MONEYS WORTH WANTED.

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 7, 8 July 1922, Page 7

MONEYS WORTH WANTED.

The passage of a Bill fixing the calorific standard of gas was urged yesterday in the House of Representatives by Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland West), who said that nowadays people secured only 75 par cent, value for the money they paid to the companies—for every shilling they paid they received only ninepence worth of gas. The Minister of . Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) said he had had a Bill ready last session, but it had been too late to be dealt with. He was now considering whether it was necessary to pass such a Bill, or whether the matter could not he dealt with under the existing Board of Trade legislation.^ . If the member would renew his inquiries in a fortnight he would be given something definite.

SIMPLE, BUT WON'T BE DONE. The reasons on which the v AttorneyGeneral bases his opinion that women may not be appointed Justices of the Peace in New Zealand were sought by Mr. J. M'Combs (Lyttelton) in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. M'Combs also asked whether the Minister, if the obstacles were at present insuperable, would bring in an amending Bill, and thereby place New Zealand on a line with Canada, Australia, Great Britain, and America. The Hon. E. P. Lee replied that there was a. large file on the question going back over many years. The same opinion had been given from time to time, namely, that the word " person" in the Act did not include in its meaning woman.

Mr. M'Combs (Lyttelton) : " Is there a reason given?" '

Mr. Lee: "The opinion of tEe Law Officers is that it does not include women." , » Mr. Wilford : " That Act is 40 years old."

Mr. Lee : " It doesn't matter how old it is. That is the opinion of the Solicitor-General. I would not feel disposed to act against the opinion even if I desired to appoint women Justices of the Peace." He added that the required alteration of the Act would be a simple one, but it was not the present intention of the Government to alter the legislation in the direction suggested,.