recovering medical fees under the Social Security scheme, it had become necessary to discuss the question of the direct collection of fees by doctors. The number of doctors already claiming directly from the fund was growing, and because of that the question of compulsion was not receiving consideration by the Government. The question of the amount of the charge made by doctors over and above 7/6 was being investigated in the light of the past year’s experience. Consideration had also been given to an extension of the State medical service, including the establishment of modern clinics, as soon as conditions permitted. GIRLS ON FARMS

Mrs A. N. Grigg (Nat., Mid-Canterbury) asked if the Minister of National Service was aware that a number of girls had been taken from farms in the Canterbury area to work in woollen mills and would the Minister reverse this to enable production to be maintained. Mr Fraser, on behalf of the Minister, said it was contrary to Government policy to have women and girls transferred from primary production to secondary industries. The Minister was not aware of any case as stated and man-power officers had been directed not to transfer workers from farms. CARE OF SOLDIERS Mr Jones said it was incorrect to say that soldiers returning from active service were turned adrift when replying to a question put by Mr F. W. Doidge (Nat., Tauranga). Every care was taken to see that pensions or Social Security benefits were settled. Where men had suffered disability through service pensions were paid and where illness that had started before entering the service was responsible for discharge, Social Se-* curity benefits were payable. If particular cases of hardship existed he would be pleased to investigate them.

REMITTANCES FOR SERVICEMEN Mr Fraser said it was not possible to avoid exchange charges on remittances sent to men overseas in reply to a question by Mr W. Sullivan (Nat., Bay of Plenty). The only alternative to a sender paying exchange would be for the State to do so and that would be inequitable because those receiving the largest remittances would receive the largest subsidy. The Government had decided to allow an additional £7/10/- to be remitted overseas for Christmas, he added.