PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 247, 18 October 1922, Page 9

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. (By Telegraph— Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLIXUTI »X, Tuesday. MAGISTRATES' QUALJ FI( ATIOXS. The Joint Statutes Revision Commit tee has amended the Magistrate's Courts Bill to provide that the qualification of any oflicer of the Justice Department to be a stipendiary magistrate shall be at least ten years in the service in that department, including some years as a magistrate's clerk. He must also be a barrister and solicitor at law. AUCKLAND PKTITIOXS.

Reporting on the petition of Elizabeth B. Cameron, of Thames, for compassionate allowance equal to v miner's widow's pension, the Goklfields and Mines Committee recommends the claim to the (iovurnment's favourable consideration.

John Swarm. of Aotea. near Raglan, petitioned Parliament for compensation on the ground of alleged neglect by the medical staff. The Defence Committee has recommended the Government to favourahlv consider the claim.

The Defence Committee ha* reported to the Government for favourable consideration a petition from the widow of the late Sergeant-Major S. I". Wright, who was killed by a motor bus at Dnvonport. Petitioner asked for a compassionate allowance. Mr. Glenn, chairman of the committee, said that the committee was particularly impressed by the fact that petitioner was paying 35/ a week rent, which absorbed practically the whole of her income. Tt was surely a case where Cabinet could lend a helping hand. SOLDIERS' LITERATURE. A suggestion that many publications of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, both at sea and in the field. should be recorded in the public libraries of the Dominion, was made to the Minister of Defence by Mr Mackenzie to-day. Speaking off-hand, Sir Heaton Rhodes expressed doubt whether he could obtain copies of these magazines or booklets. Hβ knew an effort had been made by Brigalier-General Richardson, who was in charge of the New Zealand troops in the United Kingdom, to keep n, record for the War Memorial Museum, but he doubted whether there were duplicates or sufficient, to distribute among the libraries. He admitted that they were valuable records, and he'would make inquiries into the practicability of the suggestion. PORK EXPORT PROSPECTS. The market for first class pork in England is so good at present that, according to statements made in the House to-day, New Zealand producers could realise sixpence per lb net. Mr. Mnsscy was asked" by Dr. Thacker if the Meat Control Board was taking steps to develop this phase of export. The Premier replied that the chairman of tlie board had informed him the matter bad been investigated, and it was found thn tLondon prices would produce sixpence net for export. Dr. Thaeker: Nearly eightpence on present quotation. Mr. Massey replied that bis information stated sixpence, which was a good price, making export profitable. The Meat Export Board would do everything possible to assist in the export of pork from Xew Zealand.