POLITICAL NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 17850, 22 December 1921, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES

[From Ouk Pabijamentaby Reporter.] WELLINGTON, December 21. WATER RACE CHARGES. Another effort was made to-day by t the member for Westland to iiiduro tho Minister of Mines to reconsider Ills decision to incrwnfb the charges for tho use of tho department’s water races. It was pointed out that the matter affected gold miners in many parts of Now Zealand. Tho Minister repeated hia former reply that these races had not paid the oust of maintenance, apart from interest, and ho was obliged to make them pay tho actual cost of upkeep. If ho made any concession, it would mean going back to tho old plan of losing money. » '*#■» TARATU RAILWAY. The Goldfields and Mines Committee, today reported on tho petition of John O’Feo and seven others of Kaitangata, praying for inquiry' into the position of tho coalfields that ’are practically shut up by the action of the Taratu Railway and Goal Company, referring the matter to the Government for favorable consideration, with a view that, in the event of any further license being granted by tho Bruce Borough Council to tho Taratu Company, steps shall bo taken to ensure that reasonable loading and transport facilities are given to petitioners and others in tho same position, the Public Works and Mines Departments to decide, if called upon by cither party, as to the reasonableness or otherwise of tho facilities proposed. Gilbert Weathers ton, of Green Island, petitioned Parliament for further allowance to meet his disabilities, incurred through rheumatic iron bice whilst in campo and his petition has been referred to the Government by (he Defence Committee for favorable consideration. * * * * MEIKLE C ASK. PERMANENT PENSION SUGGESTED. The echoes of a long-standing case which has given Parliament cause for discussion on many occasions were revived to-day on the presentation of the Public Petitions Committee’s report on the petition of J. J. Mcikle, now resident _in Auckland. Tho petitioner asked that inquiry be made into the conduct of certain persons before the Mcikle Royal Commission. On this point the cnmnrttoo has no recommendation to make. However, on Moiklc’s petition for further redress for his Imprisonment on a false charge, the committee recommends the petit-ton to the Government’s favorable consideration, with a suggestion that Mcikle he granted a pension of £1 weekly for (he remainder of his life. Tho report being presented during a hurry stage of the session, it was adopted without comment. # * » * SHOPS AND OFFICES. The Labor' Bills Committee- has reported the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, with a number of alteration-. It lias deleted the clause which would have permitted shops keeping open till 9 p.m. on the Wednesday and Thursday preceding Good Friday if the assistants were to bo given a holiday on Good Friday, Easier Saturday, and Easter Monday. The committee also deleted the danse permitting shoos at temporary exhibitions to be exempt from the half-holiday provisions. Various deletions in connection with the law governing the employment of women in restaurants result in the prohibition of the employment of women in these places after 10.50 p.m. A new clause empowers an inspector to allow shops to remain open on the half-holiday for tho sale of perishable goods if he is satisfied 1 the sale is necessary owing to possible deterioration of tho goods, and providing that assistants arc paid time and one-half and are also given equivalent lime off within seven days. A shopkeeper’s children come within the provisions of 'the Act; but the occupier of a shep. who is himself the owner of the bnsimss, may secure from the inspector permission to employ any one of his children, observing hours in accordance with tho Act. A shop may be opened for the salt of petrol or motor accessories at any lime, so long as it is opened only for that particular gale. * * * « KEPT ALIVE.

Five mi mi tea sufficed to piss the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill in the House to-night, members being content with the Prime Minister’s explanation. The chief feature is that rent restriction legislation is kept alive until February 28 next, when the position can be reviewed at leisure. A similar provision is made in respect to the amendment of the Arbitration Act empowering the- court to review awards, having regnid to iluctnations in the cost- of living.—The Prime-Minister explained that unless this was passed the whole system lapsed. Another amendment deals with the rate of interest on trustee investments. Some of these investments were at a very low rate of interest, and injustice was being dons, as the investments could not secure the current rate. The Bill therefore provided that after December 51 the rate of interest on these investments would be 6 per cent.—Mr Massey explained that the measure merely' extended existing conditions until February 28. It had been hoped to make certain- alterations, to become, effective before the holidays; but there was certain information to" he collected, and the law draughtsmen had notified that it was impossible to get it conip'eted in time. The present Act would operate until the House had an opportunity of considering it when it met again. * * * * AUSTRALIAN' RECIPROCITY. When some machinery amendments in •he Customs Act wore submitted to the House to-day. Me Wilford asked how far negotiations with the Australian Government had proceeded, and could the Minister state the present position. 'Hie Hon. IV. Dow uio Stewart explained that the original resolution. in regard to Australia, was superseded by the provision-; of the Bill. It became necessary to reestablish disposition by' Order in Council unless negotiations for reciprocity were completer! in the meantime. Gables had passed between the Dominion and Australia, to see if a solution could bo arrived at, but pending more details the negotiations had not reached finality. He had imped that tho negotiations, would have readied such a state that the Prime Minister could have put the position before Parliament before it adjourned, but that was not possible. The Australian Government, too. tho Minister explained, was anxious to have the matter cleared up 1 before January 1; but he could not say how far our proposals were suitable to Australia. Mr Wilford : Don’t be in too big a hurry. Tho Hon. W. Downie Stewart added that lie wished to make it clear, especially as newspapers had freely commented on the matter, that New Zealand was not offering Australia (preferential tariff in exchange : or he x own, in which case Australia would get a.considerable advantage. Probably after Christmas he would have something definite to say, hut in the meantime an Order in Council would 1 be issued placing Australia on tho general tariff. » * * » LOCAL BODIES’ LOANS. The Public Accounts Committee has made gavcral amendments in the Local Bodies’ Loan Amendment Bill, An important extension of tho borrowing powers of local bodies is the insertion of tho words “any person or persons” into the clause empowering borrowing from bankers by way of overdraft-. Tho procedure for bringing overdrafts within the stipulated limit is to operate one year later than is provided in the Bill as originally introduced. A new clause states that where by reason of flood, earthquake, fire, or other accident it becomes necessary for a local authority to provide moneys to an exceptional beyond the expenditure estimated by it for the year then current, it shall be lawful, with the consent of the Minister of Internal Affairs, to borrow moneys from its bankers, or any other person or persons, to provide for ■ gffiiJi SMlSfyci*.

