PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES QUESTION OF ROYAL SHOW, KI-ssth CLOSING TRENTHAM HOSPITAL. ’ pa ' By Telegraph.—Pres* Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.mIn reply to Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston North), Mr. Massey said he was m sympathy with the idea of a Royal A. and P. Show in New Zealand, considering the quantity and quality of our products, but the question of a subsidy would have to stand over for the present. In reply to Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon), the Hon. W. D. Stewart said the Government would validate local bodies’ grants to the Pearson memorial fund for the blind provided there were no objections from ratepayers. Replying to Mr. T. Seddon (Westland), the Hon. C. J. Parr said it was intended shortly to close the Trentham Hospital, which would effect a saving of about £45,000 per year. The children in that hospital suffering from infantile paralysis would be distributed to the centres nearest their parents’ homes, and would there receive continuous treatment.

Replying to Dr. H. T. Thacker (Christchurch East)., Mr. Massey said he had met Dr. Wirt, commissioner acting on behalf of Christian Armenians, and had expressed sympathy with his mission, but he had told him that charity begins at home, and while we were passing through the present crisis the Government was not able to render Dr. Wirt any financial assistance. At the same time, if private individuals cared to make gifts of produce the Government would assist them to get it to Australia, whence a ship was shortly leaving for the Near East. In reply to Mr. J. R. Hamilton (Avarua). the Hon. J. G. Coates said the reason authority had not been given local bodies to spend votes on metalling work was'that it was desired to conserve as much money as possible for the benefit of the unemployed. Labor comprised a small part of metalling work, and therefore it was not considered advisable to spend money in that way, except in cases of urgency. In reply to Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui), Mr. Massey said the Government ‘had nothing to hide in connection with the commission paid to Sir Dunean Elliot for examining railway material and rolling stock- The information asked for by the hon. gentleman would be supplied. A debate on the .licensing committee’s report occupied the remainder of the sitting, and the House rose at midnight till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.