PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10440, 4 October 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—JPraa Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. HUTT ROAD IMPiROVEMENT. The Butt Railway and Road Improvement Amendment BALI was read a second time'. HAURAKI PLAINS BILL. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill, remarking that the work done in the district was one of the most profitable and Sbejiencial that ho»l ever been undertaken in- Newi Zealand, and he indicated that the Government should not hesitate to step forward and initiate work of this character. The Bill was read a second time.

MENTAL DEFECTIVES BILL. The Mental •Defectives Bill was read a third time and passed. N PAPAKAIO WATER RACES. The Papakaio Water Race Bill (Hon. G. Jones) was read a second time without discussion. WANGANUI SCHOOL SITES. The Wanganui School Sites' Bill passed through Committee without amendment,'and was read a. third; time and passed. 4 ' SECOND READINGS. . The Patents, Designs! and Trade Marks Bill and Sir Donald McLean. Memorial Park Bill were, on the motion of the Attorney-General, read a second time, and the Council adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House .met at 2.30 p.m. "...'. THE LAW. Replying to Mi* Fisher, till© Acting ■ Premier said an amendment to the , electoral law would be introduced this session. ..,-,.. Sir James Carroll also informed Mr Redd-that tine.printing of.'the'electoral rolls was being expedited. " BILL?"' , An amendment -mod© <by theLegisiIsxive Council in the Friendly Socio l ties (Bill, to bring the measure into/;' in 1912, instead of immediately, was agreed to on the motion of the Hon. J. A. Millar. SUBMARINE SIGNALLING. On a motion to go into Ck>mimifctee of Supply on the Estimates', Mr Reed moved as- an. amendment "That the time had arrived for the installation; 'of isuibmarine signalling aparatus on; the shipping of the Dominion." The Hon. J. A. Millar admitted that the matter was one of great importance, and said he was approaching the owners of apparatus, with, a view to obtaining the sole rights for the Dominion. Tine present charge was too heavy to admit of the system being brought into general ,use> but ilf the Government acquired the rights it would he prepared to make tfb.o payment from, shipowner® extend over a number of years. Mr Reed's amendment was negatived..

THE ESTIMATES. The House then went into Committee'on. the Estimates, continuing those of. the Internal Affairs Department (£325,118). urged the necessity of paying adequate salaries and sJlortening the hours, of attendants in mental hospitals l , and referred to the present overcrowding of .such institutions. '■,"■' ■ V ' : '''L A-suggestion by Mr Fowlds for one central institution metwith. opposition on the score of the hea.vy cost to relatives in travelling to - see patients. The Hon. D. Buddo, in reply, Baid the Supplementary Estimates would provide tfior a sufficient sum to meet th< increases in salaries, for a year. Dealing witK the matter of accommodation., the Minister said tihe; proposal for a large central hospital did not do away 'with the present hospitals, which would be continued. It was in. addition and supplementaryto the present system. With, regard to the average hours, attendants were at present working 61$ hours. This ; would 'be reduced to 575. Attendants would have every fifth day off, 'with 24 days' leavei annually. As far as possible the. above would be given effect' to. , '',...: '■■ : -'J'... ' '.: ': Mr Isitt urged the Government, to hold its hand until after the election, as, if the electors in a> few weeks rescognised their responsbility in the matter of the liquor traffic the mental hospitals: would, be half emptied, and a new institution would not be required. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. , EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed, ah 7.30. The Hon. <D. Buddo, .replying to criticisms and questions regarding the Internal Affairs vote, said the Department was. providing for two and two native, nurses for the natives. He favoured a system of - to inculcate in theim the benefits of having some nurses. The Hospital ißoards would in future .dp more .for the health of the natives!. Mr Green si ade objected to the cheapening policy of tilie Government, ii connection with the Cambridge Sanatorium, and asserted that there was not /sufficient care in the medical icspection of immigrants. The vote' was* eventually passed unaltered, though one division resulted i i a tie, and the Chairman gave his casting vote with the Noes.