POLITICAL NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 16909, 5 December 1918, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES

[From Oua Parliam-ntary Eepoiiteu.l WELLINGTON. December 4. MEAT TRUST SLAVES. Mr Xosworthy asked the Prime Minister in the Hniit-o to-day, if, in view of tho farmers of New Zealand becoming slaves of tho Meat Trust, he would thoroughly investigate the whole position while in England, so that tho people of the Domiiiion might know what steps to take to deal with the trust. The Hon. Mr Massey, in the course of stating his intention to make inquiries said he would a pain express his opinion to Imperial authorities that methods should bo adopted throughout the Empire to prevent exploitation by the Meat Trust. He recommended New Zealand fanners to read tho report, of the Commission set up in the United States about the dealings of tho trust and the meant* taken to keep tho Mt:at Trust at ;t distance. The Prim© Minister further reminded the House that there was 9. Bill now before, it dealing with the trust, and he urged that the legislation should go on the Statute Book before the soasion ended. Sir Joseph Ward joined his colleague in denunciation of the trust, explaining how he also had mad« strong representation!* to the Imperial authorities on tho subject, and would do so again. He believed that legislation should be enacted making, aa far as was humanly possible, for the ditnj* nution of the pernicious trust system, such as prevailed in some other co-TOitries. CABLES TO SOLDIERS. The Pootmaster-Qeneral wqe aeked in the Hou3e to-day whether a.n effort would be made to ha-ve caMe charges reduced respeciing messages by relatives to soldiers at the' front. Mr Wright said the old charges were 8d per word, but he understood they had been increased.' Sir Joseph Ward explained that he had made representations to the cable companies on the subject, and Would secure a, reduction as soon as possible. A PIN-PRICKING DEPARTMENT. Mr Statham cited the case of an Otago soldier recently demobilised from the training camp v/ho was refused payment by the Defence Department of the cost of » night's lodging at Dnnedin before going on to Central Otago. This w;a one of the pinpricking things that came from the department. Would the Minister iuatruot the department to pay tlie legitimate out-of-pocket expenses of the men? Sir\Tames Allen said he would inquire into the case. THE FORTIETHS. Mr M'Ca-llum desired to know if the Defence Minister bed made any arrangement for setting up a parliamentary committee to inquire into the disastrous outbreak on tho troopahip carrymjr the Fortieth Reinforcein-ents after at left Sierra Leone. Sir James Alien said that under the pressure of business the matter had gone out of his mind. If the hon. member still desired it, ho was quite willing to set up a committee. P. AND T. ADMINISTRATION. Tho necessity for the reclassification of the Post and Telegraph Departmeg. wa-s emphasised by the Postmaster-General in the House to-day during: the second reading of the Post 'and Telegraph Bill, -which eliminates Public Sendee Commissioner control. It was essential, Sir Joseph Ward Said, to make a very important change. The department had a staff of over 7,000, and thero were men in the servic-e who, owing to classification, had taken 25 years to reach a salary of £260 per annum. It was beyond question that the men in the lower grades running up to £315 per year were very much lower paid than similar grades in tha Railway Department. Thero was therefore a fcelir-S of injustice in the lower ranks. The Minister paid a tribute to the loyaltv of the whole staff, whoso work was closely associated with the business and public activities of tho country. Ho said that tho proposal to eliminate Commissioner control cast no reflection on the personnel of the Public Service Commissioners. The Minister explained tha various provisions of tho Bill, and intimated that reclassification would commence on April 1 next. He stated, in reply to Mr Statham, who asked if compulsory retirement was provided for, that it was not proposed to alter the present retiring a(j»e—namely, 65 years. The Minister also informed members that Cabinet had decided that the whole Public Service should be ree;ra,ded and reclassified, commencing on April 1. A long discussion followed, members supporting the Bill with apparent appreciation.

The second reading was carried, aad the. Bill was committed. The Minister moved to include tho Chief Telegraph Engineer as a member of the Promotions Board. This was agreed to, and with this exception the Bill was unamended. It was reported, road a third time, and passed. WAR LEULSLATIOX. On the Prime Minister moving that the amendments mado by tho Legislative Council in the War Legislation Act Amendment Bill ho agreed to, Mr M'Cnmhs point-d out that tho Council had ho amende:! suh-r-.v----tion 5 of clause 11 as to enable Koldiev:'' wives and dependents to contract themselves out of ovfiry provision dc-.siruod to give them • protection acteivist excessive ronts. Ho predicted that if Ih'R wore allowed to stand no landlord would lei hi? house to a .soldier's wife or derondents nntil they agreed not to take advantage of tho protection afforded them.--After hrief discussion, the Prime .Minister agreed to refer sub-clause 51> of clause 11 back to tho Council i'or reconsideration. --Messrs Stafham, M'Combs, and tho Prime Minister were appointed managers to confer with tho Council.