PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 159, 5 July 1917, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERT. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. NO SECRET SESSION. The Government do not consider a secret session of Parliament necessary, as suggested by Dr. Newman. RETURNED SOLDIERS' FUNERALS. Mr. Poole called attention to several cases of returned soldiers who died not being accorded suitable funerals by their country. The Minister of Defence replied that the matter was under consideration. CHEESE TN COED STORAGE. All the cheese manufactured in New Zealand for export up to the end of June has been taken over by the Imperial Government. This includes almost the whole of the cheese in store at various grading ports. As the cheese belongs to the Imperial Government none can be withdrawn from stoTe for sale for local consumption excepting at the request of the Home authorities. To sell it at prices substantially below what it has cost would involve the Imperial Government in heavy loss. SHIRKERS. Further powers to deal with shirkers arc, says the Minister of Defence, under the. Government's consideration. OLD AGE PENSIONS. The question of amending the Pensions Act, 1913. its receiving the Government's attention, said the Hon. A. M. Myers to-day. in reply to a request that the Act tie so amended as to allow old-age pensioners to earn more than ~'l4 a year. EQUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS. Answering a suggestion that any loss due to curtailment of licensing hours should fall equitably upon licensees and landlords, brewers and merchants, Mr. Massey replied. "The Government will endeavour to make equitable arrangements in accordance with any alteration of the present law on the subject referred to." ENEMY OPERATIONS. Replying to a suggestion that enemy subjects are buying up the property of enlisted New Zealanders. Mr. Massey states that Land Boards have refused transfers where Crown lands arc concerned. To prohibit all such dealings with freehold land would require special legislation. The matter is now under consideration. DESERTER OR PRISONER? A question by Mr. Brown to the Premier regarding Private Nrrnot, of the Wellington Infantry, elicited a reply from Mr. Massey that he was officially reported by the American Embassy" at Berlin to be a prisoner of war. Latest 1 advices are that he is still so held. A court of inquiry held in France in December last year found that, in spite of the fact that he was a prisoner of war in Germany it was considered Nimot had deserted to the enemy. Nimot will be duly tried by court-martial under the Arnrv Act when he is recovered at the end of the war.

A RECORD PETITION". A six-o'clock closing petition with 20.000 signatures, came from Auckland to-day. and was presented by Mr. Poole, who "secured its direct reference to the Government. OUT AFTER THE GERMANS. Members are keenly hunting the enemy our gates. Mr. Vigor Brown has asked the Minister for Defence to universally apply the War Regulation that naturalised Germans shall be treated as alien enemies, and all their names be published in the "Gazette." Mr. Pearce suggests that all interned Germans be sent to the Fatherland after the war. Mr. Payne wanted to know how long the Government will permit the German church and school to be run in "Sew Zealand. Mr. Massey: Where is it? Mr. Payne: In Christchurch. I can show a picture of it. BUSINESS NAMES. With tlie object of making sure that enemy subjects are not able to trade in New Zealand, under innocent sounding titles, the Hon. A. L. Herdman has introduced a Oovernmcnt bill requiring the registration of business names, providi"C: that every firm trading under a title net consisting of the true surnames of all the partners, and every trader who has changed his name must register with the registrar of companies, giving full details of tbe nationality of those interested in the firm. The registrar may refuse to registrar business titles which are misleading, or contain the word " British." NO EXPORT BUTTER DUTY. The Premier states that the quantity of butter exported from Ni-w Zealand to Australia in April. May. and June last year -was 22,491 boxes, whereas for the corresponding months ot* this year only 2154 boxes had been exported, shipping space not being available for any considerable increase in tho near future Careful inquiries failed to reveal any fourdation for the statement that New Zpaland tratter had been sold at 1/ a pound for export to Australia; as a matter of fact sales at that price would mean heavy loss to the owners. Butter now in store totalled about 2730,000 boxes. The < Government did not at present see any need to propose the imposition of an export duty on hatter to Australia. WAR PRISONERS' WORK. The Minister of Defence informs Mr. Witty that the Government had decided I that prisoners of war who intimate that they desire employment will be utilised lon road work at Waimarino. The proI posal has not been put into force yet I owing to the period otf the year, but j steps will be taken to arrange employ - | ment in the early spring. The Governi ment cannot compel interned civilians to ] work. Prisoners of war in internment cajzrps -were required to <io so rrrach manual labour as will keep them in "ood mental and bodily health. WAIKATO COUNTRY SCHOOLS. The Minister of Education notified Mr. Young that he had agreed to temporary schools being opened in "the Maihihi and P_ingiatea Public Halls, which have been built by settlers. The old native school at Mangaorongo is to be closed, and it is proposed to transfer it at some time in the future to a central site suitable to the district generally. FISHING INDUSTRY. Mr. Rhodes suggested to the Premier ' the other day that the fishing industry should be financially assisted to enable provision of adequate cool storage, and 6o ensure a supply at reasonable prices. ; ' To-day Mr. M__ey stated that the Gov- ; ! eminent were anxious to assist the nshtj ma industry, but did not consider it ' j advisable to infrease its financial responi liabilities any more than could be avoided j during the war period.

WIDOWED MOTHERS' ALLOWANCE. Sir James Allen, in answer to Mr. Brown, declared it was not proposed to extend the provisions of the regulation g:vin°- widowed mothers seven shillings separation allowance irrespective of what their income might he. CRIPPLED SOLDIERS. Sir .lames Allen informed Mr. Wilford that the Government is considering the question of appropriating a sum for the erection and equipment of homes lor crippled soldiers, and for instruction to enable them to supplement their pen- i siens. ASSISTANCE TO SOLDIERS. Sir James Allen stated that regula- j tious providing for financial assistance to soldiers of the Expeditionary Force make no provision for continuance of j : this assistance after the discharge of the j soldier. The position of a soldier discharged because of disablement or ill- I health will be met by the war pensions j Act. The regulations do, however, pro- i v ; de that on the death of any soldier for | whom financial assistance has been granted, the Minister for Defence may continue that assistance, either in whole or part, in favour of his wife and chil- j dren. or any dependent of the deceased I for any period not exceeding twenty-six j weeks after his death. Any further assistance required would then be granted under the War Pensions Act. SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS. ! In answer to a suggestion from Mr. Jennings, that, owing to the serious position of many outlying districts, invitation be extended to medical men in America to come to practice in the Dominion, the Hon. G. W. Russell stated that arrangements had been made with the British Medical Association by the Public Health and Defence Departments for a more equable distribution at meiiical men in tbe Dominion, and an endeavonr was being made to secure the return, in rotation, to the Dominion of medical men away for some time on active service. Mr. Russell added that the action proposed would be most ' unfair to medical men who had given I their services to the Empire, and it was ' no,t, considered necessary at present to do as suggested. STATE FTRE I_BTJRA*XCE. REMARKABLY LOW FTRE LCk'iSES. The net profit of the State Fire Insurance Department last year was £35,697, exceeding the previous year"; profit by over £10.000. The loss "ratio of -25.22 per cent, was remarkably low. and is regarded as quite abnormal, being hardly half the normal lose ratio for the whole fire insurance business of the Dominion. ''It would appear from our loss _tio for the past two years that the "war has had a marked influence on the destruction of property by fire. I trust this influence may be permanent," r_ "marks the general manager. In view of the present strong financial position of the State fire insurance, the Board has determined, under the provisions of the State Fire Insurance Amendment Act. 191_. to grant as early as possible a bonus to policy-holders on premiums paid. A sum of £8000 out of last year's profits has been set aside for this purpose, and to cover the costs of makiug the assessment.