POLITICAL NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 16912, 9 December 1918, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES

[Fbom Otjb Pabiiamektabt Ef-PORTER.] WELLINGTON, December 9. Members, in anticipation of the early close of the seesion, took full advantage on Saturday afternoon in the House tq submit questions without notice to Ministers. who were kept busy for over an hour. CARE OF ORPHANS. Further reference was to the plight of many orphans who had lost their parents ' during the epidemic, Mr Hornsby urging that the Minister of Health should I make an effort io have such children adopted by earnest* sympathisers—-people who would give them good home life. _ Tho Hon. G, W. Russell said the question of differentiation between orphans whoso parents died as the result of the epidemic and those who had lost their parents from norma! causes was one that required careful consideration. He was prepared to discuss with tho Minister of Education any proposal for tho purpose of making use of existing machinery for the care of orphans. A circular had been sent to all hospital boards asking them to obtain information a-s to the number of children ornhaned through the epidemic, but all had not yet replied. As soon as such information had been received he would ask the Finance Minisjter to place whatever sum was nccessarjirVLt the disposal of the Education and Health Departments. He thought very satisfactory use could bo made of existing institutions. If the proposal that children should be adopted in country homes Id bo giver, effect to tho Government would bo quite prepared to subsidise those who took children. PEACE CELEBRATIONS. Tho Prime Minister, replying to Mr Hudson, said that the recent celebrations were certainly not Peace celebrations. He could only express an opinion as to the date of final peace, and ho believed that peace would be signed about the end of March or earlv in April. The Government would certainly issue advice to local bodies to guide them in connection with the final Peace celebrations, and tho Leaders would forward any information available at the other side of the world. WAR PENSIONS AND INFLUENZA. The Defence Minister informed Mr Jennings that in the case of death of soldiers from influenza in camp the war pension would be granted. AUCKLAND SUPER SENSITIVE. Mr Parr drew the Hon. G. W, Russell’s attention to hi; statement that measles were rife in Mount Albert. The lion member read a telegram from tho Mayor of the borough, who asserted that the Minister's statement was “ totally unjustifiable and absolutely contrary to fact.” Tho Hon. Mr Russell replied that on every question from measles up to smallpox Auckland was supersonsitive. He bad been informed by a reputable gentleman in Mount Albert, and on the strength of that testimony had made the statement. Mr Parr t It is absolutely incorrect. EDUCATION EXAMINATIONS. Mr Malcolm urged that examination passes be awarded this year without holding tho examinations, which had necessarily been postponed on account of the epidemic. Tho Minister of Education promised to look into the question. RETURN OF SOLDIERS. The Hon. Mr Massey informed Mr Talbot that he and Sir Joseph Ward while at Home would urge tho Imperial authorities to provide adequate accommodation and food for New Zealand soldiers on returning to the Dominion. TEACHERS’ SALARIES.

The Minister of Education informed the House that the question of increase to teachers’ salaries, and also the matter of bonus, were under the consideration of the Government, and would bo dealt with in the Supplementary Estimates. The Hon. Mr Ilanan added thafcyis regards a number of other matters relating to education, including tho question o{ superannuation for some technical teachers, the Government could not see then - way' to -deal with them this session, but Cabinet was favorable to a, Bill being introduced next session. SUPERANNUATION FOR NURSES. Tho Minister of Health announced to-day that tho question of a superannuation fund for nurses in our hospitals would be dealt with carefully during the recess, and ho hoped that something practical would bo done in the matter. TEMPORARY POSTAL OFFICIALS. In answer to a question from Mr Downie Stewart, it was stated by the PostmasterGeneral that it was not possible to promise that temporary employees in tho Post Office Department should be continued in their positions. The whole matter depended upon the number of permanent employees who returned from the war fit to resume their old duties, together with the new staffing requirements. Temporary employees would bo considered in every way, and wherever permanent employment was possible it would be given. HARBOR BOARDS’ LAVISH EXPENDITURE. Mr Pearce, ns Chairman of the Local Bills Committee, drew tho attention of the Government to the lavish expenditure by harbor boards, much of which money had been wasted or lost. Ho thought it was time the Government exercised some control in this matter. The Hon. T. M. Wilford, as Minister of Marine, admitted that there was much truth in what Mr Pearce said, and ho thought the time was fast approaching when harbor boards must bo governmentally controlled in tho matter of expenditure. BATCH OF BILLS. The Land Laws Amendment Bill was rend a second time pro forma and sent to tho Lands Committee. The Prime Munster explained that it was purely formal, and was intended to meet some proceedings in tho Privy Council. Tho Native Laud Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill was reported unamended by the Native Affairs Committee, read a third time, and passod. The Distillation Amendment Bill, providing for tho manufacture of spirits for industrial purposes, was put through all stages and passed. The Native “ Washing-up ” Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Lands Committee. Among the Local Bills which were put through all stages was the Dunedin Oily Fish Markets and Empowering Bill, of which Mr Statham is tho sponsor. The Rabbit Nuisance Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Agricultural Committee. The Minister (lion. \V. D. S. Mac Donald) said tho object of the Bill was to make smaller rabbit districts. IN THE COUNCIL. The Expeditionary Forces Amendment Bill, the Native “Washing-up” Bill, and tho Distillation Amendment Bill were put through all stages. The amendments made by the GovernorGeneral in the Finance Bill and tho Electric Powers Bill were approved. LAND LAWS. The Land Bill provides for a change in the method of fixing the compensation to owners of land acquired to prevent aggregation. The existing law stipulates that the owner shall not be paid a sum exceeding the purchase money paid or agreed upon when tho land was acquired by way of aggregation. Tho present Bill sets forth that the compensation shall not exceed the capital value recorded on tho district roll at the time of its acquisition by the purchaser, plus 10 per cent, on such value, If the land acquired in aggregation is a part only of the estate, then a special valuation, shall be mads for compensation purposes.

Lyaandcr, a farm hand, was recounting his troubles to a noighbon Among other things, he said that the "wife of tho farmer who employed him was “ too dose for any use.” “This very mornin’,” said ho, “she asked mo; 'Lysander, do you know how many pancakes you havo et this mornin’?’’ I said: ‘No, ma’am; I ain’t had no. occasion to count ’em.’ ‘Well,’ says she, ‘that hist ono was the twentysixth.’ Ami it made me so mad I jes got up from tho table and went to yrark without av. breakfast!’*