POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16963, 12 October 1920, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES

(SFECIAti TO "THE PRESS.")

WELLINGTON, October 11

The Sword of Honour.

Tho Hon. W. H. Trigg?, M.L.C., writes to tho "Dominion": "I no kj that Dr. Thacker, M.P., has, in a question which ho lias placed on tho Order Paper, attempted to cast un. worthy imputations both on Sir James Allen and General Godley, in reference to the sword of honour presented to the latter. Tho suggestion that tho sword is being paid for by Sir Jnnies Allen out of public money is, of course, without the slightest foundation-. ]t. was purchased liv raised bvthe Mayors of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunodin, and was' intended as a recognition of General Godley's services <n organising the Dtfence" Forces of Now Zealand. Tho presentation was delayed on account 0 f the war, in which General Godley play, cd such a distinguished part. Dr. Thacker. who is tho present Mayor of Christ-church, ought to be aware of the action taken by his predecessor in this matter." Seized Property in Samoa. Stond's "Review" was quoted in tho Houso to-night by Mr H. E. Holland as having stated that all the German property confiscated by tho New Zealand Government in Samoa had been sold to tho highest bidder. Messrs Burns. Phi!p. and Company being naturally anxious to secure all tho valuable "Pacific property possible, had directly, or indirectly, bought all the confiscated property that was offered. Mr Holland asked the Primo Minister if this was correct, and, if go, on what terms the sales were made.

Mr Massoy: "I do not- read Stead's ""Review." ~ So far as tho statements wero conccrncd, he added, they were absolutely incorrect. Dental Bursaries. In tho House this evening, Mr Sidej asked a lengthy question about the recent reply of tho Minister of Public Health in regard to dental bursaries. Mr Sidey was eventually pulled up by Mr Speaker for going beyond tho limits of a question. ' Tho Hon. C. J. Parr, in reply, said he had somo difficulty in determining what the question was. (Laughter.) He understood that the answer lie had given on Friday had been questioned by the Otago University authorities. He did' not, however, find it necessary to qualify any material point in tho statement ho had made. It was true that the four years' training in I>uncdin wa*» now altered so that thoso outside Dunedin who wished to qualify as dentists could tako their first two years at a Technical schopj. and tho remaining two years at tho. University. Rut parents who wished their sons to become dentists did not care to split tho course in this way; they preferred that, their sons should take the full course at tho University. Ho regretted to find that tho bursaries were not being taken up in tho districts outside Dunedit. as they should be. In a few years tho position in regard to tho sujjplv of dentists might bo rather a sejious one. Possibly tho bursaries wero not sufficiently attractive. Ho was satisfied that the present system was not proving as useful as it ought to be. In the recess ho would go into tho ouestion, and would probably arrange for a conference with the Dental Association and tho Otago University.