POLITICAL NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 17792, 14 October 1921, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES

[From Quit Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON'.. October 13. RATES FROM CROWN LANDS. Mr Malcolm's suggestion that the Government should make provision for the payment of rates on soldier settlements or such parts of them ns are unoccupied, embarrassing the finances of county councils, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, replied: “The Crown is not liable for payment of rates on unoccupied Crown lands, whether such land is required for soldier or civilian settlement. It is not proposed to amend the law in this respect. Every effort is made to dispose, of Crown lands at the earliest possible date, so that the incoming occupier may lie liable for any rates levied by the local body.” * * * * SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITAL CLAIM. '“The matter is under consideration,” k the Hon, C. J. Parr’s brief answer to Mr Sidey’s question to the Minister of Health, “What is the present position regarding the extraordinary claim for cash payment made by the South Otago Hospital Board against the Otago Hospital Board!” ##* * , TARATU PRIVATE LINE. Being informed that the Taratn Coal Company will not give loading facilities to other coal pits in'the same locality, the member for Bruce questioned the Minister of Railways, who replied: “The Taratn Railway Coal Company's line is a privately-owned railway running through lands owned or leased by tho company. It has a working agreement under winch it connects with' the Government lino at Lovell’s Elat. Tho matter of giving loading facilities or tramway connections to other coal pits is one for mutual arrangement between the Taratn Railway Coal Company and the other parties concerned, and with which the Government cannot interfere.” * * ft ft WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT BUREAUX. Mr Statham having suggested to the Minister of Labor that the Government should favorably consider the immediate re-cstablislinicnt of women's employment bureaux throughout the Dominion, tho Hon. G. J. Anderson replied: “It is not proposed to reopen thescy bureaux. They were not closed until after careful consideration, when it was found that the work done did not warrant tho expense I entailed.” .. # RUBBISH IN SHARPS: STANDARD OF QUALITY NEEDED. “Millers," stated Air Witty, in a question to the Government, “should be compelled to place in carh sack a warranty as to the composition of tho contents, naming each ingredient therein contained. Much of (he so-called sharps is a mixture of rubbish ground up, and not the by--1 product of wheat.” The Hon. E. P. Lre. Minister of Industries, replied; “The quality of pollard and ■ sharps as at present supplied by millers I is" under investigation by tho Board of | Trade. Samples of pollard manufactured by various millers weie collected by the board’s officers. These showed wide differences in quality. As the result of a conference with produce merchants, a sample was selected from those exhibited, and sent to those millers whose product was of lower grade than the average, with, tho advice that in future the quality of pollard must not fall below the grade" specified. There has not. been in the past any standard established in tho Dominion for pollard, but tho board is at present engaged on this matter. Eor the guidance of the board inquiries are being made from those countries where standards have already beeu_ set up. Once a standard has been fixed, it_will not be necessary to fix any warranty in sacks, as any product sold as pollard', whether of local manufacture or imported, will quire to comply with the standard.”

RABBIT PROSECUTION FINES,

It was suggested hy Mr Ala-lcolm that fines imposed ’in rabbit prosecution cases should be spent in helping to clear tho defendants’ land of rabbits.

Tho Hon. Air Nosvvorthy replied: “Tho making of a general provision of this nature might operate detrimentally against rabbit control on sound lines; therefore it is regretted that it cannot he done. What ia needed is good and efficient cooperation between the settlers and tho department in dealing effectively with the raobit pest. This already exists in many parts of the Dominion, Every effort is ■being made to make it general.” ft * ft *

NEW ZEALAND’S REPARATION HOPES. New Zealand’s share of the total reparations to be made by Germany to the British Empire is 1.75, the allocation among the other units of the Empire being; Britain 85.85, Canada 4.35, Australia 4.35, South Africa .60, Newfoundland .10, India 1.10, minor possessions .8.

When it was considered that the population of Canada was eight millions and of Australia five and a-half millions, it must be recognised that New Zealand had been well treated on a population basis. * * ft * PUBLIC TRUST’ PROGRESS.

A profit of £10,691 was made by the Public*Trust Office ter the_ year ended March, 1921, notwithstanding the increased rate of interest allowed to beneficiaries' estates and funds and substantial increases in salaries. Tho number of

wills held on deposit is 28,356. Now office buildings were established at New Plymouth, Palmerston North, and Invercargill, and in addition to the proposed erection of buildings at Christchurch, Napier, and Masterton, thirteen part-time offices are contemplated. Ten full-time offices and eight part-time were opened. Success is attributed to the intention to develop a liberal policy with regard to the rates of interest to be allowed on the amounts hold in a common fund on behalf of estates and beneficiaries, and economics

effected in administration. The total value of assets under the control of the office at the end of the financial year was £22,364,319—an increase of £1,503,631.

Cash balances held at the credit of estates and funds amounted tfo £15,918,906—311 increase of £2,007,616.

* * * * IMMIGRANTS ABSORBED

The Minister of Immigration gave a reassuring reply to a question from the member tor j-gmont regarding a thousand immigrants who recently arrived in New Zealand. The Hon. Mr Nosworthy said the whole number had secured accommodation and work, and that the Immigration Department, with the assistance-of the persons who had nominated the immigrants, could similarly place the next hatch, due during the coming week-end. Ho thought it a matter for congratulation that New Zealand could absorb the newcomers so effectively. *. * -x- * LOYALTY OF TEACHERS. “I propose to ask the House to pass a measure requiring every teacher to take the oath of allegiance,” said the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education, in the course of a statement to the House. Mr Atmoro: “ Why not make professors take the oath, too?” Mr Parrs “I shall not exce.pt professors. No one should bo in charge of the young who is under the suspicion of being disloyal.” * * * * ALLEGED THEATRE MONOPOLY. The Minister of Internal Affairs, answering Dr Thacker, states that several complaints have been received from touring companies against the refusal of the proprietors of theatres to leas© their theatres, or against the scale of charges imposed where they do agree to lease. There is no existing legislation which applies to sucli case*. There is no precedent for compelling a man to lease his property if he does not desire to do so. Theatre .proprietors allege that where they lease their theatres on terms, even for a few nfghts, the interruption to their business is unprofitable, as their _ clients accustom themselves to plaiting rival theatres and do not return.

POST OFFICE ACCOUNTS,

A leeway of £334,717 has to be made good on last year’s working of, the post and telegraphs, stated tho PostmaaterQeneral, in giving a few particulars of tho approximate balance-sheet for the year 1920, covering tho operations of the department. The revenue totalled £2,590,440, of which £1,252.677 was revenue from tho post office and £1,237,763 from the telegraph and telephones. Tho expenditure totalled £2,591,768, of which £1,222,007 was on post office and £1,369,777 on telegraph and telephones. Allowing for 5 per cent, return on the capital, which amounted to £293.371, tho total excess of expenditure over revenue was £334,717. Touching on valuations, the Minister said that the capital cost of telegraphs was £1,767,000. of telephones £2,600,000, and of buildings £1,500,000 —a total of £5,867,000.