PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 244, 13 September 1929, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

THIS MORNING’S BUSINESS. CONSIDERATION OF ESTIMATES. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 13. The House of Representatives met at 10.30 a.m. and resumed consideration in Committee of Supply of the Defence Department vote (£490,587), which was passed without further discussion. JUDGES’ SALARIES. The Department of Justice estimate (£133,769) was taken next. Mr W. D. Lysnar urged that the salaries of judges should be increased. The department was more than paying its way and he considered that there should not be any difficulty in the way of granting some increase in the judges’ salaries. At the present time the salaries did not represent what a good practitioner could earn in private business. Hon. T. M. Wilford, replying to Mr E. J. How'ard, stated that the judges’ salaries were not paid out of the income of the department. Mr Lysnar asked the Minister what was the cost of the Justice Department to the State last year after allowing for the judges’ salaries. Replying to Mr Jones, Hon. T. Wilford agreed that the judges’ salaries were included in the balance-sheet of the Justice Department, but not in the estimates. The profit from tho Department last year amounted to £9500, but Mr Wilford pointed out that this did not include any allowance for interest charges and depreciation, which this department was not called on to pay. In reply to a point raised by Mr W. H. Field, the Minister stated that the system of serving summons by post had been a real benefit to the poorer people on account of the avoidance of paying mileage charges. Litigants had been saved £7OOO in this way last year. He agreed that service by post occupied a little more time. CORONIAL INQUIRIES. Mr Field suggested that there should be some means of reopening coronial inquiries, especially in view of what happened in the Elsie Walker case. Hort. T. M. Wilford: It would require legislation. Mr Field asked if such legislation would be introduced, but the question was ruled out of order because it affected a question of policy. Mr F. Langstone said that the system of employing private persons as deputy official assignee was wrong. The duties could bo carried out by the Justice Department. Mr F. Waite deplored tho fact that letters were sent out with “on bankruptcy business only” printed for all to see. Surely this was unnecessary. Mr Wilford: I shall see that it is cut out in future. You can consider it done. Several members requested that more Justices of the Peace should be appointed in country districts where, under present conditions, it is frequently necessary for residents to travel many miles merely to have a signature witnessed. Mr Tau Henare asked whether the Minister would consider appointing Maori Justices of the Peace. Mr Wilford replied that he would be pleased to do so. The voto was passed. The Crown Law Office estimate (£6149) was passed without debate. The Department of Internal Affairs vote (£342,941) was then taken. FUR PRODUCTION. Mr Waite urged that the fur production, including tho rabbit industry, should be encouraged. He advocated that the best variety of opossums should be liberated in New Zealand bushes and he claimed that investigations had failed to show that the opossum was a danger to bird life or to the native bush. He further contended that there was no danger of these animals becoming nests a 6 they did not breed prolificacy and trappers had no difficulty in keeping their numbers down. Mr W. J. Poison referred to the depredations of deer in New Zealand forests and even among crops. He suggested that the protection afforded tlieso animals should bo reconsidered. Mr W. E. Parry joined Mr Waite in the appeal for the introduction of opossums in greater numbers. Hon. I*. A. do la Perrelle stated that the Government had done much towards stamping out the deer pest and had declared open seasons in some districts. Mr K. S. Williams: Why not throughout tho country? Mr Perrelle: That might come. The Minister stated that he would act in the matter of the liberation of more opossums immediately after present investigation had been completed. Mr J. S. Fletcher advocated the co-ordination of various State publicity departments. The tlouso roso at 1 p.m.