GALLERY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 254, 25 September 1929, Page 6

GALLERY NOTES

day in parliament. questions for MINISTERS. 9 (By Telegraph.— Special to Standard.) * WELLINGTON, Sept. 24. In the House of Representatives today Mr C. H. Clinkard (Rotorua, gave notice of his intention to ask u, Minister of Public Works whether, n, Jiew of the very serious position a' the Arapuni liydro-electnc works w ill take immediate action, b> the appointment of three of the best engineers obtainable outside the Public Works Department, to advise as lo the best means of safeguarding the DUTY.

Mr D- Jones (Mid-Canterbury) gave notice to-day to ask the Minister m Customs whether he will protest to the Federal Government against the suggested increase of £6 per ton duty on New Zealand onions being exported to Australia. EDUCATION SYSTEM. Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton) gave notice to ask the Minister of Education, whether in connection with the radical changes in the system of education it is proposed to bring into operation the section of the Education Act which makes attendance at primary schools compulsory up to the age of fifteen and, if so, , would maintenance grants be made m respect ot such pupils. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE. Mr H. G. R. Mason gave notice to ask the Minister of Industries and Commerce whether he would make an early statement setting out . what the Government intended to do in connection with the appointment of a trade representative in Canada and tne provision of a steamship service between the South Island and Australia.

REST HOMES. Sir Joseph Ward has brought down a bill to make provision for the establishment and maintenance of rest homes for destitute persons who, by age and infirmity, aro unable to take proper care of themselves. This bill provides that the Minister may establish State rest homes. There is provision for the appointment of a superintendent and other officers and for official visitors. The Minister may declare institutions established by private organisations to be rest homes for the purposes of the act, and charitable institutions maintained by hospital boards may be declared rest homes. Voluntary application for reception into a rest home may be made to a magistrate. On an application made by any reputable person a magistrate may make an order for the committal of a destitute person to a rest home. Persons charged with offences involving vagrancy may, in certain cases, be committed to a rest home. Any person detained m a mental hospital on account of mental infirmity arising from age may be transferred to a rest home under the act. The bill, if it becomes law, will not relieve hospital boards from their obligations to provide charitable institutions. LATE SITTING. Shortly, before half-past ten o’clock to-night, the hour for the adjournment, when the House was in committee on the Estimates, Sir Joseph Ward came into the chamber and moved to report progress and ask leave to sit again. The House, he said, had done very little business and the standing orders were on their trial. Having explained the situation, Sir Joseph moved “that Mr Speaker now leave the chair” in order that the House resolve itself again into Committee of Supply. He claimed urgency and the motion was carried on the voices. Members then continued the discussion of the estimates. Sir Joseph left the chamber and the House quickly thinned out, the Government and the Labour members left being very few. The speaking was left to the Opposition.

The House subsequently rose at 2 50 a.m.