POLITICAL NEWS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3126, 3 July 1917, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS

THE TWO LEADERS , STATEMENTS GROUND TO BE TRAVERSED The two returned Ministers are to make their statements in the Houso to-day. It is very likely that each of them will occupy about two hours, for they hayo a multitude of things to say. Thoy will tell of the doilies of the War Cabinet and the War Conference, and also of their commercial negotiations 1 and investigations on behalf of New' Zealand. This will include such matters as tho purchases of meat, wool, and cheese, and the shipping problem. There will he no debate on the statements. Members will have their opportunity of reviewing: them on the Address-in-Reply debate.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. It is stated that the Address in-Reply debate this year will be a Ion? one. One reason, is that the Government wishes it to he long to give the Ministry' time to get business into shape for the session. In. any event the debate would have almost certainly been lons, because members" have a great deal to say.

MARRIED MEN'S ALLOWANCES. . The Government will be asked during 'the present session to increase the allowances to the dependants of. married soldiers of'th'o Second Division, ehortly to be called up. It is considered unlikely that the rates of pay will lie altered at all, and rather improbable that tho scale of separation allowances will bo altered. It is not unlikely, however, that provision will bo made under the financial assistance scheme to meet the needs of Second Division men. The maximum of £2 a week allowance may be increased. Tho amount of £2 a week over and above the pay and allowances would be sufficient to relieve most married men of .such liabilities ne rent or interest and insnrance, but perhaps not all of them. An increase in the maximum, and* a fairly administration of the scheme, would provide perhaps a better way of meeting the needs of married men than a simple increase in the pay and regular allowances. Ihe pensions scheme may also recoive consideration, and from the point of view 01 the married soldier a generous pension scheme may be far more desirable than an increase in active service allowances.