THE ESTIMATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1920, Page 5

THE ESTIMATES.

DE3ATE IN PARLIAMENT. MANY TOPICS DEALT WITH. By Telegraph,—Press Association, Wellington, Last Night. At the conclusion of the Budget debate in the House of Representatives this afternoon, the House went Into Committee to consider the estimates, the first item being a vote for £50,774 for the Legislative Department. Mr. Wilford proceeded to discuss a proposal to lay down the main arterial roads in concrete, and urged the Government to prepare for this innovation. Mr. Horn urged that quantities of wheat could be grown in Central Otago if the conditions and regulations Were only made applicable to local conditions. Mr. Witty urged a return to the cadet system as the best basis of the defence of the Dominion, He advocated better care of tubercular soldiers, and a strong cheek upon Bliipping combines. Dr. Newman complained of extravagance in the Public Service, such as aerial mail services. Mr. Craigie stressed the need for a more comprehensive scheme of housing for the people. BAOKBLOCK WANTS. When the House resumed in the evening, Mr. Fraser continued the discussion. Mr. Fraser gave Labor's view on the immigration policy of the Government, which was that not a single family should be brought from anywhere to swell the population of the community while the housing facilities were so deplorable as they are. Mr. Hudson put in a claim for more generous treatment of school teachers employed in the backblocks. Backblock settlers were also deserving of greater consideration in the matters of.BChools and telephone communication.

Mr. Mitchell criticised the proposal to establish a sinking fund to pay off the war debt of £105,000,000. The soldier and the sailor who went to the war and made personal sacriflcea found, on their return, that the cost of the war was i debited to their account, as well as to I the account of those who did not go to the war, but who stayed at home and I made money. Mr.' Masters wanted the Tras fares of | country children attending secondary t schools paid, as the train' Fares of other children attending the same schools are paid. He also wanted greater inducements offered to teachers to go into the backbloeks. WOMEN IMMIGRANTS. Mr. Eellett .declared a want of system was responsible for so few houses being built. The management of this department should be taken out of, the hands of the labor Department and given over to a board of three experts. Mr. McCallum protested against the breach of faith on the part of the Government in importing more Chinese into Samoa, when Sir James Allen promised the House that no fresh importations would be made.

Mr. Holland opposed the immigration of females into New Zealand, because of the existing disproportion between the seres, there being 21,884 more women in the Dominion than males, while the average rate of wages of women was £1 per week. How could any woman clothe and keep herself on £1 a week? The reason so many girls would not go into service was because of the insufferable snobbery in the houses of the rich. THE PREMIER'S REPLY.

Mr. Massey, replying to the points I raised in the debate, denied that the Government had any intention to maintain indentured labor in Samoa one day longer than possible. Speaking on the housing question, he said there were now 298 houses in course of erection, 134 of which were in Wellington, where it was recognised the house shortage wap more acute than elsewhere. Thirteen houses had been | finished, six Of which were in Wellington. Twenty-four would be finished in three or four months, and tenders ted been called for the erection' of 708 additional dwellings. Needless to say, more would have been accomplished had more labor and material been available. The debate was continued by Mr. Mc* Combs, who discussed Samoan problems, and by Messrs. Horn and Fraser, who re-» verted to the housing question, till 12.45 ajn., when the item was passed, and the House rose at 12.48 a.m.