RAILWAYMEN’S HOLIDAY PAY. As a result of the extension of the Christmas holidays some uncertainty has arisen over tho rate of payment to railwhymen who work next Monday. .Mr Wi'iford asked tho Acting-Minister of Railways if tliey would ho paid double time. The Hon,' Mr Guthrie replied that under arrangement with the railwaymen tho department would pay extra rates to those who worked on Boxing Day in accordance with their agreement, * ■* * * ALLEGED ENTER It AND METHODS. There is a strong rumor that very underhand methods were used to secure evidence in connection with the charges, of making public a Springbok football cable at Napier, said Mr Witty in the' House to-day. Ho suggested that in view : of these allegations of official underhand methods tho Postmaster-General should Say all the papers on tho table. The Hon. Mr Coates replied that the matter was still to a certain extent snb judice; but when the facts were submitted to him he, would consider the suggestion. * * «■ * NEW YEAR WEEK. HALF-HOLIDAY DIFFICULTY. When tho Public Holidays Extension Bill was being put 'through its final stages in tho House on Tuesday, Mr Dixon (Patea) referred to the difficulty which' would arise over shops' employees having Monday and Tuesday as full holidays;, while their employers* would he obliged under the present law to give another, half-holiday immediately they resinned on Wednesday. He was unsuccessful in inducing the House to make a further amendment in tho measure which had already been the subject of much controversy; but he revived his point, tend ay by. way of an urgent question to the Minister, of Labor, expressing the hope that legislation would be passed to cover Now Year week, because 200 places were concerned in the matter. The Hon. G. .1. Anderson, the. .Minister of Labor, suggested that if his questioner could persuade the. Prime .Minister, also tho House, to pass such a Bill hr would he quite pleased to introduce it. (Laughter). His experience, however, was that the Labor Bills Committee did not go through Parliament in five minutes. This proposal had been considered by the Labor Bills Committee. Tho idea was to provide that where there were two holidays in one week there, need bo no necessity to observe the usual statutory half-holiday during the same week. He, was afraid that Mr Dixon’s constituents would have to observe the half-holiday on. the present occasion.

» # * * A RAILWAY FREAK. It is impossible to check luggage through from the Wellington railway stations to the South Island ; but if passengers chops;! to start from the nearest outside station this convenience is available to them. Mr. J. R. Hamilton reminded the Minister of Railways that over a year ago ho had raised this question, and was promised that it would*be considered. Nothing had been done, though people were, quite willing to pay for the concession. The Hon. Mr Guthrie, Acting-Minister of Railways, replied that, knowing, this question would come up, lie had referred it to the General Manager of Railways; but he explained to an amused House accustomed to thoso delays the reply had not come to hand. «- « •* » SOLDIERS IN DIFFICULTIES. It was stated by Mr M‘Combs to-day that he, had received a communication from soldier farmers, who claimed that they wove finding it difficult to meet their payments, but explained that payment of their December butter cheques would facilitate it. Mr M'Combs asked the Minister to refrain from pressing for the. penalty for a late payment if it was a month or six weeks behind. The Hon. Mr Guthrie stated that lie had no knowledge of the circumstances.' but he thought the matter could bo quite well arranged with the local hoards. He could say, that no injustice would be 1 inflicted because of the slump at the present time, but ho thought any soldiers in difficulties could arrange matters satisfactorily with the land boards. «•*** CLAIMS OF THE BLIND, Members of the House have been addressed by Mr 0. S. Bloomfield on the subject of pensions to the blind, the member for Auckland Central presiding. The speaker, who suffers from blindness, gave a very informative statement regarding the earnings of blind persons from the limited range of occupations open, to them. He quoted details of the financial results of his own efforts to show that unless there was a pension for blind persons they could not by their unaided efforts place themselves in a sound economic position. A vote of thanks to Mr Bloomfield was moved by Mr Savage, seconded by Sir George Hunter, who remarked that this very deserving cause had been neglected too long, mid he hoped the members would take it up with a view to securing pensions for the blind as early as possible.