PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SAFETY OF SCAFFOLDING. LEGISLATION PROPOSED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. M. J. Savage (Auck land West), the Hon. G. J. Anderson said a conference of scaffolding inspectors and builders’ representatives was recently held in Wellington, and as a result of their recommendations legislation was being prepared which, it was hoped, would cover the whole position and so prevent the recurrence of unfortunate accidents such as recently occurred at Auckland. In reply to Mr. J. Dickson (Chalmers), the Hon. E. P. Lee said it was the intention of the Government this session to introduce legislation amending the Crimes Act. Replying to Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei), the Hon. J. G. Coates said he had no information regarding the alleged starva tion of Maori children on the west coast of the North Island, and he had not heard that Maoris had been dissipating their money on a religious meeting; but one thing was certain, and that was that the Government could not allow religious fanaticism to interfere with the daily life of the Maori people. Replying to Mr. H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labor Party), Mr. Massey said he had already sent the usual message of condolence with the Irish Free State in connection with the deaths of Mr. Griffith and Mr. Collins. The message had been sent in the name of the Government to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, through the Governor-General.

After some formal business had been transacted, the Premier moved, in connection with the deaths of the late Mr. J. J. Holland (Auckland) and Mr. Donald Reid (Otago), former members of the House, the customary motions of sympathy with their relatives, which were agreed to. As a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased gentlemen, the House rose at 4.15 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. EFFICIENCY OF CHEMISTS. The Hon. C. J. Parr moved the second reading of the Pharmacy Bill. He said the Bill did not deal in any way with the sale of poisons, but aimed at maintaining a high standard of efficiency in connection with the business of chemists in New Zealand. Clause 2, therefore, proposed to prohibit the registration of persons registered in Britain, unless they had passed the “full qualifying examinations” required in Great Britain and Ireland. Clause 3 dealt with apprenticeships, four years being required in cases of persons serving in an open shop with a registered chemist, but three years when the apprenticeship is served ia the dispensary of a hospital. The remaining clauses were for the most part of a machinery nature. For chemists coming from outside, except from Australia, the registration fee had been raised from 30s to £5 ss. Australians would be charged £3 3s, in accordance with the reciprocity treaty. The Bill made no revolutionary changes, but aimed mainly at maintaining a high standard of efficiency. Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) urged the necessity for preserving the rights of apprentices now serving their time, which rights were doubtful under the Bill. Mr. A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) feared the Bill was calculated to create a monopoly, bue he only hoped there were no grounds for his apprehension. Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) said that if efficiency was the only reason, for the Bill there could not be any objection to it, but there was vested interest behind the Bill, and it roused a whole series of important questions. He thought the Bill should go to the Public Health Committee for a thorough investigation. The Minister, in reply, said he had arranged with the Pharmaceutical Society to give evidence before some committee of the House, which would probably be the Public Health Committee. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Public Health Committee. OTHER BILLS. On the motion of the Hon. E. P. Lee, the Insurance Companies’ Deposits Amendment Bill was discharged from the Ordet Paper, as Mr. Lee was introducing a more ample Bill on the same subject. On . the motion of the Hon. G. J. Anderson, the Shipping and Seamen’s Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Labor Bills Committee. The Hon. G. J. Anderson moved the second reading of the Coal-mines Amend ment Bill, which, he said, was mainly of a consolidating and machinery nature. The’ motion was agreed to and the Bill was referred to the Mines Committee. The House rose at 10.51 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.