PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 169, 18 July 1924, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. j FAITH IN THE OFFICE BOY. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, Thursday. A remarkable difficulty that has arisen over a by-election for the Wellington Education Board was ventilated in the House by Mr. L. M. Isitt, who said that a former accountant of the board was nominated for the vacancy, his nominators forwarding it by registered letter a day before nominations closed. The board's secretary declared the letter was not received in time, and disallowed the nomination. Inquiries of the post office showed that the letter was in the General Post Office shortly after posting, and that two cards were placed in the board's box asking them to take delivery. Mr. Isitt suggested that if this procedure was permitted it would vitiate the whole system of election. The board's secretary persisted in refusing to recognise the nomination, declaring that it did not come in time, and he had faith in his office boy. It was the office boy against the tabulated record of the post office. The Hon. J. G. Coates (PostmasterGeneral) said that he had no official report, but he had been informed that the facts as stated were correct. He was prepared to go any length to show that the postal administration was not to blame. Advice to the Unemployed. An urgent appeal from Mr. J. W. Munro (Dunedin) to the Minister of Public Works to provide work for the unemployed in that city at once drew from the Hon. J. G. Coates advice to workers not to drift into the cities, as this was the cause of the trouble in t)unedin. The men were expecting work on the exhibition buildings. The Government, he said, had already provided for 50 unemployed in Otago. There was work in the country, and men had best stay there. Mr. Munro: Where is the work in the country ? The Minister: Any amount. I think my advice has been generally followed. There are fewer men leaving Public Works jobs this winter, and if they take my advice they will continue to stick to their jobs. The Mines Committee. At the suggestion of Mr. H. Holland the name of Mr. Parry (Auckland Central) was, on Mr. Massey's motion, added to the Goldfields and Mines Committee of the House. It was pointed out that Mr. Parry had had more mining experience, and was more of a practical miner than any other member of Parliament. The Hon. J. G-. Anderson (Minister 6f Mines) said he had no objection whatever to the addition of Mr. Parry's name. Naval Defence Finance. A statement regarding the investment of the New Zealand Naval Defence Act sinking fund shows that it amounts to £1,107,143, including £43,800 interest at 4-J per cent earned on its investment. New Hebrides Control. Several Auckland residents have petitioned Parliament urgently that steps be taken to bring before the Imperial Government the advisability of an amicable, honourable agreement with. France, by which' the New Hebrides Island will come under sole British control. They suggest that British subjects, commercial and missionary, have from the inception of the condominium \ in 1906 earnestly endeavoured to cooperate with officials in loyally carrying out the terms of the joint convention, but have been forced into the deliberate conviction that dual control has broken down lamentably. Condemned Stock. A return presented by the Minister of Agriculture shows that last year his Department's veterinary inspectors condemned 5358 cattle and five pigs, paying compensation totalling £12,919, which iv most cases was half the market value of the condemned animals.