POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18725, 23 June 1926, Page 10

POLITICAL NOTES

(fIHXIAL TO THB PBESS.) WELLINGTON, June 22. Forest Companies Legislation to protect the interests of investors in afforestation companies is contemplated by the Government, aocording to a statement made to-day by the Commissioner oi State Forests (the Hon. Mr Hawken). Mr D. Jones (Kaiapoi) asked the Minister whether he had investigated the prospectusos of the various afforestation companies now starting operations in New Zealand. If so, had the Minister power to make the results of his investigations known, and, failing such power, would he obtain it by legislation t Mr Jones remarked that he and o%er members of Parliament, together with great numbers of the general public, had received the prospectuses of companies which were raising money in London upon debentures. The matter was of great public interest, on account of the amount of money that was. being invested. It was very desirable that the Minister should possess the power to which he had referred, in order that the public might know something about the stability of the companies. Mr-Hawken, in reply, said that he had been investigating the affairs of a number of afforestation companies, but in their initial stages it was rather difficult to follow their operations. The Government considered that it would be necessary to introduce legislation enabling it to take particular care of money invested by the people in such companies. Personal. Mr W. S. Glenn, member for ftahgitikei, has returned from Australia. Ho was one of the Government Whips in the last Parliament, but so far the Party has not appointed Whips this session. Messrs B. P. Hudson (Motueka), V.. fl. Potter (Bosklil), and W. S. Glean (Bangitikei) wore sworn in at the afternoon sitting. Chairmanship of -Committees. The service? of a Chairman of Committees were. needed yesterday, and the Prime Minister moved that Mr E. P. Lee should be chairman for the day. This proved rather interesting, in view of the fact that Mr Lee is looked upon as one of those in the running for the position of chairman of the present Parliament. Slate Advances. Opposition members are taking the achve interest usual with Oppositionists w the affair* ox the State; Advances Department. Mr B. J. Howard arrived to-day, armed «ith a request that the Minister in charge of the State Ad> vances Department should make a statement covoring the "altered policy" of advancing money for the acquisition of homes. Mr Jd. J. Savage is moving tpt & return showing whether the Government : has purchased a block of land in the Dargaville district for closer settlement purposes, and, if so, what the price per acre is. . Questions. Mr Kyle, one of the new members from Canterbury, wants to knoty when a commencement will bo made with.the electrification of the Lyttelton tunnel. Mr F. N. Bartram {Labour.) desires, to know if the employees in,railway refreshment rooms are to be paid the ■Union rato of wages, as proVidM ; ' by' the award governing hotel attd restatl rant workers. Mr H. Holland (Chrlstchurch North) has given notice of a question as to whether the Minister for Pensions Will take into consideration this session the desirability of increasing the amount ft widow may earn without affecting her pension,, especially if she has to pay house rent. Monster Petitions. Petitions two feet high/ containing 71,489 signatures, praying for an amendment to the metor*btis regulations were presented by Mr Potter in Parlifimgnt this afternoon. Wftsta of Blonay; Speaking in' the House to-night on the question of uneniplojrweiftt, and re» iterating his previous stat4meat that many statements had been made with a political motive, tW MjlnUter fair tan** said that the president of & saefaty in AttokMd had tutmtfai hitt a telegram of 101 word* en the mh* j«ot, "the money exneaded on thaw 101 words,' 11 the Minister stated, "would have pajd'foy half & day's wo*fr for at least one unemployed man- Hw* svw, I managed to reply to it in &, do?en words.", donwnteg Land"lVom the kawledge I Un raised of the undeveloped land, 1 am convinced that it would be criminal to bring men to this country who did aot know the conditions, and say to them < There is the' laud. Go on to it, aftd by honest hard toil you can make more than an ordinary week's wages'," said the Minister for Lands to-night. Mr J. MfcComfas (Lyttelton): There are men who have been here/- all their lives and cannot get land. The Minister: 1 know, but if you had a friend with only £SO would, you advise him to take,on a drapery store or a grocery business? Mr McCombs: There are experienced men who cannot get the hind, The Ministers Yes, experienced men without money, They constitute a general liability on the whole community. Mr Snilivan Offers Advice. j A novel invitation was extended in the House to-day, when Mr Sullivan, one of the Labour Opposition, suggested that the new members of the Reform Party should assist the Opposition regarding unemployment, especially concerning the Government's action in taking advantage of the posit tion and forcing down wages. He did not know if it was unparliamentary to use the word ''cowardly." Criticism, he said, would not imperil the chanpes of advancement Of these new member*. If they studied the constitution of the Government, they would find In import* ant positions men who had been disposed . to indulge in criticism, including the Minister for Education (Mr Wright), the Attorney-General (Mr fiojleston), and'the Minister for Health (Mr Young). Mr Speaker interrupted Mr Sullivan, who, by this time was well off the track, and no doubt knew it. Request for Bofnnd of lay. Mr H. S. S. Kyle to-day presented a petition from W, W. M. Dflarsley, of Christchurch, who asks for a refund of £6O, absentee tax. While studying at Cambridge he became of age, and acquired some property in New Zealand. He retuj-ned in 1923, and by virtue of the Act of 1Q23, and the accidents of the date of his birth and the date of his return' o. New Zealand, he became liable for, and had paid, this increased absentee tax. .He submits that the Act was not intended to apply to the case of the acquisition of property by inheritance, or to a young New Zealander sent abroad for o educational pur'rposea at a period that must. ti«c*esarily include the date of his coming, of age, -