“NOT GIVEN FAIR TURN”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 424, 4 August 1928, Page 14

“NOT GIVEN FAIR TURN”

MR. GLENN HITS OUT ON HEALTH FINANCE ; MINISTERS COME AND GO (THE SUE'S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. When presentation of the Health Department’s report gave members opportunity to urge more liberal division, Mr. W. S. Glenn stated that it was common knowledge that the Health Department was - not given fair financial support. 1 ! He also excited general mirth with his breezy comments on the absence of ministers from the J Chamber. L 1 In setting: out to make a striking: 5 | appeal for more liberality in grants to the Health Department. Mr. Glenn : turned first of all to see what ministers r were present. “I find the Minister of Health here,” he said. ‘ Voices: “And a good man. too.” Mr. Glenn: “And the only other ' sympathetic minister is the Minister * of Public Works.” At this stage the Minister of Agriculture. followed by the Prime Minister. entered the Chamber. “Oh. here’s the Minister of Agriculture. My apologies to him.” said Mr. Glenn. “And now here’s the Prime Minister. Now I have all the men that count.” UNCERTAIN AUDIENCE ► Mr. Glenn proceeded to urge that the paper on public health was the

I most important that could be tabled ; during the session. He wanted to ■ 1 impress on' ministers that they should 1 support the Minister of Health. Public I health should be a first consideration. ! At this stage, however, the Prime Minister and Mr. Hawken went out f again. “They’ve gone again,’’ said Mr. W. E. Parry, amid general mirth. “Yee. I seem to have lost my audience again,” said Mr. Glenn. ' l ! know the ministers are busy men. j This is probably brought about by ( some deputation or other in the J j lobbies. They've got six or seven j ministers out there. It is against the rules, but it’s done.” Mr. H. E. Holland: They're sym- i pathetic, but they’re apathetic. “It is known to everyone,” went on Mr. Glenn, “that the Minister of Health does not get his fair turn at the money s bags. Even education, if necessary, should go a million short in the interests of public health. This won’t be a popular remark, but I want this House to realise the importance of public health, and to grant more funds to it. Voices: What about Singapore? “A GOOD OFFER” Mr. Glenn went on to appeal, in par- { ticular, for more support for the school dental clinic system. The Refrom Party had to t>e given credit for the institution of this humanitarian effort, but the output of dental nurses from the training clinic should be increased by 100 per cent. “If the Labour Party will move an amendment on those lines, I will vote with them.** Sir Maui Pomarc and other ministers now entered the Chamber, leading Mr. j Glenn to remark: “I am glad to see this ' particular Minister, because he is i humanitarian. I now have a majority of the cabinet listening to me, and there may be a chance of getting that extra half million that I want. “I want the House to get on side/*

Mr. Glenn concluded and Xew Zealand a turn.” SUPPORT FOR MR &LENn Several other member, tpok similar lines. Mr. D G said more staff and ruor. s uUi *«% were wanted for the deiST, Mr. K. P. Lee Obvious that insufficient *»• beinp Provided. He unted n?? benefits of the service ThouldV tended to private school, » ? to State schools. The concerned with the former "at 1 with the latter. 9 ii Mr. M J. Savage (Auckland w commentcd on the fact that ”'* n anti-socialists were now out fo/£? service. How could they squared* with opposition to ** Mr D. .Tones: Th- two th!n« entirely different. *N Mr. Savage went on to warn House against the introduction suggested lately by a dep„„,°; * medical men of private war-a. * public hospitals. ward, j, The Minister of Health: Ton , quite safe on that. ” *** Several other members spoke te w. report in the course of th , afternoon