IMPREST SUPPLY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1921, Page 5

IMPREST SUPPLY.

NEARLY FOUR MILLION. BILL PASSED IN HOUSE. A PLEA FOE THE,BLIND. ■ j’ -rf. . By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, ast Night. In the House to-night the Imprest Supply Bill for £3,859,300 was introduced by Governor-General's messages. In committee of supply Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller) entered a plea for consideration of the advisableness of the nationalisation of certain industries, quoting what had been done in New South Wales in this direction. Mr. T. W. % Rhodes (Thames), quoting from official records, said that instca'c of showing a profit as stated by Mr Holland the State enterprises in New South Wales had resulted in seriout losses to the’ taxpayers. Mr. Holland, replying to Mr. Rhodes' statement, said losses were incurred under the National Government, and when the Labor Government resumed control it changed most of the losses into profits, as well as benefiting the people by supplying or vices at lower prices. Somd of the l<MUes that had been mentioned were on experimental undertakings. ' Mr. Massey, quoting from the AuditorGeneral’s report of 1916, said that thd auditor, referring to New South Wales fisheries, stated, that while the enterprise deserved encouragement the benefits accruing did not warrant the loss oi £lO,OOO that occurred on the year’rt working. Mr. Massey referred also tq n the New South Wales State which involved a loss of over £lO,OOO.

Mr. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) urged, that an appropriation committee should be set up to scrutinise and allocate the amounts set apart for each Government Department, instead of continuing present system of presenting estimates i and having them dealt with subsequent-, ly by the public accounts committee. In supporting pensions for the blind; Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) ; said over half of the six hundred so af* • flicted in New Zealand were over sixty { years of age. The country could afford | to make pension provision for these; people. Mr. Clutha Mackenzie (Auckland t East) thought a great deal more could be done for the blind people of New Zealand than was being done without cost-H ing any additional money. The Jubilee Institute was doing the be°t it could,< but it was out of date. In recent year’s the educational facilities for the' blind had been revolutionised and they, were able to take their place in the world of affairs. He considered old age pensions should be made available to the blind and there should be improved means of education for the blind. There was no reason why those having the capacity of being educated should not enjoy family life as other people do. It might perhaps be necessary in some cases to give a small subsidy to wages earned. Mr. Mackenzie referred to the fact that in Japan blind people were solely engaged in massaging, an occupation for which they were perhaps better fitted than ordinary people. He believed an organisation of volunteers in New Zealand coulu do much to brighten the lives of the blind, especially in their younger years, by taking them into their homes and teaching them household duties. The Bill was put through all stages and passed.