POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16959, 7 October 1920, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES

to "the press.")

WELLINGTON, October G.

Christchurch Tramway Bill,

When the second reading of the Christchurch Tramway District Bill was v , moved in the Legislative Council this afternoon, Sir Francis Bell made some comment upon clause GO (at, which provided that trustees might invest in the loan. The loan, he observed, was secured by a rate, and possibly came- * within allowable investments under the Trustee Act. It was inadvisable, however, that such a clause which might be an amendment of the Trustees' Act. should be found in a local Bill. If tho Flon. J. Barr, who was in charge of tho Bill,' did not withdraw the clause, tho Government would huve to consider whether it should oppose or agree to i the clause. Ho thought it necessary ] that some officer should be appointed to scrutinise local Bills, in order to sea that they did not contain matters af-fe-tinsr tho provisions of general Acts. The Hon. J. Barr thanked the Loader of the Council for his explanation the Government's attitude towards tho *"» measure. I Tho Bill was road a second time. Register of Barmaids. The Minister of Labour was asked this afternoon by Mr Isitt, when tho return giving tho number of barmaids employed in tho Dominion would be laid on tho table of the House.

Sir William Horrios said that ho would be verv glad to lay the paper on the table if lie was assured that there would not follow its production a debate upon tho whole of tho licensing issue. Mr Isitt said ho did not think that that would happen. Sir William ITerries: Will tho hon. member debate it himself? Mr Isitt: I do not want to debate it. ' Sir William Hcrrios: If I am assured of that I shall be glad to lay tho paper on tho tablo at an opportuno moment. Tents for Soldier Settlers. Whilo tho Minister of Lands was answering a question this afternoon concerning the purchase of homes for soldiers, Mr Witty interjected a suggestion that the men might be supplied with tents. He explained later that ho was quite serious in his suggestion, which was that the Department, might supply tents to men who had taken up land under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act. The Defence Department owned plentv of tents, and these -would be verv useful to the men until Wey were able to find homes for themselves. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie: I tfljftTtho interjection to menu the men who were wishing to buv houses in the cities. Mr Witty: "No, the men who have taken up land in tho country, and are without homes. • The Minister said that it would bo easv to do what had been suggested in Ho did not know whether the Audit Department would pass charges for the purchase of tents, but tho arrangements could easily be made through the Repatriation Department. Ho would look into tho question. Supreme Court Tees. Certain alterations in tho fees for Supreme Court proceedings were announced to-day by the Minister of Justice (tho Hon. E, P. Lee). The principle item, he said, was the fee for the sealing of probate when granted by the Court. Tin's had nothing to do with estate duties. Under the old scale the highest payment was £3. Now the fee* would roach £3 for an estate worth C3OOO, and increase by £1 for every £1000 after this amount. It would bo seen, therefore, that in the case of an estate valued at £100,000, the* fee would amount to £100. The increases were made in consequence of lhe increased salaries of Judges and Court officials.

The scale of death duties would have to be the subject of legislation, and .this would be quite distinct from the present change, which was purely a Departmental alteration. Seamen's Union. . "Is it intended to N introduce legislation during the present session enabling the seamen of New Zealand to have their union. registered as one union for the whole of New Zealand?" askod Mr P. Fraser in the House to-day. The member added that he understood the L'abour Department was not averse to this arrangement. The Minister of Labour (Sir William Herries) said that the Department had no objection to Dominion awards, and it might bring down legislation on that point if time permitted. But a Dominion award was a different thing from a Dominion union. In viow of the present state of labour unrest, the opinion of the Government was that it was not desirable to have Dominion unions, which could be united.. and worked as one big union. He did not want to open that question. The avowed object of tho Seamen's Union, as expressed by Mr Young, was to have a Dominion union, in order to amalgamate with the Australian union. That would be creating a combination that would be very powerful, and that might paralyse industry.

Labour in Samoa. Questions have boen asked in the House of Representatives several times during the session concerning some correspondence between the llfw Zealand Government and the Britawi Government on tho subject ofJrindentured labour in Samoa. v The Dnfler-Socretary for tho Colonies was requested in the House of Commons, some time ago, to place this correspondence on tho table, and he replied that he was consulting tho New Zealand Government. Mr McCombs raised the subject again today. Tho Minister of External Affairs (the Hon. E. P. Lee) stated that on July 28th last the Government received a cablegram from the Imperial authorities, asking if there was any objection to the publication of a certain cablegram. A reply had been sent to the effect that there was no objection. If Mr McCombs cared to ask for a return containing these cablegrams the matter would be considered. The Minister added that, he had little doubt tho return would be granted. Mr McCombs gave notice to move accordinglv. It has been suggested in discussions on this point that the British Government objected to the use of indentured labour at Samoa, and ' that tho New Zealand Government considered the continued use of this labour to bo essential. Home Service Men. The Home Service League's petition asking for consideration of tho services of the homo service men, with a view to granting them some of the benefits enjoyed by the members of the Expeditionary Forces came back from the Defence Committeo to-day. The report was that while recognising the splendid services of these men, tho Committee could mako no recommendation until all oversea men had been fully repatriated. The Committeo was of opinion, however, that in the meantime some medal or badge should be issued to home service men in recognition of their services.

The report was discussed at great length, a large number of members championing tho claims of the home service men. Eventually report was referred back to the Committee for further consideration.

New Zealand Cross. The request mado in. a petition by William Lingard and four others that

tlic name of Harry Charles Wrigs should bo removed from the list of holders of tlie New Zealand Cross and the de-orntion recalled, was reported on by the Defenro Committee to-day. The recommendation was that in view of the conflicting decisions arrived at by various Committees enquiring into the question the Government should institute a special inquiry hy a Supreme Court imVe. or other competent tribunal, to ermine the wlmlo of the documentary evidence, and hear witnesses on both sides Syrian Disabilities. The New Zealand Svrian Benevolent Socictv petitioned Parliament Rome time a"o for legislation defining the torm Watte so as to remove the disabilities 'r„st upon Syrians l.hrouph their nornmwithin that definition. The Mto Z Potions Committee to-dny referred the pfltition to the Government for consideration. Rural Economics. Mr I=itt has "iven notire to ask the Pr'ime Minister whether, if funds w*re contributed for the establishment in connexion with the Cnnto-bnry Lniver.it" of a loeturosh-n on mral <r»- • ' ' J n t of £-00 .a vear. the Gunmen* would subsidise the gift fund £1 for £1.

Censorship of Letters. Mr Howard will ask the Minister of' Defence, whether he will state on what date the military censorship of £„" cominrr to this -Dominion will *asf Correspondence wh.ch came c America and which was dehverfmin Amc " ca o c " ob er 2nd, 1920, was, £ S S opened and passed hy the .Military Censor.

Islington Post Office. Owing to the irurchaw hy the New Zealand Refrigerating Company of the store at Islington, in **'* *Jf *"* Office T t CO o^ d 'rcpresesat e ion W ol closed, but. on re-owned in a Mr tore vr'Sl by the room at the old store i dcrtaken company, ch for h !f office to be to give a site tor a new u erected by the Department. (FMU ASSOCIATION TEMGBAM.) In Legislative Council. In the Legislative Council to-day. the Te Aroba Crown Leases Bill *« read a second time by 24 votes to G. The Military Service Act Amendment Bill tnent »>» *« e T^caties 0 f Peace Act read a second tirrfe.

Otago Hospital District. When the House met at 7.30 to-mgM, UiA Hon C J. Parr moved to go into Committee on the Hospitals «d£ l Chw*OtTgo hospital district, g«vmg a specual di^ d Sa^rthe g ° T tio. at 2 a.m.